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    US Culture’s Unavowed Love Affair With Destruction

    The death of George Floyd while in police custody was so gut-wrenching to watch for most Americans that it set off what has begun to resemble a cultural and possibly political revolution. The spectacle videoed by a bystander was the closest thing to a Roman crucifixion modern society has managed to produce outside of Hollywood. […] More

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    Black Lives Matter protests: push for justice and police reform continues – live updates

    Riots helped elect Nixon in 1968. Can Trump benefit from fear too? Rayshard Brooks’ death prompts calls for overhaul of police department How US police reforms have failed to stop violence Man shot as New Mexico protesters try to remove conquistador statue Sign up to our First Thing newsletter LIVE Updated Siegfried White, 60, raises […] More

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    Democrats and Americans Fall to Their Knees

    One of the most spectacular shifts of cultural perception currently taking place in the US concerns the symbolic status of the gesture of kneeling. Deemed provocative and unpatriotic only a few months ago by a majority of Americans, prominent people have begun using it as a proof of commitment to their anti-racist commitment to equality. […] More

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    Why Trump loves the US military – but it doesn't love him back

    Donald Trump attempted to solidify his bond with the US army on Saturday, delivering the graduation speech to cadets at the United States Military Academy and boasting of a “colossal” $2tn rebuilding of American martial might. Trump’s West Point speech was studiously vapid, with only a modicum of partisan boasting. But the political setting crackled […] More

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    Trump stokes division with racism and rage – and the American oligarchy purrs | Robert Reich

    Trump stokes division with racism and rage – and the American oligarchy purrs Robert Reich The president is the best thing that ever happened to the corporate elite, a distraction on the lines of the old Jim Crow Donald Trump arrives for a roundtable in Dallas. Photograph: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images Jamie Dimon, chief executive of […] More

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    Kentucky Confederate statue removal reveals evidence of Jim Crow past

    Newspaper found in base of marble structure is from 1936, long after the civil war for which Confederate leader is known Workers prepare to remove the Jefferson Davis statue Saturda from the Kentucky capitol in Frankfort. Photograph: Ryan C Hermens/AP Officials supervising the removal of a statue of Jefferson Davis from the Kentucky state capitol […] More

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    Donald Trump makes West Point speech as protests continue – live

    Trump gives address amid tensions with military leaders Has Trump been left behind by America’s awakening on racism? Black candidates and political groups see a surge of support UK protests: BLM counter-demonstrators clash with London police Sign up to our First Thing newsletter LIVE Updated Donald Trump salutes during the national anthem in West Point, […] More

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    Clemson to strip name of John C Calhoun from honors college

    College will also drop tribute to ‘Pitchfork’ Ben Tillman South Carolina trustees cite protests over killing of George Floyd John C Calhoun by Mathew Brady, 1849. Some scholars think the senator and vice-president was Melville’s model for Captain Ahab. Photograph: Sotheby’s Clemson University trustees voted on Friday to rename its honors college, stripping the name […] More