President Trump Signs Executive Order to Reform Police Practices

Currents News Staff

After meeting with families whose loved ones were victims of police violence and racial profiling, President Trump signed an executive order to change some police practices, “to deliver a future of safety and security for Americans of every race, religion, color and creed.”

“All Americans mourn by your side,” he told the families. “Your loved ones will not have died in vain.”

Among the reforms, the order establishes a national database to track the excessive use of force by officers and any convictions or judgments against officers for improper use of force.

It also provides more funding to departments which have received or are seeking accreditation for training officers in use of force and de-escalation techniques and bans chokeholds, except in instances when an officer’s life is in danger and the use of deadly force is allowed by law.

The order encourages police departments to add social workers or mental health professionals to respond to calls related to mental health, including drug addiction and homelessness.

The president, who prides himself on promoting law and order, also strongly defended police.

“Americans know the truth,” he said. “Without police, there is chaos. Without law, there’s anarchy. And without safety, there is catastrophe”

But some say this action isn’t enough.

“It will not do anything to correct police brutality, which is the real issue,” said Joe Ested, a former Richmond, Virginia police officer.

President Trump is now punting to Congress to put more police reforms into law.

“Hopefully they’ll all get together, and they will come up with a solution that goes even beyond what we’re signing today, but this is a big, big step,” he said.

Catholics in Queens Are Fighting Racism With the Help of Their Church

By Emily Drooby

Matthew Campbell says the sin of racism forces him to always be on guard.

“Every time I go to the park, it’s hard knowing you might not come home that night,” he explained.

He is a long-time parishioner of St. Clare Church in Rosedale, Queens.

Matthew and his mom, Althea, are trying to stamp out the evil with the help of their community, fellow parishioners and their church.

“This church stands for peace, equality, and justice and the Church is against racism in any form, and we want to show that,” said Althea.

In order to do that, Althea, who runs the church’s women’s ministry, organized a peaceful protest outside the church on June 12. It was a safe space to stand up to racism and police brutality.

The protest was originally supposed to be silent, but there were moments of chanting.

“I want to be able to as I grow up or as I have kids of my own, I’m able to tell them how I fought and how my friends fought for equality when equality wasn’t a thing that was always present,” said teenager Ethan Jameer when explaining why it was important for him to be there.

“I’ve never experienced racism until I came to the United States,” said Norma Grannum, who is originally from Jamaica, “I’ve never seen violence like that. I’ve never seen violence, it hurts my heart to see the destruction of another human being.”

Norma has attended St. Clare for over 40 years, and was inspired to protest for racial justice after watching footage of George Floyd’s last moments.

Even the church’s pastor, Father Andrew Struzzieri, joined the group outside.

“Most of my parishioners are black and they’re beautiful and I just can’t understand racism anymore,” he explained. “It’s just illogical. It doesn’t make sense, so it’s important that I be here with my parishioners.”

It was a very emotional day. Many talked about their own experiences with racism, sharing stories about being followed while in the store shopping and being questioned for crimes they never committed.

Althea said she knows a lot of really great police officers, and even has some in her family.

She said it’s important that the police in their community know they’re appreciated, but that there needs to be more accountability.

Currents News full broadcast for Mon, 6/15/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

New York State has suspended evictions, but there are some loopholes you need to know about. Catholic Charities is stepping in to stop people from getting kicked out.

A black man killed by police in Atlanta is fueling new unrest while Catholics in queens are coming together to protest.

A landmark ruling from the Supreme Court. It’s about LGBT workers on the job.

Alice Marie Johnson is here. She spent decades behind bars until President Trump set her free.

Criminal Justice Reform Must Include ‘More Transparency,’ Says Alice Marie Johnson

Currents News Staff

As protests continue across the country since George Floyd’s death, calls for police to change their ways have grown louder. Tensions have heightened even more by the police shooting death of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, Georgia on June 13.

Protesters have started a “defund the police” movement, and police departments around the country are looking at reforms.

In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo is giving the more than 500 departments around the state until April first to come up with a plan for reform.

To prevent the spread of coronavirus, since March, some inmates at New York City’s Rikers Island were released. According to the New York Post, some 10 percent have since been arrested, some of them multiple times.

Due to bail reform, they’re being re-released. Out of the roughly 2,500 inmates let go, 250 have allegedly committed nearly 450 new crimes.

In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo is giving the more than 500 departments around the state until April first to come up with a plan for reform.

A former convict turned advocate for criminal justice reform joins Currents News to lend her perspective.

Alice Marie Johnson was granted clemency by President Donald Trump after spending 21 years of a life sentence in prison for her role in a drug trafficking ring.

She shares her thoughts on the ongoing protests and her vision for the future of criminal justice reform.

Catholic Charities of New York Helps Renters at Risk of Eviction as Moratorium Is Lifted

By Jessica Easthope

A change is coming for renters in New York City. The eviction moratorium has been extended to August 20, but it won’t include everyone.

“That extension of the moratorium only covers tenants who have been affected by the pandemic and the only way they can prove they were affected is by showing they applied for unemployment insurance benefits,” said Antonio Garcia, the Director of Catholic Charities of New York’s Eviction Prevention Program.

Starting on June 20, those who were struggling to pay rent and facing eviction before the pandemic will once again be at risk.

“Nobody knows the magnitude of the problem yet, what we could see is a spike in people facing eviction in New York City,” said Antonio.

According to Catholic Charities, there are more than 200,000 non-payment cases in New York City Housing Court every year. Nine percent of those cases result in evictions. Anthony projects courts will have double that amount once the moratorium is lifted, leaving the city’s low-income renters with an uncertain future.

“It doesn’t seem to be happening for everybody but it is for some? That doesn’t seem fair,” said Tatiana, a direct support professional working with adults who have developmental disabilities.

Many of her clients are out of a job because of COVID-19, but they don’t qualify for unemployment because they don’t make enough. The moratorium will be extended for them if they can prove their unemployment is because of the pandemic, but in the meantime they’re struggling and Tatiana is fighting for them.

“They have to feed their families, they have to feed their families and they have bills that they can’t catch up on,” she explained.

Catholic Charities is doing everything it can to be a resource for these at-risk tenants.

“We help clients find the resources to pay the rental arrears, we also mediate with landlords to find a solution, sometimes landlords are willing to abate some of those rental arrears,” said Anthony.

Catholic Charities is also presenting tenants with long-term solutions to their rent-payment-problems.

“We have employment specialists who can help them, we also have a tenant education program that helps people with budget management,” said Garcia.

The eviction moratorium will be lifted for those whose unemployment was not affected by the pandemic on Saturday, June 20.

After the Death of Rayshard Brooks, Atlanta Protesters March for Criminal Justice Reform

Currents News Staff

It was outrage and a demand for justice in Atlanta, Georgia after the death of another black man at the hands of police.

Protesters marched to push criminal justice reform after the death of Rayshard Brooks, who was shot on June 13 by police after a sobriety test.

On the morning of June 15 a march and a rally at the Georgia state capitol were held in support of Brooks, who was shot twice after police found him asleep in his car at a Wendy’s on Friday night.

After a sobriety test, an officer tried to arrest Brooks, saying, “put your hands behind your back.”

Brooks resisted, and there was a scuffle.

Witness video shows Brooks taking a taser from police during the struggle, and surveillance video shows him pointing it toward an officer as he ran away.

The district attorney said his office is still investigating the incident, but those taking the streets are demanding action.

“They should have done something different in that situation because they had several different options,” said Justin Miller, the attorney for the family of Rayshard Brooks.

This incident follows weeks of world-wide protests against police violence, ignited by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Memorial Day.

Floyd’s brother Philonise says the Brooks shooting is another example of what needs to change.

“Enough is enough,” he said. “You constantly see people dying every day, black people dying.”

The officer who shot Brooks has been terminated, and Atlanta’s police chief stepped down over the weekend.

But those who showed up at the capitol say that’s not enough.

“We need to hold them accountable, and we can’t stop fighting,” said protestor Hannah Gebresilassie. “We’re hurt and we’re broken, but we can’t stop fighting.”

Currents News full broadcast for Sat, 6/13/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

It was a rallying cry at protests across the country and now many lawmakers are trying to make it a reality – defund the police.

Those calls come as summer violence flares up in big cities, exploding in Chicago.

George Floyd has been laid to rest, but the spot in Minneapolis where he died is now hallowed ground for many.

And the big apple is reawakening from lockdown, but for some it’s too late. Meet a small business owner who is determined to recover, but he’ll have to go at it alone.

Homepage

Should We Get Tested for COVID as Gatherings Resume? We Ask the Doctor

Currents News Staff

As economies reopen, we’re reminded the coronavirus is still here. And so, conditions change and questions remain.

Florida is one state that’s not alone in seeing a spike in new cases. It’s happening in many areas: Arizona, Utah and New Mexico all reported 40-percent more cases during the first week in June than the week before.

Is this because the virus is spreading, or is it because more testing is happening? What numbers should you be looking at to get an understanding of how sick your state is?

Many are now planning outdoor activities with family again, or vacations. Everyone wants to see loved ones again, and some are taking the precaution of getting tested before their vacation or event.

When should a person get tested, and how long does it take to get the results. Should you get it two weeks in advance, in case you’re positive and have to quarantine?

Meanwhile, protests are still happening, and now President Trump has decided to re-launch his campaign rallies. Should we be worried about another wave of coronavirus?

Johnson and Johnson are about to start human trials of a vaccine, but how promising is it, and when can we expect to have a vaccine available to the public?

To offer his insights and answer some of these questions is Dr. Robert Tiballi, an infectious disease expert with the Catholic Medical Association.

Send Currents News your questions about the coronavirus at askthedoctor@desalesmedia.org. And tune in on Fridays – the doctor could have an answer.

Currents News full broadcast for Fri, 6/12/20 (Catholic news)

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

The nationwide debate over the future of the police is front and center on Capitol Hill.

Controversy swirling around Christopher Columbus and his statues has New York Governor Andrew Cuomo saying ‘hold on.’

A man who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty – he grew up on a farm. But now he’s slated to become a priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

People are back on the beaches in Florida – but maybe they shouldn’t be.

Coronavirus upended her family but it didn’t prevent a girl from finishing on top.

How This Student Found Faith in the Classroom & Became St. Peter Catholic Academy’s Valedictorian

By Emily Drooby

Samantha Chan has accomplished something many only dream of: she’s the valedictorian of her Catholic Academy.

“I feel pretty excited because I like school a lot and I feel like studying is a very important part of my life,” she said of her accomplishment.

Like children across the country, the St. Peter student has been dealing with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. She has had to learn from home and miss out on typical school events.

Samantha was affected more than most. Her mom is a nurse — a hero working the frontlines of the outbreak.

Her principal, Danielle Alfeo, tells Currents News she learned of the family’s extra struggles while on a visit to deliver a graduation sign.

“Mom came out first and said, ‘Samantha hasn’t been out of the house at all.’ She says because she was so afraid that she was already exposed to so many germs,” Danielle explained. “She didn’t want her children to be exposed, either.”

Her mom’s job isn’t the only reason Samantha’s family was extra cautious. They also live with her grandparents.

“Because I don’t want to risk anything, because I live with my grandparents,” she explained, “I’m paranoid something could happen to them.”

But, she didn’t let these additional worries affect her school work.

“She’s such a phenomenal student but very quiet, very reserved, very polite and well mannered,” said Danielle.

The eight grade student says she loves to study, and that has helped her be successful.

Her Catholic faith has also helped during this time. It’s a faith she found while in Danielle’s fourth grade religion class.

“I wanted to become closer and understand more about the faith,” Samantha recalled.

She decided she wanted to be Catholic. Now, Danielle is her godmother and confirmation sponsor

“She always looked out for us in the classroom and she understood our interests, I felt like she was a good candidate for my godmother,” Samantha said.

She has a deep and ever-growing connection with God, and a strong work ethic. Samantha has also dealt with more than many kids her age, but she never let it affect her work. She’s valedictorian, and a role model.