Opinion Roundup: Police talk with protesters; Trump's show moves; ethics uproar and more

Thursday, June 4, 2020 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: police meeting with protesters; voting in the 11th; Trump's show moving; legislative ethics uproar; courthouse pollution; and more.

TRUE: Police did destroy a medic area during protests in Asheville(USA Today/Asheville Citizen-Times) -- The claim: Asheville, NC, police destroyed a medical station during Tuesday night's protest. After protests in Asheville, North Carolina, social media posts that show law enforcement busting water bottles went viral. The incident Tuesday was caught on video and described by a medic volunteer. The protest marked the third day of demonstrations in Asheville in response to the death of a black man, George Floyd, in the custody of Minneapolis police officers. What happened? Video by the Citizen Times shows Asheville police officers in riot gear and holding shields forming a protective circle around officers stomping and stabbing water bottles. Other officers destroyed medical supplies such as bandages and saline solution.

Asheville police chief responds after officers destroy medical station near protest (AP reports) -- Police officers in Asheville stomped on water bottles and destroyed medical supplies at a station set up to aid demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd.

Asheville's fourth night of George Floyd protest ends with more tear gas, an earlier end (Asheville Citizen-Times reports) -- On the fourth night of protests in downtown Asheville, demonstrators continued to defy an 8 p.m. curfew and were eventually met with another show of force from the Asheville Police Department.

Hoke County Sheriff works with George Floyd's family to plan memorial (WRAL-TV reports) -- Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin is working closely with George Floyd's family to make sure his memorial on Saturday is safe, peaceful and memorable. "This is about lifting the life of George," said Peterkin.

Outrage after video footage of Charlotte police tactics (AP reports) -- The police department in North Carolina's largest city is coming under criticism after a video posted to social media appeared to show officers using chemical agents on demonstrators who were boxed in while protesting the death of George Floyd.

Fayetteville police chief, officers join protesters in peaceful march (WRAL-TV reports) -- It was a moment of solidarity and prayer in the middle of a protest in Fayetteville.

Fayetteville police chief joins protest near Cliffdale Road community (Fayetteville Observer reports) -- As drivers honked horns during Fayetteville’s third protest sparked by the death of George Floyd on Wednesday evening, Fayetteville’s police chief joined in the march. Joining in chants of “No justice, no peace,” and holding a handmade sign along Cliffdale Road,

In Raleigh, human chain bears witness with silence, signs, solidarity with protesters (WRAL-TV reports) -- Hundreds of people lined Hillsborough Street in downtown Raleigh Wednesday afternoon, bearing signs and bearing witness to the outrage that has followed the deaths of George Floyd in police custody.

Raleigh police chief approached protesters with hands raised, joined discussion (WRAL-TV reports) -- Wednesday was another busy day of protests in Raleigh as many gathered throughout the day. It's the protesters that marched after the city's 8 p.m. curfew that caught the attention of the city's police chief the most.

Raleigh police chief talks with protester, takes list of demands (WRAL-TV reports) -- Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown spoke for the first time after the city implemented its curfew in the wake of the George Floyd protests and riots from Saturday and Sunday.

CMPD chief asking courts to release video footage of use of chemicals on protesters (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney will ask the courts to release all videos associated with a troubling incident from Tuesday evening, when officers appeared to use chemical agents against peaceful protesters in uptown. The chief would make his request once the State Bureau of Investigation reviews those police actions, the department said via Twitter on Wednesday night. But Mayor Vi Lyles told reporters earlier Wednesday that the review of the incident “would take some time” — though answers would come “sooner than later.”

NC barber is grateful for man who stopped vandalism in protest video that’s gone viral (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- ​A Raleigh barbershop owner wants to thank the person who attempted to save his business from being vandalized. In a now-viral TikTok video, a man used a skateboard to smash a door window at Ray’s Hair Shop, a barbershop on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. After breaking the first door window at Ray’s, the vandal tried to break a second window with the skateboard when another man grabbed the skateboard from his hands. Others surround the vandal and appear to tell him to leave.

SBI director: Excesses by police have created a ‘systemic issue of mistrust, misunderstanding’ (N.C. McClatchy column) -- Without question, what we saw occur with the death of George Floyd goes against every tenant of impartial justice and the very foundations of the law enforcement profession itself. This act was indefensible and criminal and does a great disservice to the many honorable and dedicated law enforcement professionals who serve our state and our nation and its many diverse communities. This is not representative of who we are and what we stand for.

Peaceful assembly cheers, chants, marches through Chapel Hill (WRAL-TV reports) -- About 500 people gathered Wednesday afternoon at McCorkle Place at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill to listen to speeches before a march through the town. It was the latest protest driven by outrage over the death of George Floyd last month.

Parents, educators, experts talk to kids on race amid unrest (AP reports) -- As an African American parent, Cassandre Dunbar in Charlotte, North Carolina, always knew she and her husband would have “the talk” with their son, the one preparing him for interactions with law enforcement.

George Floyd Protests Reignite Debate Over Confederate Statues (New York Times reports) -- Dozens came down after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017. Protesters outraged over the death of Mr. Floyd are targeting some that remained.

In-person voting begins for N.C. Congress nomination runoff (AP reports) -- Western North Carolina voters casting ballots in person for a congressional primary runoff during the COVID-19 pandemic will be aided by poll workers wearing face masks and be offered plenty of hand sanitizer.

Trump won't be in Charlotte, but RNC may still hold events (AP reports) -- The Republican National Committee unveiled plans on Wednesday to proceed with certain convention activities in Charlotte, even though President Donald Trump will deliver his nomination acceptance speech somewhere else.

JENNIFER RUBIN: North Carolina defends its people, but will other states? (Washington Post column) -- North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) did what any responsible leader of either party would do: He refused to host a political convention that would not abide by the government’s own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for dealing with the covid-19 pandemic. In a letter responding to the Republican National Committee’s demand for hotels, bars and restaurants filled to capacity, Cooper insisted he would host the convention — if it conformed to CDC guidelines.

Donald Trump cares about his convention, not NC’s health. Good riddance (N.C. McClatchy editorial) -- ​For those who’ve long wanted Charlotte to rid itself of the 2020 Republican National Convention, Donald Trump’s tweets on it Tuesday were a strong reminder why. The president packed a lot of wrong into a handful of words. He said N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper refused to guarantee Republicans “use of the Spectrum Arena,” which was untrue. He said the governor was “still in Shelter-In-Place Mode,” which isn’t accurate. He said, finally, that he was forced to seek another home for his convention “because of @NC_Governor.” That’s wrong.

Politics, science at odds in argument over whether and how to hold Republican convention in Charlotte (WRAL-TV reports) -- Although Pres. Donald Trump tweeted that he will move the Republican National Convention out of Charlotte, the reality is more complicated.

PAC criticizes ABC11 for not airing its ad critical of Trump and the Confederate flag (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- ​The Lincoln Project, a PAC formed in 2019 by a group of influential Republicans and former Republicans, has criticized local TV station ABC11/WTVD for not airing an ad critical of President Donald Trump and his supporters who brandish the Confederate flag.

FALSE: Biden says the NAACP endorsed him (PolitiFact/WRAL-TV reports) -- Black voters helped former Vice President Joe Biden all but secure the Democratic presidential nomination. But Biden overstated his support from the NAACP on a prominent radio show -- the same one in which he said black voters who don't support him "ain't black."

CHARLES JETER: With Trump, GOP compromised principles for power (Independent Tribune Times column) -- This is not a matter of emotion for me. I am neither a “Never-Trumper” nor an “Always Trumper.” I just don’t understand how the party that I love has been hijacked by a huckster who cares more about personal power than he ever will about America. I don’t understand how the religious right that has such influence in my party can fully and without hesitation support a man who’s paid off porn stars, who brags about sexual assault, who cheated on his wives … not one wife, not a few times, but all three wives and countless times. Had any Democrat come close to living the lifestyle that Trump has, the Moral Majority would be filling their pews and coffers blasting the immoral man in the White House.

Alamance County commissioner, attorney give their side of Ace reopening (Burlington Times-News reports) -- The chair of the Alamance County commissioners and the County Attorney took time this week to explain their roles in the controversy over the opening of Ace Speedway. “I did not say, ‘Go ahead Mr. Turner,‘” County Attorney Clyde Albright said at the commissioners’ regular meeting. “I wanted to work with them to figure out a way to avoid violating the governor’s order.”

Judge questions his authority to act in NC prisons pandemic lawsuit (Carolina Public Press reports) -- Whether a judge sides with plaintiffs seeking the release of prisoners due to the pandemic or with the N.C. Department of Public Safety’s opposition to that request may hinge on key questions about the judge’s authority and the constitutional standard he should apply. Those issues were the focus of arguments during a court hearing Wednesday in Raleigh, along with questions about opposing sets of facts on the merits of the case. Wake County Superior Court Judge Vinston Rozier Jr. presided over the second hearing in a lawsuit seeking to force the state to release people from prison to protect them from the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.

Correctional officer at federal prison in Butner, NC, dies of COVID-19 (N&O/N.C. McClatchy reports) -- ​A correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, who worked in a low-security prison that is now seeing scores of coronavirus cases, died from the virus Tuesday, according to emails sent to staff. Charlynn Phillips, 51, a senior officer who had worked at Butner for nearly a decade, lived in Winston-Salem with her son, said her father and a brother-in-law.

ETHICS COMPLAINT (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- The dismissal of an ethics complaint filed by a North Carolina state senator doesn’t mean the issue is dropped. Sen. Erica Smith, D-Northampton, could still press charges against Sen. Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth, for an incident last year during a caucus meeting. A General Assembly police report summary found that Lowe had committed a simple assault. At an online public forum Wednesday evening, Smith said she had not decided whether to press charges.

More harassment accusations leveled against NC state senator (WRAL-TV reports) -- State Sen. Erica Smith says Sen. Toby Fitch invited her to perform oral sex on him as "practice."

Public can watch N.C. House floor debate again in person (AP reports) -- The seats above the floor in the North Carolina House chamber are reopen to the public again.

N.C. legislature seeks to defer road tests for young drivers (AP reports) -- The General Assembly wants to let more young people begin driving on their own even though the North Carolina DMV isn’t currently offering required behind-the-wheel tests due to COVID-19 health worries.

Bill earmarks $300M more COVID-19 funds for N.C. government (AP reports) -- North Carolina legislators want to make available another $300 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to Gov. Roy Cooper's administration to cover additional government expenses incurred due to the virus.

Farm bill, with hemp sections cut after months, clears NC House (WRAL-TV reports) -- Legislature punts on smokable hemp fight to pass scaled down agriculture measure.

GYM BILL (The Insider reports) -- Gyms and health clubs would be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity under legislation introduced in the Senate on Wednesday — the legislature’s second attempt to overturn parts of Gov. Roy Cooper’s current coronavirus executive order. Sen. Rick Gunn, R-Alamance, brought the bill to a Senate committee, which heard from a series of fitness center owners who said it would help them avoid continued revenue losses. Gunn is the same senator who introduced a bill that would reopen outdoor seating at bars. That bill is still pending on Cooper’s desk, although he and other Democrats have criticized the measure.

HANNAH CRITCHFIELD: North Carolina jail suicides reached record high last year, amid calls for reform (N.C. Health News reports) -- Advocates say the deaths highlight the critical need for reform of outdated state jail policies, which remain in limbo at the state legislature.

NC's largest political donor, convicted of bribery, donates to ACLU (WRAL-TV reports) -- Greg Lindberg promises $1 million.

ANNE BLYTHE: With more questions than answers, hydroxychloroquine still under the microscope (N.C. Health News reports) -- Duke University is leading a nationwide study of frontline health care workers to test whether HCQ can prevent COVID-19.

NC Has Plan, But Resilience Work Lies Ahead (Coastal Review reports) -- Now that the state’s 2020 resiliency plan has been submitted, the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency will begin working with other state offices to address vulnerabilities caused by climate change.

Raleigh federal building has been sending sewage into waterways for years, report says (N.C. McClatchy reports) -- ​The Terry Sanford Federal Building in downtown Raleigh has been discharging raw sewage into the local stormwater system and adjoining waterways, and authorities have known about it since at least 2012, according to a report from the inspector general of the General Services Administration. The report said the building, just a couple blocks from the State Capitol, has separate pipes to transfer stormwater and raw sewage, but the pipes are cross-connected, causing the discharge of raw sewage where stormwater should flow out.