Good morning! I know it won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention, but I want to note it anyway: we have a serious whiteness problem in this country.
Many people have seen the video of the police murdering the black man in Minneapolis. Obviously, the main story here is police brutality. But would he have done this if the person on the ground was white? Probably not.
Closer to home, we have the Breonna Taylor shooting. There, the culpability of the police is perhaps less clear. But even so, the question remains: Would they have acted the same if the warrant was for a residence of a white person?
But let’s leave these obvious examples, and look at something less notable but much more widespread. Berry Craig has an article up today entitled “Dying of Whiteness.” It combines a look at a book of the same name with some interviews about the thesis of the book: that some white people will harm themselves and their families just to carry out their belief that they are “better” than black or brown people.
Go read the article. Reflect on the events of the past week, including the effigy hanging in Frankfort. Then, reflect on what you can do to change things, within your own circle of influence and beyond.
Note the last word of Beshear’s coronavirus mantra:
We’re going to get through this … together.
#TeamKentucky
Bruce Maples, publisher
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Today’s Five Things to Know
400 Kentuckians dead of COVID-19; discussion of the politics of masks, and resistance of some local officials to testing
As the United States crosses the grim milestone of 100,000 dead of COVID-19, Gov. Beshear announces KY now at 400 dead. Dr. Stack talks about politics of wearing a mask, and Beshear contrasts counties that pushed testing and those that refused it. (Forward Kentucky)
House Dems call for censure of Maddox
The Kentucky House Democratic Leadership has called on the Republican leadership of the House to begin a formal censure of Rep. Savannah Maddox for her recent “incendiary” comments. (Forward Kentucky)
Groups file lawsuit over November voting rules; SOS Adams responds
Multiple groups, led by the League of Women Voters of Kentucky, have filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging some of the rules for the November general election in Kentucky. Statements by both LWVKY and the ACLU are included in the story, as well as a response from Secretary of State Adams. (Forward Kentucky)
Protester who hoisted Gov. Andy Beshear effigy fired from job at Neil Huffman Auto Group
he protester who hoisted an effigy of Gov. Andy Beshear from a tree at the Kentucky state Capitol has been fired from his job at an auto dealership. Terry Bush, president of the Kentucky 3 Percenters group, was fired by Neil Huffman Auto Group on Tuesday, his wife Patsy Bush confirmed Wednesday morning.
The auto dealer had announced Tuesday evening that it had terminated an unnamed employee who was involved in the protest Sunday where the effigy was hanged, saying it did not “condone threats of violence in any form.” (Courier-Journal)
Courier Journal sues Louisville police for investigative file into Breonna Taylor’s death
The Courier Journal is suing the Louisville Metro Police Department, seeking the immediate release of the department’s investigative file regarding the fatal police shooting of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor. The lawsuit, filed late Tuesday afternoon, argues LMPD’s internal investigation into the shooting is final and therefore should be released under the state’s open records laws.
The findings related to Taylor’s death are compelling and contain details that the public has a right to know, said Richard Green, The Courier Journal’s editor. “This charade of secrecy at LMPD must stop. The public deserves more; it deserves answers,” Green said. (Courier-Journal)
This Friday’s show
Dr. Steven Stack on COVID in Kentucky,
and the backstory on competing Indivisible endorsements
This Friday on The State of Kentucky, we talk with Kentucky’s “top doc,” Dr. Steven Stack, about how the fight against COVID-19 is going in the state, and what has him worried the most. Then, we get the backstory on the competing Indivisible endorsements, with some groups endorsing Mike Broihier and others endorsing Charles Booker. Watch live at noon, or later on Forward Kentucky.
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Did you miss any of these?
Featured Content on Forward Kentucky
([new] indicates new since last Forward Five; 🔥 indicates lots of reads
— News —
[new] Cases decline, but more nursing homes infected; Kentuckians’ behavior and attitude worry health officials – Amid a decline in KY coronavirus cases, the number of nursing homes with cases took a big jump, and unhealthy behavior and lack of testing signups made officials worry. (read)
🔥[new] Beshear says ‘right-wing militia group’ that hung him in effigy was ’embraced and emboldened’ by GOP legislators at earlier rally – Two days after being hung in effigy, Gov. Andy Beshear returned the fire Tuesday. “You can’t fan the flames and then condemn the fire.” (read)
[new] A few weeks to stop a depression. Are you listening, Senator McConnell? – The Senate is out of session, having left without acting on more economic aid. Repubs say it’s time to see how previous efforts work before considering more. This is a dangerously wrong attitude. Decisions will be made in the next few weeks that will put the nation on a direct path to depression without Congressional intervention. (read)
[new] Over 100,000 have asked for their absentee ballot; here’s how to get yours – The GoVoteKY.com online portal has been in place for a few years, but on Friday it added a new option to its menu: Absentee Ballot Request. And according to our Secretary of State, over 100,000 Kentuckians have already taken advantage of that new feature. (read)
[new] Friends of the Earth Action endorses Booker – Friends of the Earth Action, the political action arm of Friends of the Earth, today endorsed Rep. Charles Booker in his run for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. (read)
[new] Rep. Attica Scott endorses Shannon Fabert to take on Massie for KY-4 seat – State Rep. Attica Scott of Louisville has endorsed Shannon Fabert for the Dem nomination to take on Thomas Massie for the 4th District Congressional seat. (read)
Department of Public Advocacy worried about court safety – Most criminal court proceedings have been suspended since March due to the coronavirus, but that is about to change. The Department of Public Advocacy is worried about what it may mean for the health of their attorneys and others in the system. (read)
Two new books from Forward Kentucky writers – I continue to be grateful for the team we have at Forward Kentucky, and proud of the work they do. So it is with a great deal of pleasure that I can tell you that we have not one, but TWO new books on the way from two of our writers, Berry Craig and Paul Wesslund. (read)
—Commentary—
🔥 [new] Dying of whiteness – Some people are willing to harm themselves, even die, just to maintain their belief in white superiority. The coronavirus is making that even more real. (read)
Republicans, do you REALLY want to condemn political violence? Do this. – Republican leaders have “condemned” what went on. This is a first step, but there’s more to be done. Neal Turpin lays out the next step: leave the party. (read)
🔥 On Savannah Maddox, photos, and terrorism – Rep. Savannah Maddox has sown the wind, and is reaping the whirlwind. Let me come to her defense. Partially. (read)
Fighting the coronavirus with magical thinking – There’s a lot of magical thinking out there when it comes to fighting the coronavirus, from the White House on down. Here are some non-magical examples. (read)
🔥 Credibility and the return of trust in the midst of a pandemic – Guess what? In the midst of a crisis, people want expertise and credibility. And they want people they can trust. What does that mean for elected officials? (read)
— Policy —
Masks help stop the spread of coronavirus – the science is simple and I’m one of 100 experts urging governors to require public mask-wearing – Every week more and more jurisdictions require mask use in public. So what is this evidence that has led so many scientists to believe so strongly in masks? (read)
— Media —
🔥 [show] Who or what is “The Steady State” – and why are they endorsing Joe Biden? – Join us as we talk with Dr. Erik Prentice, who formerly served in the office of the Director of National Intelligence, and is now a private citizen in the corporate world, living in Louisville. Recently he became a founding member of a group called “The Steady State,” made up of National Security and Homeland Security veterans who have endorsed Joe Biden for president. We’ll learn more about this group, why it formed, and why Dr. Prentice joined it. (view)
[podcast] Unemployment insurance issues, Booker endorsements, and interview with Rep. Rachel Roberts – We discuss the massive amounts of unemployment claims the state is processing, how big the problem is in context, and how and why people are slipping through the cracks. Also, the endorsement of Charles Booker by 16 of his House colleagues, and what it might mean. And, an interview with Rep. Rachel Roberts of Northern Kentucky. (listen)
Posts with Most Social Media Shares in Past Fourteen Days
🔥 (indicates post with surge of recent shares)
- 🔥 On Savannah Maddox, photos, and terrorism (2,000+ shares)
- Paul makes coronavirus claims not backed by science, fact-checked by WFPL reporter (2,000+ shares)
- IG investigating McConnell’s wife fired by Trump (2,000+ shares)
- We have a debate! (1,000+ shares)
- Kentucky garbage man hadn’t seen elderly woman’s trash can out, rightly felt something was amiss. (1,000+ shares)
- Congrats, KY, you got your R nought below 1. So don’t blow it. (1,000+ shares)
- We’re still getting an F on our census test. C’mon folks, do better! (1,000+ shares)
Photo credit: Pixabay
