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From major cities to small villages, from America to the other side of the globe, citizens are demonstrating against racial injustice and police brutality in historic numbers. At OZY, weâre committed to helping [reset America](. We hope youâll join us on the journey.
Protest Surprises
1 Moment of Calm
Americans awoke today to learn that protests over George Floydâs killing were subdued overnight in the wake of upgraded charges against Officer Derek Chauvin and new charges filed against the three other officers on the scene. If convicted, which will be no slam dunk, as [OZY reports](, the four could face up to four decades in prison.
2 Mad Dog Melee
âGlad he is gone!â So tweeted President Donald Trump in response to former Secretary of Defense James Mattisâ criticism of him. Mattis denounced the commander in chief in [a statement]( yesterday to The Atlantic. âMilitarizing our response, as we witnessed in Washington, D.C., sets up a conflict â a false conflict â between the military and civilian society,â the retired four-star general stated. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski today backed Mattis and [said sheâs âstrugglingâ]( with whether she can still support Trump.
3 Crackdowns of Yore
And 31 years ago today? Beijing ordered troops to [storm Tiananmen Square]( to quash weekslong pro-democracy protests. Police and soldiers fired into the crowds â many protesters fled while some resisted â killing hundreds and arresting thousands.Â
They Said What They Meant
4 Dream Preview
In May 1957, six years before his legendary âI Have a Dreamâ speech, Martin Luther King Jr. stood before a crowd, also at the Lincoln Memorial, to make a demand of American leaders: [Give us the ballot](.
5 Fiery Address
Railing against American slavery, [Frederick Douglass]( stood before a crowd in Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York, on July 5, 1852. âThis Fourth of July is yours, not mine,â he said. âYou may rejoice, I must mourn.â And Douglass was just getting warmed up.
6 Speaking the Truth
âIf the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again!â [Sojourner Truth](, itinerant preacher and former slave, said at an 1851 womenâs rights convention.
New Voices to Know
7 Ibram X. Kendi
The 37-year-old historian is the best-selling author of How to Be an Antiracist. Through memoir-based writing, Kendi makes antiracism accessible, forcing readers to reexamine their own deeply held biases. A New York native, he is the founding director of[the Antiracist Research & Policy Center]( at American University. Kendi is a vegan and a cancer survivor.
8 Brittney Cooper
The 39-year-old author of Eloquent Rage is an educator, activist and cultural critic whose research spans from Black feminist theory to hip-hop. Check out her [TED Talk,]( discussing modern racial politics and how it has been stolen from people of color in this country, delaying progress.Â
9 Agnes Chow Ting
The 23-year-old loves to let loose at karaoke bars. But unlike others her age, she hasnât been able to unwind in a long time, [OZY reports](. âMy city is burning; there is no time for âme time,ââ says the Hong Kong pro-democracy leader who has been able to do the unthinkable â rattle the mighty and powerful China.
10 Gina Din-Kariuki
Her office door just says âBoss.âAnd with good reason. [Kenyaâs Olivia Pope]( has turned the countryâs biggest brands, such as Safaricom, into Pan-African household names. Now, the 58-year-old is on a mission to reshape the image of Africa for the world, as OZY reports. And her firm was recently acquired by global PR giant Edelman.
11 Find More
Learn about these and other emerging civil rights leaders [here on OZY](.
A Whiff of Good News
12 Going Global
George Floydâs death has sparked fresh debates over police brutality internationally, from [Malaysia]( to [Nigeria and Kenya](, where activists are also calling for change. Could the moment serve as a catalyst for a global shift in policing?
13 So Sue Me
Libertarian Rep. Justin Amash plans to introduce a [bill seeking the end of qualified immunity](, a doctrine that protects law enforcement officers from being sued in their personal capacity, even in civil rights cases. He has won support from progressive Reps. Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley. Meanwhile, Democratic Sens. Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Ed Markey are pushing a [Senate resolution]( also seeking the end of qualified immunity.
14 Working Together
In Lincoln, Nebraska, police and community leaders signed a âHold Cops Accountableâ initiative, which will include monthly town halls to [discuss progress]( in the fight against brutality.
15 Black Lives Matter to Business
Big companies are often barometers of public mood â if for no other reason then their bottom lines. That tech giants such as [Google]( and [Apple]( and fashion brands like [Banana Republic]( have openly sought justice for Floyd suggests that big businesses are demanding change too.
Reset America: A Few Things You Can Do Today
16 Read This
â[White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack](,â by Peggy McIntosh.
17 Sign This
Petitions for justice for[George Floyd](,[Breonna Taylor](,[Tony McDade](,[Ahmaud Arbery]( and others.
18 Fill This Out
[Register]( to vote or confirm you are registered, and encourage anyone you know who didnât vote in 2016 to do so this year. Send us your thoughts on todayâs special newsletter simply by replying to this email.
What You Had to Say
19 Letter From the Editor
On Monday, OZY CEO and co-founder Carlos Watson shared [a letter]( offering his reflections on the current moment and what it can mean for America, and for the world. He has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of feelings and emails he received in response. Here are some examples:
20 From Rosie â
âI write this to say I think I am rational and balanced. However, the pain and recurring trauma and anger I feel tonight has an urgent potency to it that I have not felt before. It may be that I am old and just plain tired of being tired. It may just be that I cannot act out my anger and it will indeed kill me. Alas, I feel quieted that you children add to the pool of educated resistance that can articulate and activate and motivate.â
21 From Hilary â
âPlease take a hard look at what has happened and what hasnât happened since 1968. Iâve lived through it all and have come to one conclusion that I would love to have investigated again. That is, why, after all the liberal policies and trillions of dollars, are Afro-Americans still stuck in the situation they find themselves in today? Iâve followed the developments of charter school success, empowering small minority businesses, opportunities in the armed services, etc., for decades. The liberals, progressives and Democratic politicians seem to block any program that actually leads to upward mobility, financial freedom and less government dependency. Please explore how after all these years most of what has been tried has failed. Time for a new approach.â
22 From Janet â
âWhy does Rep. [Barbara] Lee always want to write a new law? You canât legislate respect and understanding. Try tenderness and bring in God!â
23 From LoAnn â
âDr. Martin Luther King would not have wanted to see ignorant others looting merchandise, vandalizing properties, setting fires to government buildings, destroying public structures, etc.⦠He would have wanted us to be ones to bring justice to the unjust in peace and demand fair trials [for] gross mistreatments.â
24 From Jeff â
âReal journalists would press for all the information from all sides, and press for answers.â
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