UNITED STATES: JUST ANOTHER CHAOTIC WEEK IN AMERICA
Another Black Man Killed By Police
Within the past week, three events have shaken the lives of Americans.
First, the nation was stunned by yet another case of an unarmed African American being killed by a police officer. On April 11, 20-year-old Daunte Wright was pulled over in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, due to a traffic violation. Upon running his name through a database, it was determined that Wright had an outstanding warrant.
Officer Kim Potter, a 26-year police veteran, was actually training another officer during the traffic stop. After a scuffle ensued, Potter warned Wright that she would tase him with a taser. Unfortunately, Potter pulled her service weapon instead and shot Wright, who would die not long after the injury. Two days later, Potter resigned, citing that it was in the best interest of the community. On the same day, Police Chief Tim Gannon also turned in his resignation. On April 14, Potter was charged with second-degree manslaughter.
Soon after, protests broke out in the area, which ironically is just 10 miles from where Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin knelt on the neck of George Floyd for close to nine minutes. Chauvin’s trial in the case of Floyd’s death is currently taking place as this incident happened.
Wright leaves behind a young son, girlfriend, and parents.
Black Lieutenant Suing Police
An incident from last December has come to light after a black man serving in the Army had an unfair encounter with law enforcement.
Caron Nazario, a second lieutenant in the Army Medical Corps, has filed a lawsuit against Windsor, Virginia officers Joe Gutierrez and Daniel Crocker. The suit accompanies video that was released, showing the officers pulling their weapons, pepper spraying Nazario, and even bringing him to the ground. Lieutenant Nazario was wearing his Army uniform at the time of being pulled over at a gas station during a traffic stop.
The officers claimed that Nazario was pulled over due to a lack of a license plate. However, the officers’ own dashcam showed a temporary tag in the upper right corner of the vehicle.
During the stop, there was a frightening exchange between Nazario and Officer Gutierrez. In the video, when Nazario says, “I’m honestly afraid to get out of the car,” Gutierrez responds, “Yeah. You should be.”
“My Office of Civil Rights will be looking into whether there’s been a pattern of misconduct with these officers or broadly with the department as a whole,” Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring posted on Twitter.
Shooter Dead in High School Shooting
On April 12, the United States dealt with another school shooting incident, that could have been much worse.
At the Austin-East Magnet High School in Knoxville, police officers found a male student in a restroom. They were on the scene because it was alleged that the person was “possibly armed” and a threat. When asked to come out of the bathroom, the student opened fire, injuring one officer in the leg, who then fired back. The suspect died at the scene.
The injured KPD officer was transported to the UT Medical Center, and is expected to recover. So far, there is no motive as to why the suspect had a weapon.
CARIBBEAN: Volcanic Aftermath
Last week’s eruption of La Soufrière volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, has left the entire population of the main island without clean water and electricity, the UN Spokesperson said on April 12.
Citing reports from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Stéphane Dujarric added that about 20,000 evacuees on the Caribbean island are currently in need of shelter.
“The eruption has affected most livelihoods in the northern part of the island, including banana farming, with ash and lava flows hampering the movement of people and goods,” he told journalists at the daily news briefing.
Although the volcano had been dormant since 1979, it started spewing smoke and actively rumbling in December.
La Soufrière erupted April 9, blanketing Saint Vincent in a layer of ash and forcing some 16,000 residents to evacuate their homes to cruise ships and safer parts of the island.
Emphasizing that access to the island is limited, Mr. Dujarric said that along with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, the UN has mobilized pre-positioned water and sanitation hygiene supplies, currently stored in nearby Barbados.
Over the weekend, the Secretary-General spoke to Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and the Government officially asked for UN assistance.
The aid includes relief items, food and cash distribution and technical advice while neighboring countries are contributing emergency supplies and assets to support evacuation, according to the UN spokesperson.
Meanwhile, OCHA reported that intervals between tremors have lasted between 1.5 to 3 hours, which, based on visual observations and satellite imagery, are associated with periods of explosive activity or enhanced venting of the volcano.
“Explosions and accompanying ashfall of similar or larger magnitude are likely to continue to occur over the next few days,” according to the UN humanitarian office.
As of now, the volcano has forced the closure of airports in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as the evacuation of 30 villages and displacement of between 16,000 and 20,000 people.
EUROPE: British Lockdown Ends
As the country continues to mourn the death of 99-year-old Prince Philip, there was some good news for British citizens.
Significant parts of the British indoor economy and further outdoor settings reopened on April 12, after data confirmed the government’s “four tests” for easing COVID-19 restrictions had been met.
However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson continued to urge caution, with no changes to social contact rules and many restrictions still in place. Outdoor gatherings must still be limited to 6 people or 2 households, and you must not socialize indoors with anyone you do not live with or have not formed a support bubble with.
Confirmation Step 2 of the roadmap would proceed came after the measures were agreed at a “Covid O” meeting and discussed on a Cabinet call earlier on April 12.
Before proceeding to this step, the government studied the latest data to assess the impact of the first step, which began when schools reopened on March 8.
The assessment was based on four tests:
· The vaccine deployment program continues successfully.
· Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalizations and deaths in those vaccinated.
· Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalizations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
· Assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.
As set out in the roadmap, around four weeks is required to see the impact in the data of the previous step.
The government also committed to provide a further weeks’ notice to businesses, provided through the update from the Prime Minister.
From April 12, additional premises will be able to reopen – with the rules on social contact applying. Indoor settings must only be visited alone or with household groups, with outdoor settings limited to either six people or two households.
This includes non-essential retail; personal care premises such as hairdressers, beauty and nail salons; and indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and spas (but not including saunas and steam rooms, which are due to open at Step 3).
Overnight stays away from home in England will be permitted and self-contained accommodation can also reopen, though must only be used by members of the same household or support bubble.
Public buildings such as libraries and community centers will also reopen.
The majority of outdoor settings and attractions can also reopen, including outdoor hospitality, zoos, theme parks, drive-in cinemas and drive-in performances events.
Hospitality venues will be able to open for outdoor service, with no requirement for a substantial meal to be served alongside alcohol, and no curfew. The requirement to eat and drink while seated will remain.
People should continue to work from home where they can, and minimize domestic travel where they can. International holidays are still illegal.
