Experts Say “We May Be Better Off Waiting" For Reopening Phase 2

Also: Vigils and protests continued last night in JP and Roslindale; Pressley and Markey push to end "qualified immunity" for police ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( June 5, 2020 Good Morning Boston, 🌡️ Clouds and sun, more [humid](. Afternoon could bring a shower or thunderstorm. Highs 82-87. It's Friday. But between ongoing local and national demonstrations calling for changes to policing and a decision on whether Massachusetts can move to phase two of its reopening plan, we're not expecting to see a slow down in news. Here's what you need to know about about protests and the pandemic from the last 24 hours: - Hundreds of people gathered at [separate vigils]( in Jamaica Plain and Roslindale last night, adding their voices to the week-long chorus demanding a change in policing and structural racism in America. - Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Ed Markey are leading a bicameral [push to end qualified immunity]( for law enforcement officers — the legal doctrine that shields public officials from personal liability for acts committed in the line of duty. - Boston Mayor Marty Walsh spoke about racism and the protests yesterday afternoon, urging the city's white residents to listen to their neighbors. "As a white person, you can and should be opposed to racism," he said. "You can learn and understand the effects and how it affects people, but when you make space for people to open up — truly open up — when you hear daily experiences of racism and what it means to people, particularly black employees, it deepens the perspective and strengthens our resolve to be an ally and push for change." - Tomorrow is the big day: Gov. Charlie Baker will let us know whether the state will enter phase two of its reopening plan for Monday. This would mean hotels could resume bookings, restaurants can welcome diners back via outdoor seating and shoppers could go back to retail stores. But some experts think it [may be too soon to tell]( if we're ready to reopen. And a group of doctors, union leaders and community and public health advocates [do not want the state to move to this next phase]( until the administration can ensure that at-risk populations, including people of color, are adequately protected. - President Donald Trump is visiting one of Maine's least populous towns and its most conservative county today. He'll be touring a factory producing medical swabs for coronavirus testing. Who won't be there, however, is the state's only [Republican member of Congress, Sen. Susan Collins.]( P.S.– Many white people – myself included – have been talking a lot about listening and learning more about race in America, and deeply-rooted structural and unconscious biases. But talk is just that. If you're ready to do the work, here are [five podcasts recommended by arts reporter Christian Burno that will help jumpstart your anti-racism education](. An important note Burno makes is that this is not a comprehensive, "how to be a good ally" list. It's just one of the many resources you can look to for help on understanding what the heck is going on and why it’s happening. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[Is Mass. Ready For Phase 2 Reopening? Experts Say It May Be To Soon To Tell]( It takes time for COVID-19 symptoms to show up. So, if more people are getting sick now because of loosened restrictions during phase one of the plan, they won’t know or get tested for several days. Health experts say it’s possible that some transmission of the coronavirus has risen already. more.]( - Looking Ahead: [To Reopen Campus, Colleges Prepare To Take On Contagious Students]( - Get Caught Up: [What To Know About Coronavirus In Mass. Today](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Hundreds Gather In Jamaica Plain And Roslindale As Vigils And Protests Continue]( Hundreds of people gathered at separate vigils in Jamaica Plain and Roslindale Thursday evening, adding their voices to the week-long chorus demanding a change in policing and structural racism in America. [Read more.]( - National: ['I Can Breathe Now': After Days Of Nationwide Protests, George Floyd Is Eulogized]( 3. [Civil Rights Groups, Black Lives Matter Sue Trump Administration Over Protest Violence]( The suit says the Trump administration and federal agencies violated the constitutional rights of demonstrators who were violently evacuated out of a park Monday to clear the path for a photo op by President Trump. [Read more.]( - Protesting Amid A Pandemic: [Tear Gassing Protesters During An Infectious Outbreak Called 'A Recipe For Disaster']( 4. ['Already Living On The Edge': Women Served By Rosie's Place Deal With Even Shakier Reality In Pandemic]( Rosie's Place, the women's shelter, food pantry and community center in Boston's South End, has altered its routines during the pandemic and is handing out more than 200 bags of groceries each day. [Read more.]( 5. [Dead And Dying Trees Have More Methane In Their Soil, Study Finds]( Sick trees in Chelsea were 30 times more likely than healthy trees to have detectable methane in the soil around their roots. [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - ICYMI: [Last night's Town Hall]( on race, justice, police practices and the death of George Floyd is definitely worth watching or listening to, if you have an hour. If you're short on time, interview highlights are also included. - Touchless elevators and no buffets? Those are only a couple examples of[how the coronavirus may change the hotel experience.]( - Big news for Boston University: One of America's pre-eminent scholars on race and racism, [Ibram X. Kendi]( will establish and lead the new BU Center for Antiracist Research. - This week was hard and many are asking the question "What can I do?" The thing to remember is that you alone cannot undo systemic racism, writes Susan X Jane [in this commentary](. Think about what you're hearing before you jump into action. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [Radio Boston | A Difficult Balance: Protecting Free Speech And Public Health During A Pandemic]( [Listen]( CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES [Resources: Your Guide To Navigating Coronavirus]( [Listen]( Make "Coronavirus, Briefly" Your Daily Audio Update [Map & Case Count:]( Breaking Down Coronavirus Here In Charts [Town By Town:]( See Your Community's Reported Coronavirus Cases Stay Informed: Get daily coronavirus updates in your inbox. [Sign up for our coronavirus newsletter.]( What We're Reading - The Tiny Media Collective That Is Delivering Some Of The Most Vital Reporting From Minneapolis ([The New Yorker]( - The Toll Of Covering Police Brutality As A Black Journalist ([The Takeaway]( - The Videos That Rocked America. The Song That Knows Our Rage ([The New York Times]( Tell Me Something Good [Local Theater Is Acting Up A Storm — On Your Laptop]( There are myriad choices, from videos to Zoom plays and readings. Before you go: [Big mood.]( 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📨 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news [WBUR]( [95289b97-66e8-43d4-a174-3bc3520a79a9.png]( [Instagram](  [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Want to change how you receive these emails? [Stop getting this newsletter by updating your preferences.]( I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. 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