Silent March for Justice – Warrensburg, Missouri – July 4, 2020

04 Saturday Jul 2020

Tags

#resist, 4th of July, Black Lives Matter, BLM, missouri, protest, silent march, Warrensburg

At 7:30 this morning over seventy individuals met on the east lawn of the Johnson County Courthouse in Warrensburg, Missouri for a Silent March for Justice. The march was organized via social media.

Warrensburg Police were present and escorted the diverse group of marchers from the courthouse to Grover Park.

“Black Lives Matter”

Teach your children well:

“Black Lives Matter”

“I understand that I will never understand, but I will stand with you”

“All lives don’t matter until black lives matter”

“Black Lives Matter”

The world has changed:

“Human rights aren’t optional”

“Equality now!”

“All lives can’t matter until black lives matter”

Into Grover Park:

Previously:

George Floyd – Protest – Warrensburg, Missouri – Sunday afternoon, May 31, 2020 (May 31, 2020)

George Floyd – Protest – Warrensburg, Missouri – Sunday afternoon, May 31, 2020 – part 2 (June 1, 2020)

March for George Floyd and Justice – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 8, 2020 (June 8, 2020)

March for George Floyd and Justice – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 8, 2020 – part 2 (June 9, 2020)

Rally for Justice – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 28, 2020 (June 28, 2020)

4th of July – 2020

04 Saturday Jul 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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4th of July, Donald Trump, Mt. Rushmore

[….]

No movement that seeks to dismantle these treasured American legacies could possibly have a love of America at its heart. Can’t happen. No person who remains quiet at the destruction of this resplendent heritage can possibly lead us to a better future. The radical ideology attacking our country advances under the banner of social justice. But in truth, it would demolish both justice and society. It would transform justice into an instrument of division and vengeance, and it would turn our free and inclusive society into a place of repression, domination, and exclusion. They want to silence us, but we will not be silenced. [applause, cheers] [crowd: “U.S.A.”]

[….]

We will state the truth in full without apology. We declare that the United States of America is the most just and exceptional nation ever to exist on earth. We are proud of the fact that our country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. And we understand that these values have dramatically advanced the cause of peace and justice throughout the world. We know that the American family is the bedrock of American life. [applause, cheers]

[….]

This is who we are. This is what we believe. And these are the values that will guide us as we strive to build an even better and greater future. Those who seek to erase our heritage want Americans to forget our pride and great dignity so that we can no longer understand ourselves or America’s great destiny. In toppling the heroes of 1776, they seek to dissolve the bonds of love and loyalty that we feel for our country and feel for each other. Their goal is not a better America, their goal is to end America. [crowd: “boo!”]

[….]

– Donald Trump, Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota, July 3, 2020.

Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer.

Campaign Finance: What’s in a PAC name?

04 Saturday Jul 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

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campaign finance, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PACs, political action committee, right wingnut

This past week at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

191022 07/01/2020 Keep Missouri Great Dealers Interested in Government PO Box 245 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/1/2020 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Yeah, we’re all doing so well of late.

C201233 07/01/2020 Conservative Leadership of the Ozarks HEALTH SYSTEMS INC PO BOX 1559 1220 N MAIN SIKESTON MO 63801 7/1/2020 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Leadership, conservative, health. On so many levels.

C180455 07/02/2020 Missouri Senate Conservatives Fund American Federation of Children 1020 19th Street Suite 675 Washington DC 20036 7/2/2020 $150,000.00

[emphasis added]

That’s a big one. In so many ways.

C171158 07/02/2020 Missouri Forward PAC Missouri Leadership Forum 575 Witte Industrial Ct Troy MO 63379 6/30/2020 $6,500.00

C171158 07/02/2020 Missouri Forward PAC Spirit of Missouri 104 Clay St Jefferson City MO 65101 6/30/2020 $7,500.00

C171158 07/02/2020 Missouri Forward PAC Missouri Soybean Association 734 S Country Club Dr Jefferson City MO 65109 6/30/2020 $10,000.00

C171158 07/02/2020 Missouri Forward PAC Missouri Soybean Association 734 S Country Club Dr Jefferson City MO 65109 6/30/2020 $20,000.00

C171158 07/02/2020 Missouri Forward PAC MO Majority PAC PO Box 651 Perrryville MO 63775 6/30/2020 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Which direction?

C091068 07/02/2020 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Mighty Missouri PAC 12026 Manchester Road Saint Louis MO 63131 7/2/2020 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

Heh.

C021020 07/03/2020 VOTERS FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT Americans for Limited Government 10332 Main St. Box 326 Fairfax VA 22030 7/1/2020 $390,000.00

[emphasis added]

As if it necessarily follows.

C201184 07/03/2020 Patriot PAC CL PAC 12026 Manchester Road Saint Louis MO 63131 7/1/2020 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

Past is not necessarily prologue.

Unintentional or intentional irony? It’s anyone’s guess.

Missouri DHSS – COVID-19 Outbreak Statistics – July 2, 2020 – 2:00 p.m.

02 Thursday Jul 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Corona virus, COVID-19, DHSS, missouri, pandemic, statistics

The most recent statistics on the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak for Missouri from the Department of Health and Senior Services:

Cases in Missouri: 22,283
Total Deaths: 1,022
Patients tested in Missouri – PCR (by all labs): 397,318
Individuals with positive PCR results: 21,703
Patients tested in Missouri – Serology: 44,202
Individuals with positive Serology results: 1,580

Total cases reported (PCR and Serology tested) do not add up.

4.59% of all confirmed COVID-19 cases in Missouri have resulted in a fatality.

Wear a damn mask. And while you’re at it, wear some damn gloves.

Stay Home. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Good luck to us all.
#FlattenTheCurve

Johnson County, Missouri – mandatory face coverings order

01 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Corona virus, COVID-19, Johnson County, mandatory face mask, missouri, order, pandemic, Public Health

Today, in Johnson County, Missouri:

Mandatory Face Coverings Effective July 6 for Johnson County

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (July 1, 2020) – Johnson County has had a recent surge in confirmed positive COVID-19 cases. This has prompted Johnson County Community Health Services (JCCHS) to implement a face covering mandate. This order goes into effect beginning 12 a.m. on Monday, July 6, 2020.

The countywide order will continue for 21 days, expiring 12 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28. This timeline can be rescinded or extended as necessary.

The order requires individuals to wear a face covering in any indoor public location including but not limited to retail stores, grocery stores, offices, places of worship and restaurants/bars. Businesses can supply face coverings if they have the ability to provide them, but can require individuals to bring their own.

In addition, face coverings are required in outdoor public gathering places when social distancing is not an option.

As of June 30, 2020, Johnson County experienced a 32.8 percent increase of confirmed cases over a ten day period.

“The health, safety and wellness for our communities are our biggest priorities. The recent spike in numbers has caused us to implement additional safety precautions to help slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Mary Thaut, JCCHS administrator. “We understand that wearing a face covering is not the most comfortable, but this is a necessary step to help keep our communities safe.

“We also understand the importance to our economy by keeping local businesses open. We want our community members to continue staying active. Requiring face coverings temporarily is an additional tool that each person can use to help protect each other. However, this should not replace other precautions such as social distancing.”

The need for face coverings is based on the percentage of those who are unaware they have COVID-19.

Research shows that 25 to 80 percent of individuals are asymptomatic. They do not know they are carrying the active virus. This allows the coronavirus to spread more rapidly, making it more important to wear a face covering to protect those around them.

[….]

Gee, right after the holiday weekend. What could possibly go wrong before then?

Campaign Finance: this time, with more feeling

30 Tuesday Jun 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

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campaign finance, Mike Parson, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, Uniting Missouri PAC

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the PAC propping up Gov. Mike Parson (r):

180490 06/30/2020 Uniting Missouri PAC KETCHMARK & MCCREIGHT PC 11161 OVERBROOK ROAD SUITE 210 LEAWOOD KS 66211 6/30/2020 $135,000.00

C180490 06/30/2020 Uniting Missouri PAC STERLING BANCSHARES INC 1100 STERLING DRIVE POPLAR BLUFF MO 63901 6/30/2020 $25,000.00

C180490 06/30/2020 Uniting Missouri PAC GJ GREWE INC 639 GRAVOIS BLUFFS BLVD SUITE D ST LOUIS MO 63026 6/30/2020 $25,000.00

C180490 06/30/2020 Uniting Missouri PAC GSSW-REO LC 500 N AKARD ST #2030 DALLAS TX 75201 6/29/2020 $25,000.00

C180490 06/30/2020 Uniting Missouri PAC KOCH INDUSTRIES INC 4111 EAST 37TH ST NORTH WICHITA KS 67220 6/30/2020 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

You’d think it was the end of the quarter. Or something.

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

Previously:

Campaign Finance: smiling through the pandemic (June 30, 2020)

Missouri DHSS – COVID-19 Outbreak Statistics – June 30, 2020 – 2:00 p.m.

30 Tuesday Jun 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Corona virus, COVID-19, DHSS, missouri, pandemic, statistics

The most recent statistics on the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak for Missouri from the Department of Health and Senior Services:

Cases in Missouri: 21,551
Total Deaths: 1,015
Patients tested in Missouri – PCR (by all labs): 373,007
Individuals with positive PCR results: 20,883
Patients tested in Missouri – Serology: 42,984
Individuals with positive Serology results: 1,548

Total cases reported (PCR and Serology tested) do not add up.

4.71% of all confirmed COVID-19 cases in Missouri have resulted in a fatality.

Wear a damn mask. And while you’re at it, wear some damn gloves.

Stay Home. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Good luck to us all.
#FlattenTheCurve

Campaign Finance: smiling through the pandemic

30 Tuesday Jun 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

campaign finance, Mike Parson, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commmission, Uniting Missouri PAC

Business as usual.

Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the PAC propping up Gov. Mike Parson (r):

C180490 06/29/2020 Uniting Missouri PAC MACO DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LLC PO BOX 68 111 NORTH MAIN CLARKTON MO 63837 6/29/2020 $25,000.00

C180490 06/29/2020 Uniting Missouri PAC CENTENE CORPORATION 7700 FORSYTH BLVD CLAYTON MO 63105 6/26/2020 $100,000.00

C180490 06/29/2020 Uniting Missouri PAC MISSOURI LEADERSHIP FORUM 575 WITTE INDUSTRIAL CT TROY MO 63379 6/29/2020 $37,350.00

C180490 06/29/2020 Uniting Missouri PAC MISSOURI SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION 734 S COUNTRY CLUB DR JEFFERSON CITY MO 65109 6/29/2020 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2019 file photo].

Previously:

Campaign Finance: just the right amount of cash to prop someone up (June 12, 2020)

Campaign Finance: the smell of desperation, er, money… (June 15, 2020)

Campaign Finance: seasonal joy (June 23, 2020)

What we have become

29 Monday Jun 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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#resist, Aurora, Colorado, Elijah McClain, memorial, music, peaceful protest, police violence, violin

On Saturday in Aurora, Colorado at a memorial vigil for Elijah McClain, a violinist.

Video from : Something Witty

Apparently, string instruments and music and art are considered dangerous weapons. But we’ve always known that, just not in the sense that authority believes them to be.

The courage of those string players, to keep playing while exposed to tear gas or pepper gas and authority in riot gear, is astounding.

Just so non-musicians understand – string players consider their instruments sacred, not only as a vessel for expressing the art of music in the now, but as an intergenerational calling to be handed from the past through the present to the future.

As an example, my cello is approximately 110 years old, it existed before me and will continue long past my lifetime.

For authority to threaten and desecrate not only a peaceful memorial, but musicians and those instruments, with their violence and threats of violence is a crime against humanity, culture, and the future.