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Essence Magazine:

Former President Barack Obama is speaking out about the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, while calling for a new “normal” in the United States.

In his statement, which he shared on Twitter, the president also referenced the death of Ahmaud Arbery, who was killed while jogging down the street; as well as the incident involving Christian Cooper, who was harassed by a white woman who threatenedto call the cops on him for asking her to leash her dog—noting that these are the sad, “normal” realities of Black life in America.

“It’s natural to wish for life ‘to just get back to normal’ as a pandemic and economic crisis upend everything around us,” Obama wrote, referencing the current crisis with the novel coronavirus COVID-19. “But we have to remember that for millions of Americans, being treated differently on account of race is tragically, painfully, maddeningly ‘normal’— whether it’s while dealing with the health care system, or interacting with the criminal justice system, or jogging down the street, or just watching birds in a park.”

My statement on the death of George Floyd: pic.twitter.com/Hg1k9JHT6R

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 29, 2020

The former president insisted that we should not accept this as normal; and he called on everyone, including those in law enforcement, to come together to seek justice and bring about a “new normal.”

“It will fall mainly on the officials of Minnesota to ensure that the circumstances surrounding George Floyd’s death are investigated thoroughly and that justice is ultimately done,” the president said at the end of his note. “But it falls on all of us, regardless of our race or station—including the majority of men and women in law enforcement who take pride in doing their tough job the right way, every day—to work together to create a ‘new normal’ in which the legacy of bigotry and unequal treatment no longer infects our institutions or our hearts.”

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Senator Amy Klobuchar, who is currently being vetted as a potential candidate to be Joe Biden’s vice president in the 2020 elections, is facing increased scrutiny in the anger and frustration over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

As the Star Tribune notes, Klobuchar was once a Hennepin County prosecutor, where her record is questionable at best. She refused to criminally charge officers involved in fatalities throughout her tenure, leaving the decision to a grand jury, which the Tribune notes, was a common practice at the time.

However, one of those officers who also slipped through her own scrutiny as a prosecutor was Derek Chauvin, the officer who was involved in Floyd’s death.

According to the report, Chauvin was one of six officers who shot at Wayne Reyes in 2006, ultimately killing him. Reyes reportedly aimed a shotgun at officers after stabbing his friend and his girlfriend.

Klobuchar declined to prosecute those involved, including Chauvin, and the case never went before a grand jury until after she became a senator.

ATLANTA – NOVEMBER 20: Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) speaks during the Democratic Presidential Debate at Tyler Perry Studios on November 20, 2019, in Atlanta. Ten Democratic presidential hopefuls were chosen from the larger field of candidates to participate in the debate hosted by MSNBC and the Washington Post. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

“We need to close the enthusiasm gap that Biden currently faces. We need to have a VP pick that expands the capacity of the campaign to reach these key audiences. Black women are key. Brown women are key. And Klobuchar does not do that,” Aimee Allison, the president of She the People, told the news site.

This is not the first time that Klobuchar’s history as a prosecutor has come up, given that she was, at one point, a fixture in the 2020 Democratic lineup for president.

The View cohost Sunny Hostin has called Klobuchar out for her failure to prosecute a single officer who was involved in the death of someone. Hostin also brought up the fact that she sentenced Myon Burrell to life in prison as a teen in the murder of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards. No gun was ever recovered, and there was no DNA evidence in that case. Burrell has long maintained his innocence, and another individual confessed to the crime.

Floyd’s death has once again highlighted her questionable past in these matters, and ignited calls for her to shut down any talk about her being vice president.

Amy Klobuchar needs to make a statement TODAY withdrawing herself from consideration to be Biden’s running mate.

— Charlotte Clymer (@cmclymer) May 29, 2020

If Biden wants to earn respect, he would make a statement saying Amy Klobuchar is no longer being considered. https://t.co/xSTvmrRHj8

— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) May 29, 2020

I don’t even understand what the point would be of picking Amy Klobuchar for vice president.

— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) May 29, 2020

The post Amy Klobuchar Didn’t Prosecute Cop Involved In George Floyd’s Death appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Denzel Washington is a hero on the big screen. And now a new viral video proves he’s that dude even when Hollywood cameras aren’t rolling.

The Academy Award–winning actor was driving in Los Angeles on May 21 when he spotted a seemingly homeless man in the street and pulled over to guide him away from oncoming traffic, USA Today reports. Another individual spotted the Malcolm X star and called the police. 

The incident, captured on video, shows Washington, who’s wearing a face mask, assisting the man, who wore a light blue hoodie but didn’t have a protective face covering. In the full clip, Washington is seen talking to the man and putting his hand on his shoulder assuringly.

https://youtu.be/Cx0czLn8hSg

Rex Chapman, former NBA player and Denver Nuggets Vice President, posted the video to Twitter Thursday—showing Washington in Good Samaritan mode, talking with three police officers and acting as a go-between for the man and the cops. The man was later handcuffed as Washington put extra masks in his pocket. 

Denzel Washington saw a commotion in West Hollywood with cops and an unarmed distressed homeless man. He got out of his car and served as a barrier between the man and the police — helping to diffuse a tense situation. This man was arrested safely. pic.twitter.com/4UyYdX1vT6

— Rex Chapman (@RexChapman) May 28, 2020

In light of the recent killing of George Floyd by a White police officer in Minnesota, Washington’s act of kindness has gone viral on social media; and fans chimed in on Twitter to show gratitude and appreciation for the former Boys and Girls Club member. 

“Denzel out there in an old T-shirt, doing the good work. Maybe saving a life. Being a good example for all of us,” one user wrote.

This incident with Denzel interceding for the homeless man, just breaks my damn heart. Denzel out there in an old T-shirt, doing the good work. Maybe saving a life. Being a good example for all of us. Thank you, #DenzelWashington. https://t.co/VNKdn9CPmy

— Emily (@poppy1080) May 28, 2020

Another user tweeted, “Denzel Washington did what anybody should do in that kind of situation.”

#DenzelWashington DenzelWashington Did what anybody should do in that kind of situation I would’ve like to know that the people recording #GeorgeFloyd or Those surrounding him could’ve felt safe enough to do the same

— Bryonna Jones (@BryonnaJones) May 29, 2020

“After what happened to George Floyd, this helped take the edge off. Thank you Denzel Washington. #BlackLivesMatter,” yet another shared.

After what happened to George Floyd, this helped take the edge off. Thank you Denzel Washington. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/sPhoPSA1R6

— Deborah Grey (@GreyFrost) May 28, 2020

An LAPD sergeant confirmed that the man “didn’t want to be a harm to himself or others, and he was on his way, and Denzel left.”

We’re giving a shout-out to Washington for doing the good work!

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