American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) launches campaign for mass clemency as systemic response to racist incarceration

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is launching a years-long campaign for the clemency and release of 50,000 prisoners as a means to address “decades of racist, punitive, and degrading incarceration,” Fox News reported last week. “The Redemption Campaign” will be lobbying state governors to grant mass clemency to “older incarcerated people,” “people convicted of drug distribution and possession offenses,” “people incarcerated for technical probation or parole violations,” and people who would have received a lesser sentence if convicted under current laws.

End of July jobless rate remained high, although lower than forecast

Although the number of employment claims at the end of July was over 1 million for the 20th straight week, it was also the lowest number of new claims since the US was struck by COVID-19 in March, the Washington Examiner reports. The end of July saw 1.2 million claims when economists had forecast there would be 1.42 million.

Portland mayor unleashes police on violent demonstrations

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who for weeks had blamed President Trump for fueling riots in his Oregon city, on Thursday acknowledged that the violence has continued even after the federal presence was curtailed, and told peaceful protesters to stay home.

Trump signs law assigning $3 billion a year for conservation

Following overwhelming bipartisan Congressional support for the measure, on Tuesday President Donald Trump signed the Great American Outdoors Act that will assign $3 billion a year to conservation, outdoor recreation, and maintenance of national parks and other public lands, USA News reports.

Minneapolis commission expected to approve proposal to replace police department with public safety department

A majority in a Minneapolis commission is expected to support a City Council proposal Wednesday to dismantle the city’s Police Department and replace it with a new “Department of Community Safety and Violence Prevention,” the Washington Times reports. If the amendment proceeds to a ballot in November, voters will be given the last word. The proposal follows the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.

Poll finds American parents are split along party lines on their views of COVID-19

A new Gallup poll has shown American parents are divided along party lines when it comes to their views on the coronavirus pandemic, its effect on their children and on whether schools should reopen, the Washington Times reports. Among its findings, the poll showed that 85% of parents who identify as Democrats and 29% who identify as Republicans are concerned their child might contract COVID-19.

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