Below is a selection of articles the Federal Relations team has read this week.
COVID-19: Cases continue to climb as states begin reopening, including a second highest daily spike in Florida. Worldwide, cases are on the rise in certain countries. Live updates at CNN.
George Floyd: Protests against police brutality were held in all 50 states and several other countries after the murder of George Floyd by four Minneapolis police officers. The officers were all arrested this week, however activists demand broader changes to American policing, especially as protest footage shows some police officers continuing to engage in overly-aggressive behavior. Live updates at New York Times.
Anti-Lynching Legislation: Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) had harsh criticism for Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) over proposed GOP amendments to a bill which would make lynching a federal crime. Senator Paul wanted to narrow the definition of lynching, however the two Democrats accused him of tampering with a bill which could easily pass with bipartisan support. More at Politico.
The Future of BLM: Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza discusses the future of the movement in this Vice article.
This Huffington Post article describes how to be a good ally on social media.
Ebola: The Democratic Republic of the Congo Ministry of Health has reported another outbreak of Ebola in the city of Mbandaka. Health officials are utilizing containment strategies and a vaccine. More at The Independent.
Unemployment Rate: Data shows that overall, surprisingly, the US unemployment rate fell during May 2020. The US added 2.5 million jobs, many of which in the restaurant sector. However, the unemployment rate did rise for certain groups, including Black Americans. Details at New York Times.