Page 32 - Florida Sentinel 12-4-20

National
The US Recorded More Than 4 Million COVID-19 Cases In The Month Of November
Why The Next Congress Is Unlikely To Legalize Marijuana
Officials Release Video Footage Of Texas Officers' Violent Arrest Of Black Teen
For people who darn near use, “I was in fear for my life” as a catchphrase whenever they need to justify deadly use of force, cops don’t seem to un- derstand that citizens—espe- cially Black people—can be afraid and act out of fear, too.
Earlier this month, 18-year- old Zekee Rayford was ar- rested in Schertz, Texas, after police said he ran a red light and failed to pull over. Ray- ford reportedly drove to his parents’ house instead of stop- ping immediately. In video footage taken from the door- bell security camera of Ray- ford’s parents’ home, the teen can be seen knocking at the door and shouting for his fa- ther just before officers tased him, tackled him to the ground and kicked him repeatedly. On Wednesday, after previously denying open records requests
18-year-old Zekee Rayford speaks to reporters about his violent arrest on November 2, 2020.
The U. S. recorded 4 million coronavirus cases in the month of November as the country en- ters a terrifying new phase of the pandemic, with public health ex- perts warning of another big surge in cases and hospitaliza- tions following Thanksgiving weekend travel.
Data from Johns Hopkins Uni- versity show that 4.02 million cases were recorded from Nov. 1- 28, bringing the country's total COVID-19 cases to more than 13 million, the highest of any na- tion. Case counts in November are more than double the 1.87 million cases recorded in Octo- ber.
The severity of the pandemic has reached new heights as the country heads into a bleak winter season, after states struggled to contain the huge surge in cases through the fall.
In California, a stay-at-home order was issued for Los Angeles County on Friday evening, the day after Thanksgiving, begin-
to release body camera and dashcam footage from the Nov. 2 arrest, the city released 20 videos related to the incident. Schertz officials said they were waiting on authorization from the Guadalupe County District Attorney’s Office to release the footage.
KENS 5 reports that officers
said on the night of Rayford’s arrest, that the teen had run a red light and didn’t pull over until he got to a home about a mile away from where they began the traffic stop. Ray- ford’s parents said he simply wanted to get to a “safe place” before pulling over so he drove until he got to their driveway.
A healthcare professional suits up with personal protec- tive equipment to enter a COVID-19 patient's room at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert, Ohio on Nov. 20, 2020.
ning Nov. 30. On Saturday, San Francisco was placed on a curfew and lockdown, also beginning Monday.
In this July 30, 2018, file photo, Zora Braun gestures as cars drive by a location in Okla- homa City where they can sign petitions for recreational mari- juana.
home state made history by le- galizing both medical and recre- ational marijuana on Election Day.
“I have not changed my posi- tion on it. I think this is really bad public policy,” Rounds said. He said he does not plan to work on revising federal marijuana laws, even piecemeal legislation like access to banking for cannabis businesses. “I never say I will never do anything, but most certainly I am not going to be a proponent of any type of ac- tions along that line.”
Wilton Gregory Has Become The First African-American Cardinal
The Catholic Church has elected Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C. to the rank of cardinal, making him the first African American in history to hold that title.
Gregory was elevated to a cardinal in an installation cer- emony held in Rome over the weekend.
Gregory, 72, already the highest-ranking African- American Catholic in US his- tory, told CNN this week that he has been praying, writing homilies and letters to well- wishers, and reflecting on his new role.
God for this unique moment in my life and in the life of the church in the United States,” Gregory said. “I hope it’s a sign to the African American community that the Catholic Church has a great reverence, respect and esteem for the peo- ple, for my people of color.”
As a Cardinal, Gregory will be one of the Pope’s closest ad- visers and one of only 120 or so men who will elect the next pontiff. Before Francis chose Gregory as Archbishop of Washington last year, he also served as a bishop in Belleville, Illinois, and in Atlanta.
On Election
staunchly conservative states le- galized recreational marijuana. A third of Americans now live in a state where weed is legal for adult use. Fresh Gallup polling says 68 percent of the country fa- vors having legal access to mari- juana.
But the Senate operates under a different reality.
Many of the Senate’s older, conservative members are still resistant to any path to legaliza- tion for marijuana. Senate Ma- jority Leader Mitch McConnell has mocked the House for action on cannabis and was unmoved even by Re- publican marijuana champion Sen. Cory Gardner of Col- orado, a member of the cham- ber’s leadership, who won’t be around next year. Red states in- cluding Oklahoma, South Dakota and Mississippi have now legal- ized some form of pot — but for the foreseeable future, millions of Americans will be consuming a product the federal govern- ment still categorizes as a highly dangerous illegal drug with no medical value.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R- S.D.), for example, remains de- cidedly anti-weed although his
Day, two
ARCHBISHOP WILTON GREGORY
“It’s been a time to thank
LA DA's Security Open Fire After Attempted Carjacking Outside Her Home
Los Angeles District Attor- ney Jackie Lacey's security team opened fire on two sus- pects after an attempted car- jacking outside her home, police said.
The shooting happened in Granada Hills at around 6:20pm local time Saturday, authorities confirmed.
It is understood the suspects had pulled up alongside two vehicles which were part of the detail protecting recently
Los Angeles District Attor- ney Jackie Lacey.
ousted Lacey.
One of those wanted in con- nection with the incident then attempted to steal one of their cars - which had been empty - before being shot at by an offi- cer, The LA Times reports.
The two suspects then fled the scene, crashing the car they left in before escaping in an- other vehicle, LAPD Com- mander Alan Hamilton told ABC7.
No one was injured in the incident.
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