THE BIG STORY

The Facebook post that ended in jail time

Soy Sros, a Cambodian woman who makes bags for international fashion brands like Michael Kors and Kate Spade, was sent to prison for a Facebook post where she voiced her concerns that workers from her factory would be laid off during the coronavirus pandemic.

Soy Sros / Courtesy Soy Sros

For some, venting on social media is a seamless part of life. For Soy, the post ultimately led her to be placed in one of the world’s most crowded prisons for two months, where she was crammed into a tiny cell with 72 other women and children, without masks, hand sanitizers, proper food, or even any room to lie down. “It’s important for the public to be reminded who is at either end of the supply chain and the vast gulf of inequality between them,” labor rights activist Andrew Tillett-Saks said.

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

Starbucks baristas can’t wear anything supporting Black Lives Matter

The coffee retailer vowed on Twitter to "stand in solidarity with our Black partners, customers and communities” and to “being a part of the change.” However, the company has prohibited its baristas and other employees from wearing T-shirts, pins, or any other accessory that mentions Black Lives Matter due to its dress code policy, which also includes any type of political, religious, or personal accessories or clothing.

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / Getty Images

However, as many employees noted to BuzzFeed News, Starbucks not only exempts buttons and attire celebrating LGBTQ rights and marriage equality, but hands them out. In response, management, according to the memo from last week, argued that wearing clothing and accessories highlighting Black Lives Matter could be misunderstood and potentially incite violence.

SNAPSHOTS

The newly appointed CEO of CrossFit was asked last year about diversity. He ignored the question and walked offstage.

House Democrats are introducing a bill to remove the names of Confederate officers from military bases after Trump tweeted in defense of them.

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling doubled down on her recent anti-trans comments, following up her tweets with a full anti-trans essay.

The staff of Bon Appétit apologized on Wednesday for being complicit in a culture of racism after a photo of their editor in brownface resurfaced, causing him to resign.

NASCAR announced on Wednesday that Confederate flags are now banned at events, one day after driver Darrell "Bubba" Wallace called for such displays to be prohibited.

A&E's Live PD, which follows cops live on the job, has been canceled amid nationwide protests against police brutality.

IT'S NEWS O'CLOCK

George Floyd’s brother testified in Congress, asking for police to be held accountable for their actions. States around the country are seeing spikes in COVID-19 hospitalizations. And we’re joined by Manny Fidel of Business Insider, whose viral video lays out why white savior movies definitely shouldn’t be the vibe right now. Check out the latest episode of News O'Clock here (and subscribe and be notified when the day's episode goes live in the afternoon)!

TAKING MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS

Statues around the world are being torn down amid Black Lives Matter protests

Around the globe, public monuments that are dedicated to controversial historical figures with legacies of slavery and racism have become the target of demonstrations. In several cases, the statues have even been toppled by activists taking matters into their own hands.

NurPhoto / Contributor

On Tuesday night at a demonstration in Richmond, Virginia, a 93-year-old statue of Christopher Columbus was brought down, set on fire, and thrown into a lake as bystanders chanted “tear it down.” In the UK, a monument in honor of slave trader Edward Colston was forcibly removed by protesters before being thrown into Bristol Harbor. The demonstration followed years of campaigning to have his statue taken down.

TIKTOK IS MORE THAN JUST DANCE TRENDS

A viral TikTok is sparking a conversation about racial bias against Black people in healthcare

Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, a white OB-GYN, made a TikTok discussing the systemic racism in healthcare and the disparities in the treatment of Black patients that has opened up a dialogue online. In the TikTok, Lincoln highlights points such as Black Americans waiting longer in emergency rooms and having their pain taken less seriously.

TikTok / @drjenniferlincoln

Lincoln told BuzzFeed News she does not want to take credit for the information she talked about in her viral video, as it's nothing new. She and other doctors said they just hope people are finally listening.

"I was aware of it, but not to this degree. One thing I would love to highlight is that this is not new information. Other Black people have been saying it for years. Is the reason it’s gone viral because I’m a white person saying it? This is the problem with racism in itself."

Take the time to learn something new today,

Ayanna