Page 29 - Florida Sentinel 8-7-20

National
Flushing The Toilet May Be Spraying Coronavirus Particles Around
Four Alabama Prison Guards Charged With Excessive Force
A crappy new discovery sug- gests that people may want to be extra cautious about the coronavirus when flushing the toilet.
In a new research paper published in Physics of Fluids, scientists say the virus ― also referred to as SARS-CoV-2 ― may be able to spread through “toilet plumes” (which defi- nitely seem as gross as they sound).
Simulations conducted by the researchers showed that the flush and “turbulence” in
the bowl can propel droplets that can rise more than 3 feet. Those droplets can become aerosolized in the air and
linger for a short period of time or land on other surfaces in the bathroom.
Evidence shows SARS-CoV- 2 can be found in the feces of some patients. Previous re- search also showed that the virus can be found in stools for up to a few weeks after a per- son recovers from COVID-19. But it’s not yet known if “whether the virus found in feces may be capable of caus- ing COVID-19,” according to the Centers for Disease Con- trol and Prevention.
Alabama’s prison system has come under scrutiny in re- cent months following a fed- eral report that details widespread, systemic issues of abuse and a lack of proper oversight. As a result of the findings, four guards have been charged with using ex- cessive force against an in- mate.
The New York Times re- ports that the charges stem from a 2018 incident at the Bibb Correctional Facility in Brent, Ala. Prosecutors allege that former Sgt. Keith Finch, former Officer Jor- dan Thomas, Officer Kevin Blaylock and Sgt. Or- landa Walker beat an in- mate with batons as he laid on the ground in the fetal posi- tion. The incident began when the inmate allegedly attempted to run out of his cell. He was taken to the ground when the officers began beating him.
After the incident occurred, Thomas filed a false report saying that once the inmate was on the ground all use of force had stopped, a claim cor- roborated by Sgt. Walker, according to prosecutors and prison officials, the Times notes. Officer Blaylock,
Thomas and Finch were charged with deprivation of rights under the color of law, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years if convicted. Thomas and Walker were charged with obstruction of justice, which is punishable by a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Prison officials for the state have said they are instituting a violence-reduction task force, instituting more training for guards and launching a pilot program for the use of body cameras in certain correctional facilities. They’re also working to address issues of over- crowding and staffing short- ages at the facilities.
Black Teen In Detroit Detained For Not Doing Homework Released
A 15-year-old Black girl who was being detained in a juve- nile facility in Detroit for fail- ing to complete online schoolwork has been granted release by the Michigan Court of Appeals.
The teenage girl in ques- tion, referred to as Grace to protect her privacy, had been held in detention at the Chil- dren’s Village center for 78 days since being ordered there by Judge Mary Ellen Bren- nan in May.
Despite widespread outcry after ProPublica Illinois re- ported on the case in July, publicizing it at a time when
conversations about systemic racism are happening nation- ally, Judge Brennan denied a recent request from Grace’s lawyers to release her from de- tention.
Thankfully, her lawyers Jonathan Biernat and Saima Khalil took it to the state’s appellate court who ruled on Friday that Grace could go home.
From ProPublica: Michigan lawmakers and school board members have called for the girl’s release, more than 300,000 people signed an online petition and federal lawmakers asked the U. S. Department of Education and the U.S . Justice Depart- ment to intervene. There were several protests outside the courthouse where the case was
heard.
City Of Tulsa Will Remove BLM Mural
After Local Republican Party Chairman
Asks To Paint Pro-Police Message
The city of Tulsa has ordered that a Black Lives Matter mural, painted on a street in the district where the Black Wall Street massacre happened nearly 100 years ago, be painted over.
The Wednesday night deci- sion came after chairman of the Tulsa Republican Party, Bob Jack, emailed his city councilor last week, stating interest in having a pro-police “Back the Blue” mural painted, reports KJRH TV. According to the local news station, Jack posed it as a rhetorical question—”he said he was already aware the city had no set process regard- ing street paintings.”
Jack also proposed a mural that read “Baby Lives Matter,” the Washington Post writes.
BLACK LIVES MATTER MURAL
The painting was never offi- cially approved by the city of Tulsa; Jack’s request forced council members to consider how they could allow the BLM message to stand, but not a “Back the Blue” or other right- wing, pro-police message.
“I applaud it,” Councilor Connie Dodson said regard- ing the BLM mural at Wednes- day’s meeting, the Post reports. “It’s great. But at the same point, it comes down to: Yes, if you allow one, then you have to allow all of them.”
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