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The Democrat-led House of Representatives passed a package of criminal justice legislation Thursday night, largely along party lines, to address nationwide protests and demands for policing reforms following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last month.

By a 236-181 vote, with only three Republicans voting in favor of it, the House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The legislation would end qualified immunitya legal doctrine that shields cops from liability in civil rights lawsuitsestablish a national registry for police misconduct, ban police chokeholds and no-knock raids in some circumstances, and limit the transfer of military equipment to state and local police departments. It would also require federal law enforcement officers to wear body cameras and to have dashboard cameras installed in their vehicles.

Ending qualified immunity has long been on criminal justice reform advocates and libertarians' wish lists.

"Qualified immunity is a failure as a matter of policy, as a matter of law, and as a matter of basic morality," said Robert McNamara, a senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, a libertarian-leaning public interest law firm. "For too long, qualified immunity has denied victims a remedy for violations of their constitutional rights. It's encouraging to see Congress is finally taking steps to fix this pernicious mistake by the Supreme Court."

Although civil liberties groups say the bill is far from perfectthey criticized provisions that would increase federal funding for state and local law enforcementKanya Bennett, senior legislative counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said in a press release that tonight's vote is still "the most significant action that Congress has taken on police reform in the six years that have transpired between the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson and George Floyd in Minneapolis."

"Given this significant and historic moment we are in, though, Congress can and must do more," she continued. "We can't band-aid police with more federal dollars or take away just some of the military weapons. Congress must divest entirely from an institution that has brutalized Black people for centuries."

However, the fate of any comprehensive policing reform, at least at the federal level, seems doomed, at least for the moment. The White House and congressional Republicans have made it clear that ending qualified immunity is off the table.

Meanwhile in the Senate, Democrats have blocked Republican's more modest policing reform bill, the Just and Unifying Solutions to Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act, introduced by Sen. Tim Scott (RS.C.).

The JUSTICE Act would, among other things, increase the penalties for filing a false police report and incentivize departments to create systems to share disciplinary records with each other to stop problem officers from being rehired. Another section, the Breonna Taylor Notification Actnamed after a Louisville woman who was killed in a botched no-knock raid in Marchwould require states to collect and report data on the use of no-knock raids.

Democrats and civil liberties groups like the ACLU say Scott's legislation doesn't go nearly far enough in addressing systemic problems in American policing. Republicans, however, say their bill balances the need to address problematic policing while still supporting police overall.

"The American people know you do not really want progress on an issue if you block the Senate from taking it up," Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (RKy.) said in a floor speech Thursday night. "They know that most police officers are brave and honorable and that most protesters are peaceful. And they know our country needs both."

For the moment, both parties are at an impasse. In a press release after tonight's vote, Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said Democrats' legislation is "just another thinly veiled Democrat attempt to look like they are getting something done when we all know this bill will never become law."

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House Passes Policing Reform Package, Including Provision That Would End Qualified Immunity - Reason

Two familiar names are vying for the Democratic nomination in the 25th Congressional District.

Incumbent Joe Morelle and challenger Robin Wilt ran in a four-way race for the nomination two years ago. It was Morelle who ran away with the nomination, and later won both a special and general election to fill the seat that was long held by Louise Slaughter, who died in office in 2016.

The final results wont be known until after June 30, when all the absentee ballots can be counted, but the most current figures show Morelle leading Wilt by 30% after counting the votes that were made in person today and during early voting. Morelle has already secured the Independence Party nomination. Wilt appears to have conceded the race, posting the following on Facebook during the overnight hours:

While we are still awaiting every vote to be counted, we have fallen well shy of our vote goals to be successful in the contest for the 25th Congressional District Democratic Primary. I am honored by all of those who have supported me, and I will continue to advocate for every voice to be heard. I am humbled to have been part of this movement for change, and I realize we have much work left to do. I look forward to the continued engagement.

The Monroe County Board of Elections says 53,318 absentee ballots were sent out to Democrats in NY-25, with 25,746 returned as of Tuesday; ballots have until June 30 to reach the board of elections in order to be counted.

The winner will move to the general election, where they will face Republican and Conservative candidate George Mitris, Working Families candidate Afua Atta-Mensah, and Libertarian candidate Kevin Wilson.

The district includes all of Monroe County except for the towns of Scottsville, Rush, and Mendon.

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Morelle with big lead over Wilt but absentee votes still to be tallied - WXXI News

While celebrating the Africa Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Russias commitment to offer support and participate in the sustainable development processes in Africa. In a videoconference held May 28 with local and foreign media, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, highlighted the history behind the establishment of the Africa Day, which is observed as an annual holiday symbolizing the desire of the peoples of the African continent to peace, independence and unity.

According to her, the close nature of friendly ties with African countries, the significant experience of mutually beneficial cooperation dates back to the early 1960s, when the Soviet Union unconditionally supported the desire of Africans to free themselves from colonial oppression. It provided them with substantial practical assistance in shaping the foundations of statehood, establishing national economies, and preparing civilian and military personnel.

In recent years, however, African countries have been actively gaining weight and influence in international affairs, are increasingly participating in solving pressing issues of modern world politics and economics, she said.

The creation of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum was one of the appreciable results of the first Russia-Africa Summit held last year, Zakharova noted, and expressed hope that the mechanism of partnership between Russia and the African continent created during the summit will allow to establish and broaden cooperation.

Looking Back

Under the current circumstances, African leaders and business elites try, most importantly, to reflect on how far Africa has gone in building a unified identity and strides made in socio-economic development. These socio-economic developments in some individual countries were achieved by harnessing internal resources and through bilateral and multilateral relations with external countries and cooperation with development partners.

For example, Soviet Union and Africa had very close and, in many respects, allied relations with most of the African countries during the decolonization of Africa. For obvious reasons, the Soviet Union ceased to exist in 1991.

As a result, Russia has to struggle through many internal and external difficulties. For the past few years, it has been struggling to survive both the United States and European sanctions. Moscow still has a long way to catch-up with many other foreign players there in Africa.

Currently, Russia seems to have attained relative political and economic stability. As we regained our statehood and control over the country, and the economy and the social sphere began to develop, Russian businesses began to look at promising projects abroad, and we began to return to Africa, noted Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov early September during his interaction with students and staff of Moscow State Institute for International Relations.

Emphasizing that the process of returning to Africa has been ongoing for the past 15 years, he further explained: the return is now taking the form of resuming a very close political dialogue, which has always been at a strategic and friendly level, and now moving to a vigorous economic cooperation. But economic cooperation is not as far advanced as our political ties.

With this understanding, Dmitry Medvedev, while addressing the Russia-Africa Economic forum in July, also added his voice about strengthening cooperation in all fronts. We must take advantage of all things without fail. It is also important that we implement as many projects as possible, that encompass new venues and, of course, new countries, he said.

In addition, Medvedev stressed: It is important to have a sincere desire. Russia and African countries now have this sincere desire. We simply need to know each other better and be more open to one another. I am sure all of us will succeed if we work this way. Even if some things seem impossible, this situation persists only until it is accomplished. It was Nelson Mandela who made this absolutely true statement.

Acknowledging undoubtedly that Africa has become a new world center for global development, Russian legislators at the State Duma (the lower chamber) have advocated for supporting business and economic cooperation with Africa. Thus as a step forward, State Duma has established relations with African parliaments.

During an instant meeting held with the Ambassadors of African countries in the Russian Federation, Viacheslav Volodin, the Chairman of the State Duma, remarked: We propose to move from intentions to concrete steps. Our people will better understand each other through parliamentary relations. The full transcript is available on the official website.

Moving Forward

On April 29, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), a powerful Russian NGO that focuses on foreign policy, held an online conference with participation of experts on Africa. Chairing the online discussion, Igor Ivanov, former Foreign Affairs Minister and now RIAC President, made an opening speech. He pointed out that Russias task in Africa is to present a strategy and define priorities with the countries of the continent, build on the decisions of the first Russia-Africa Summit.

On the development of cooperation between Russia and African countries, Igor Ivanov pointed out a few steps here: Russias task is to prevent a rollback in relations with African countries. It is necessary to use the momentum set by the first Russia-Africa Summit. First of all, it is necessary for Russia to define explicitly its priorities: why are we returning to Africa? Just to make money, strengthen our international presence, help African countries or to participate in the formation of the new world order together with the African countries? Some general statements of a fundamental nature were made at the first Summit, now it is necessary to move from general statements to specificity.

Sergey Lavrov, long ago, asked for more substantive dialogue on Russia-Africa issues, and chart ways for effective cooperation. In an interview with the Hommes dAfrique, he stressed time is needed to solve all those issues, but it could start with experts meetings, say, within the framework of the St Petersburg Economic Forum or the Valdai forum, and other events where business leaders of both countries participate.

Experts from the think-tank Valdai Discussion Club, academic researchers from the Institute for African Studies and independent policy observers have noted Russias policy, its current achievements and emerging economic opportunities and possibilities for partnerships in Africa. Quite interestingly, majority of them acknowledged the need for Russia to be more prominent as it should be and work more consistently to achieve its strategic goals, comparing and citing largely unfulfilled pledges over the years.

Established in 2004, its (the club) primary goal is to promote dialogue between Russia and the rest of the world. It hosted an expert discussion titled Russias Return to Africa: Interests, Challenges, Prospects with participation of experts on Africa. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Africa Department were present.

I would like to begin my speech with the words of Foreign Minister (Sergey Lavrov), who said, referring to the current situation: No more fairy tales, joked Oleg Ozerov from the Africa Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. For us, Africa is not a terra incognita: the USSR actively worked there, having diplomatic relations with 35 countries. In general, there are no turns, reversals or zigzags in our policy. There is consistent development of relations with Africa.

Over the past few years, contacts between Russia and Africa have expanded, and at the same time, this was also due to the African countries interest in Russia, he added. Nevertheless, Oleg Ozerov is now Ambassador-at-Large with the key responsibility for expediting work on the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum created at the initiative of African participants during Sochi summit.

As Head of the Secretariat, the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, his task is to prepare for the second Russia-Africa summit in 2022 in pursuance of the agreements, achieved during the first Russia-Africa summit held on October 23-24 in Sochi. The Secretariat of the Forum will also organize annual political consultations of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the troika of the African Union.

In 2010-2017, Ozerov served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Saudi Arabia, concurrently from 2011-2017, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

In conclusion, worth to say Russia sees Africa as a key potential partner in the vision for a multipolar world order, and for now, it is well-known that strengthening ties with African countries is among Russias foreign policy priorities. But, much has to be done to change image, perceptions and the old narratives.

The symbolic Russia-Africa Summit was the result of President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin authorities progressive steps taken to move toward a new phase in consolidating political and economic ties broadly at the state levels with Africa. The final declaration, joint declaration, seeks to consolidate the results of the summit. It has undoubtedly reaffirmed the goals of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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Libertarian Perspective to the Pandemic and the Biopolitics of Survival - Modern Diplomacy

During recent months of unrest over coronavirus shutdowns and deaths of unarmed Black Americans in police custody, a right-wing extremist group aimed at overthrowing the government has been growing, experts say.

The "boogaloo" movement named for a 1980s breakdancing movieand characterized by members whocarry weapons andwear Hawaiian shirtsand tactical gear looks to exploit unrest in order to start a second civil war.

But there are various facets to the loosely organized group: One generally stems from its original ties to neo-Nazis andwhite supremacists, while a newer facet is libertarian.

"There's a lot of overlap and the boundary is blurry because they both evolved together," said Alex Newhouse, digital research lead at Middlebury Institute's Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism. "It is very difficult to know if the 'boogaloo boi' you see standing in the middle of the street at a protest is there in solidarity or to incite violence."

Antifa, explained: What is antifa and what does the movement want?

While the full groupis not expected to perform large-scale attacks, individual actors are more likely to initiate violence, Newhouse said.

Here's what to know about the boogaloo movement.

A member of a far-right movement, known as Boogaloo Bois, walks next to protesters demonstrating outside a police department in Charlotte, North Carolina. May 28, 2020(Photo: LOGAN CYRUS, AFP via Getty Images)

The boogaloo meme began emerging in both white power and antigovernment spaces online in the early 2010s, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

"In both of these communities, 'boogaloo' was frequently associated with racist violence and, in many cases, was an explicit call for race war," the SPLC said.

Recent events play into the group's hands, said Devin Burghart, executive director of the NationalInstitute for Research and Education on Human Rights.

They believe that in this current moment, the chaos that surrounds us is signaling the potential for an impending second civil war which, believe it or not, they are hoping for because they believe that will rid the United States of all its problems, Burghart told USA TODAY.

There are mainly two wings of the boogaloo movement, but their objective of overthrowing the government and sparking societal collapse remains the same, Newhouse said.One side is made up of some neo-Nazis andwhite supremacists, whose plan fordestroying the government is by starting a race war.

"They want to spark some sort of confrontation that will kill both sides," Newhouse said."They believe, 'If we start the bullets flying, then they'll kill each other' sort of thing," with no regard for who lives or dies.

Another side is characterized as radical libertarian, notablymen carrying weapons and wearingHawaiian shirts. Some have recently beenspotted at Black Lives Matter protests, waving anti-police signs alongside protesters, Newhouse said.

They believe in defending the rights of individuals against the government and have been known to incite violence against police.

Nazis used red triangles to mark political prisoners. That symbol is why Facebook banned a Trump reelection campaign ad.

The libertarian side of the movementbecomes enraged when referred to as a "white supremacist group," said JJ MacNab, research fellow at George Washington Universitys Program on Extremism. She said there are some Black and Hispanic members.

"The earlier boogaloos were white supremacist," MacNab said."The ones that came later did not inherit that side of the belief system. Most of them arent even aware of white supremacy in subsets of the movement until they read it in the newspapers. A vast majority on Facebook are adamantly against it."

The boogaloo bois' relationship to antifa left-leaning, anti-racist groups that monitor and track the activities of neo-Nazis is murkier. The libertarian side of the movement is split between members who see antifa as communists, whom they want to dissociate from, and members who see them as "brothers-in-arms," MacNab said.

The "boogaloo" name isa code word for the second civil war and came from the 1984 movie "Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo," according to Associated Press.The film is about breakdancing teens battling to save their local community center from corrupt politicians and corporate development.

Sam Firstenberg, director of the cult classic, told The Hollywood Reporter that the "Electric Boogaloo" began as a meme on the internet. "In the last 10 years or so, it became equal with the word 'sequel,'" Firstenberg said, in conjunction with the second civil war the boogaloo movement aspires to create. "Civil War 2: Electric Boogaloo" began popping up on message boards, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Boogaloo bois often wear Hawaiian shirts, body armor and carry weaponry or tactical gear.

The shirts come from the popular term in boogaloo internet spaces, "Big Luau," from the tradition of luau pig roasts, which boogaloo bois are drawn to because their common reference to police as "pigs," experts with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies say.The "Big Luau" is another code used to describe the fall of society.

Ties to boogaloo: Grand jury indicts 3 men on terror charges over Las Vegas protest plot

In Wisconsin: Young white men with long guns at George Floyd protests likely affiliated with far-right group Boogaloo

The movement,which stemmed from memes in social media pro-gun groups, has been organized through Facebook, Reddit and YouTube.The Tech Transparency Project, a public research and data initiative, identifiedroughly125 Facebook groups relatedto the movement, more than half of which were created between February and April and had recently attracted tens of thousands of members.

"Online extremists are using Facebook to plan and organize for a militant uprising in the United States as they cast coronavirus lockdowns as a sign of rising government suppression," according to a Tech Transparency Projectinvestigation.

Facebook has taken steps to limit the groups. In May, the social media company banned the use of the term boogaloo and related words when they accompany pictures of weapons and calls to action. Later, Facebook said it would no longer recommend such groups to members of similar associations.

Members of the Boogaloo Movement attend a demonstration Saturday at the State House in Concord, N.H., against the lockdown over concerns about the spread of COVID-19.(Photo: Michael Dwyer/AP)

During the coronavirus lockdowns, "something changed," MacNab said.

"It put a pressure on (the boogaloo movement)that I've never seen before. I saw (online) rhetoricthrough the roof on killing cops," she said.

This month, an Air Force sergeant, whoprosecutors claim has ties to boogaloo, faces murder charges in the deaths of a California sheriff's deputy and a federal security officer. He also is accused of wounding five other law enforcement officers.

In March, a Missouri man with ties to neo-Nazis was shot and killed when FBI agents tried to arrest him. Timothy Wilson, 36, was planning to bomb a hospital in the Kansas City area on the day that a stay-at-home order was scheduled to take effect, authorities said. Wilson told an undercover FBI agent that his goal was to kick-start a revolution and referred to his plans as operation boogaloo, according to an agents affidavit.

In May,three alleged boogaloo members were arrested on terrorism-related charges in what federal prosecutorssay was a conspiracy to spark violence during protests in Las Vegas over reopening businessesand George Floyd's death. Authorities allege the three white men filled gas cans and made Molotov cocktails in glass bottles and were headed to a Black Lives Matter protest, according to a copy of the criminal complaint.

"Violent instigators have hijacked peaceful protests and demonstrations across the country, including Nevada, exploiting the real and legitimate outrage over Mr. Floyds death for their own radical agendas," saidNicholas A. Trutanich, U.S. attorney for the district of Nevada.

More: Men tied to 'boogaloo' movement conspired to spark protest violence in Las Vegas, feds say

Contributing:Ed Komenda,Reno Gazette Journal

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The boogaloo movement is gaining momentum. Who are the boogaloo 'bois' and what do they want? - USA TODAY

We think that no matter what happens with the District 1 county commissioner race we should be prepared for a recount.

As of Tuesday night, challenger and recent Douglas County arrival Danny Tarkanian was up 12 votes on Commissioner Dave Nelson.

Over the past week, the daily counts showed Nelson ahead by margins not much larger.

To put the margin in perspective, it is a tenth of a percent of the 11,900 voters who cast a ballot in this election. It definitely confirms that while not every vote makes a difference every time, the potential is always there.

Whether Nelson is re-elected doesnt change the fact that a very different board of commissioners will be in charge in January.

Walt Nowosads lead hasnt changed much since Election Day, which means he will likely be taking a seat on the board. And while Mark Gardner has recognized he still has to win in November, the odds are heavily against his Libertarian opponent in that race.

Steve Thaler used to refer to the majority on the Board of Commissioners as the power of three, and thats a blunt, but accurate reflection, of how the board has worked over the past while.

We suspect that means anyone who has plans in Douglas County requiring action by commissioners will be rushing those over the next six months, and then will hunker down until the pendulum swings the other way.

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Close vote goes to the wire | RecordCourier.com - The Record-Courier