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JUNE 24, 2020 · VOL. 34 · NO. 25 · FREE

PRIDE MONTH

Black Trans Lives Have Always Mattered p. 12

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Several hundred Black Lives Matters protesters gathered outside City Hall Tuesday, June 16, along with about 100 pro-police Republicans. See City Dope on p. 4 for more.

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This Modern World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 NEWS: City Dope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

COVID-19 Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Police Reform, and a Plan to Move the Confederate Monument

Street Scribe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Pub Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

NEWS: Comment: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Curb Your Appetite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Racial Unrest and Communication

Hey, Bonita! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

ARTS & CULTURE: Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Coronavirus & Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Pride—Black Trans Lives Have Always Mattered

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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Meet Athens’ First Female Trash-Truck Drivers

Threats & Promises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Record Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

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VOLUME 34 ISSUE NUMBER 25

SANDWICH ARE DELICIOUS

Association of Alternative Newsmedia

C O O K I E S

“Athens is quickly losing its charm and attraction. Athens is a historical city. People come to see the monuments. They come to go to the GA Theater, they come to see the double barreled cannon. They come for the music and the atmosphere that is downtown Athens.

It’s a shame that the current administration is bowing and cowering to the Left because it’s the politically correct thing to do in this environment. It’s time to show some leadership and stand up against the anarchy which has become so prominent.”

—John Johnson From “Commission Plans to Remove Confederate Memorial and Close College Square” at flagpole.com.

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news

city dope

Driving Ol’ Dixie Down POLICE REFORM, THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENT AND MORE LOCAL NEWS

By Blake Aued and Chris Dowd news@flagpole.com Athens-Clarke County officials are planning to move the Confederate memorial on Broad Street downtown as part of a plan to close College Square to traffic and widen the crosswalks leading to the UGA campus.

Mayor Kelly Girtz pledged earlier this month to move the monument and instructed Attorney Judd Drake to find a way around a state law prohibiting the removal or alteration of publicly owned monuments.

Officials found no records indicating that the monument is publicly owned. In addition, according to a memo signed by Manager Blaine Williams, the 1872 monument has become “a lightning rod of friction among citizens” and a “catastrophe” waiting to happen if individuals try to move or destroy it. The state law—passed in 2001 as part of a compromise over the Georgia flag and strengthened in 2019—allows monuments to be moved for their protection or preservation.

“Any monument relocated for such purposes shall be relocated to a site of similar prominence, honor, visibility, and access within the same county or municipality in which the monument was originally located,” the law says. “A monument shall not be relocated to a museum, cemetery, or mausoleum unless it was originally placed at such location.”

That rules out Oconee Hill Cemetery, a location many suggested the last time moving the monument came up in public discussion three years ago, after the white supremacist riot in Charlottesville, VA. County officials also made the argument that the monument is a distraction to drivers and impedes the view of pedestrians crossing Broad Street.

ACC officials chose a site off Timothy Place near the Loop that is accessible on foot or by car and has twice the vehicular traffic of Broad Street downtown. It’s also near Barber Creek, the site of a skirmish that was the only action Athens saw during the Civil War. Despite the proposal’s careful crafting, the Sons of Confederate Veterans quickly filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction and a restraining order preventing the local government from moving the monument, according to the Red & Black.

As part of the same $450,000 project— funded by a 1% sales tax for transportation—ACC will temporarily close College Square to vehicles in order to create more space for outdoor dining. It’s an idea that’s been discussed locally for decades but has always drawn opposition from merchants due to lost on-street parking. During the coronavirus pandemic, however, traffic is down substantially in cities worldwide, and many of them are closing streets to create outdoor cafes where people can eat while socially distancing.

The commission is scheduled to vote on the plan July 7. It will also need approval from the Georgia Department of Transportation.

If the six-month trial is successful, the closure could be made permanent, Girtz

4

said. Commissioners Melissa Link and Russell Edwards said they’d also like to see more downtown blocks closed to create outdoor cafes or parklets. [Blake Aued]

Protesters Clash at City Hall Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters and counter-protesters gathered outside City Hall last Tuesday to comment on a controversial proposal to “reimagine public safety” and divert money away from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.

Commissioners Mariah Parker and Tim Denson developed the proposal, which they refer to as the “50/10 Plan.” That’s because it seeks a 50% reduction in the size of ACCPD over a period of 10 years. Over 100 Athens residents spoke about the plan in an avalanche of civic engagement that skewed strongly in favor of Parker and Denson’s proposal.

During the public comment period, which lasted over four hours, some Athens residents said that they don’t feel comfortable calling armed police for help in a tense situation. Some expressed distrust of the police stemming from national events, the recent use of tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters and the six officer-involved shootings last year in Athens, which led to five deaths.

Many social workers and UGA social work students were among those lining up to comment. They described how the proposal would help them in their jobs providing services and support to Athens’ poor and vulnerable.

“Commissioner Parker’s 50/10 Plan is not just important, it is imperative to the health and safety of our residents,” said Victoria Slaboda, a court-appointed special advocate who works with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services in Athens.

The Georgia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has also publicly supported this plan. In a recent statement, it commended the 50/10 Plan as “the best and most serious effort at tackling this problem currently on the table anywhere in our state.”

The plan also has its detractors. Many members of the Athens GOP came out to oppose it and support ACCPD, saying the department doesn’t have the issues seen in other police agencies across the country.

“We do not have systemic racism here,” said Mary Padgett. Others cited the pressing need for armed police officers to deal with crime and urged increasing funding to the police instead.

Those who spoke in opposition also included many Black and brown residents who feared a rise in violent crime were the plan to go into effect. Jonathan Miranda, a Black Athenian, described a harrowing ordeal he faced after being shot by a gunman when he was 18 years old. According to Miranda, the ambulance took 20 minutes to arrive, although the police were on scene in half that time. “The police are not our enemies,” Miranda said.

FLAGPOLE.COM | JUNE 24, 2020

Due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, only a handful of speakers were allowed inside the commission chamber at the same time, meaning there was ample time for the two groups to interact outside City Hall.

Black Lives Matter protesters arrived early for a teach-in and demonstration to “End Slavery In Athens,” referring to the use of unpaid inmate labor by the ACC government. They took up positions on the steps of City Hall holding signs and chanting, as members of the Athens GOP began to arrive and gather below.

Tensions ran high, with shouting back and forth, but both groups generally remained peaceful. One confrontation did occur when a Black activist was nearly pulled down the steps by an older white man trying to take their bullhorn away. The activist was shaken but not hurt.

This was the final “taxpayer bill of rights” hearing on the ACC fiscal 2021 budget, which is scheduled for a vote on June 25.

[Chris Dowd]

Link Proposes Police Compromise The ACC Commission ended its last budget work session June 18 close to reaching a deal on a package reforming police and boosting mental health and social services.

The Safe Communities Plan, spearheaded by Commissioner Melissa Link, is a hybrid of a budget proposal put forward by commissioners Mike Hamby and Ovita Thornton and another proposed by Tim Denson and Mariah Parker. “There was a real need to build a bridge and bring these two proposals together into something the whole commission could agree upon,” Link said.

The $1.4 million plan includes funding for a third mental health responder team in the police department, a social worker in the public defender’s office, raises for public defenders, a second mobile clinic that offers mental health services, youth skills, child care, minority employee recruitment, purchasing from minority-owned vendors, hiring additional 911 dispatchers, and committees to review ordinances for equity and examine the impact of Urban Renewal on Black communities.

It also calls for the formation of a Public Safety and Community Building Task Force that will include representatives of public safety, mental health and social services organizations, as well as a paid community communications liaison. The task force would evaluate ACCPD funding and policies and recommend ways police or other entities can respond to calls more effectively, with goals of shifting resources to alternatives to police, getting rid of military-style equipment, cutting crime in half over the next five years and ending the school-toprison pipeline. The task force would work with a police citizens’ oversight committee already being formed.

Funding would come from delaying purchasing vehicles, the existing Neighbor to Neighbor program, a 120-day hiring freeze and raising the downtown parking rate by 25 cents an hour. [BA]

Election Certified Despite Misgivings The ACC Board of Elections formally certified the June 9 election results—including the county attorney’s controversial ruling that the late Commissioner Jerry NeSmith’s votes should be voided—despite concerns that not all absentee ballots were properly counted.

NeSmith, who died in an accidental fall June 6, won the election with 57% of the vote to challenger Jesse Houle’s 43%. But ACC Attorney Judd Drake issued a memo June 12 saying that Georgia law says votes for NeSmith should not count, awarding the District 6 seat to Houle by default.

State law allows for a substitute nomination in partisan races when a candidate dies, according to Drake, but not in nonpartisan races. He also cited a court ruling in which a judge held that votes for a candidate who appeared on the ballot but withdrew before the election should not count.

While most states follow the so-called “American rule,” which calls for a special election, Georgia follows the “English rule” voiding the deceased candidate’s votes.

Another lawyer, David Ellison, disputed Drake’s conclusions at the June 18 BOE meeting. He pointed out that the candidate in the case Drake cited didn’t win; he

finished third, and cited another state law calling for a special election when the winner dies after the election but before taking office.

But NeSmith didn’t die after the election, Drake said, although he acknowledged that, “In my mind, it comes out as an unjust result.”

JESSICA LUTON

for state legislature—Mokah Johnson, Jonathan Wallace and Zachary Perry—also weighed in supporting a full recount.

After the scanning issue was uncovered, the BOE decided June 16 to do a partial recount to determine the extent of the problem. A bipartisan vote review board found that 30 of the 76 ballots with races the scanner thought were blank should have been counted because the voter made an attempt to mark a race that the scanner didn’t pick up. “This has major implications for our community, where races are often decided by just a few votes,” Johnson and Wallace wrote to the BOE. In the end, though, only one vote changed hands as a result of the recount, according to Director of Elections and Voter Registration Charlotte Sosebee.

The scanner was programmed to count votes where at least 12% of a bubble was filled in. The settings can be changed to spit out more questionable ballots so that humans can try to determine the voter’s intent (for example, if the bubble was checked off instead of filled in as voters are instructed).

Oconee County’s Commissioner Mariah Parker led a “Care, Not Cops” caravan through downBoard of Elections town Athens on Juneteenth, the holiday celebrating the end of slavery. Visit authorized a full flagpole.com for more. recount after receiving permission from the Several NeSmith supporters told the secretary of state’s office, according to blogboard that they felt disenfranchised— ger and Flagpole contributor Lee Becker of including his widow, Farol, and local Oconee County Observations. But “I cannot Republican Party leaders Joan and Gordon find explicit authority” to do a full recount, Rhoden. “It is unconscionable for you to Drake said, and ACC staff said the secretary disregard my husband’s hard work and legof state’s office told them they couldn’t acy,” Farol NeSmith said. change the scanner’s settings. “The fight is “You are a board that really cares about not with [the attorney’s office],” Drake said having everyone’s vote count,” said Joan after pushback from Evans. “The fight is Rhoden. “In the United States of America, with the secretary of state’s office.” [BA] we know that everyone’s vote should count.”

The ruling is likely to be challenged in The University System of Georgia has court as unconstitutional. Drake wrote in appointed a committee to study the his memo that he thought such a challenge names of buildings and colleges on all is unlikely to succeed, but “I think it’s a campuses and recommend changes. In the much closer call now,” he said last week. wake of the recent Black Lives Matter resurBOE Chairman Jesse Evans argued for gence, colleges and universities all over the taking another day to certify the results— country have been re-examining names the deadline was June 19—but the other on campus. For example, alumni of UGA’s four members overruled him.

Grady College of Journalism are pushing “The entire staff of our office, four attorto replace the white supremacist Atlanta neys, devoted a week to this… I don’t know Constitution editor Henry Grady’s name that extra time will make any difference,” with Charlayne Hunter-Gault, one of the assistant ACC attorney Sherrie Hines said. first two Black students to attend UGA and “There are some things that just have to be a longtime reporter. decided by a judge, especially something The Clarke County School District that’s never happened before in the state of released tentative plans to start classes in Georgia.” person on Aug. 3. A school re-entry task The Board of Elections also heard from force will make final decisions based on several citizens who wanted a countywide state and federal guidelines. But as of last recount after observers discovered that week, initial plans included reconfiguring Georgia’s new scanners were incorrectly classrooms to encourage social distancing counting some races on some ballots as and requiring all students and staff to wear blank. Commissioners Melissa Link and a mask. More information is coming in July, Mariah Parker, Commissioner-elect Carol according to a CCSD news release. [BA] f Myers and three Democratic candidates

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It’s Your Move RACIAL UNREST AND COMMUNICATION

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FLAGPOLE.COM | JUNE 24, 2020

As today, June 17, marks the fifth anniIn Athens, though, unwavering support versary of the murders of nine African should be extended to those who protest Americans at Mother Emanuel Church in peacefully. Vigilance is necessary to watch Charleston, SC, I am compelled to submit for those who seek to disrupt and divide. the following observation. I am senior pasWhether it’s white supremacists, the tor at First AME Church here in Athens, Boogaloo Boys or Antifa, don’t let them and this commentary is my personal exploit the situation like a drive-by shootperspective. ing. Once they target and inflame the fire, The Free African Society, which provided they move elsewhere, leaving the commuaid to the newly freed Blacks, was the prenity to clean up the mess. cursor of the African Methodist Episcopal In addition, don’t allow those (whether Church (AMEC), the first independent local or otherwise) seeking political gain or Protestant denomination to be founded an increased profile exploit the situation, and established by African Americans. The either.

AMEC believes in spiritual renewal, selfAs a community, part of the problem help and service. We speak of a liberating is not having enough candid and someand reconciling Gospel. times uncomfortable conversations with The AMEC uniquely understands about one another, not to impugn motives but faith and forgiveness. Five years ago, in perhaps to gain a better understanding of Charleston SC, a white young man was the other’s worldview. Did that occur with warmly welcomed Demond Means, into ”Mother” ousted superinUnrest-to-understanding the Emanuel AMEC, tendent? Or with a might help produce peace. school board memco-founded by Morris Brown and Denmark ber who recited the Vessey. Then that young man proceeded to dreaded ”N-word” at a program at Greater kill nine people at the Bible study, includBethel AMEC and reportedly left immeing the pastor. Closer to home, November diately afterward? Words with anger and 2019, a white 16-year-old girl with detailed accusations were exchanged but it seems plans was arrested for criminal attempt little else. to commit murder at Bethel AMEC in The issues of race, class and justice are Gainesville, GA. both simple and complex. Three things I There is unrest in the land, awakened by believe would be helpful: the call of racism and police misconduct.

Communication Most should talk less Since all people are imperfect, there is no and listen more. Recently, two prominent doubt in a country of over 300 million, ractalk show hosts, Charlemagne tha God and ism is a reality. Seeing so many interracial Rush Limbaugh, put aside their differences couples, organizations, churches, etc., the and engaged in conversation. Though they question becomes, how bad is it? The paradidn’t agree on everything, still they did on dox is many of the recent killings of Black some. At least the cord of communication folk would have gone unnoticed if not for cast was caught and not cut. video and social media. However, overused, Consistency White leaders, especially those same media add fuel to the fire, proclerical colleagues, must be consistent in ducing plenty of heat but supplying little private conversations and public settings light. about condemning racism and the bigotry of To show displeasure, demonstrations low expectations— not just with a Black or have sprung up in more than 300 cities in mixed audience but more importantly when America. In the demonstrations are prothere aren’t any people of color present. testers, rioters and looters. Peaceful proCommitment Avoid groupthink. People testers should be supported for their proper need to educate themselves on the issues— expression of dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, an analytical look given not to rhetoric the rioters who destroy lives and property but results. Many promises haven’t been or the looters who steal property should kept, and proposed solutions (for numernot be applauded or appeased. Certainly, ous years) haven’t worked. Citizens need the families of the Black retired police chief to explore multiple sides of the issues and killed while protecting a store or the Black make informed decisions based on sound firefighter, about to open his own business, policies and not parties or personalities. who saw his life’s savings burn up, wouldn’t After, then commit to use that same energy either. to vote. The heavy chains of contempt are We know about the pervasive lack of imprisoning progress, dividing the populace respect for authority. It starts in the home and making the land restless. Who will help and affects interaction at school and even liberate and reconcile our communities and with the police. Too often, officers are country? Faith and forgiveness can help needlessly confronted and challenged by forge the way. agitating and aggressive behavior, causing Hard, heartfelt and honest discussions concern for their safety. Officers want to with follow-up action plans are past due. make it home safely every day. Yet, the Unrest-to-understanding might help propolice must not develop a militarization duce peace. To paraphrase M.L. King Jr., mentality but seek the deescalation of any society has been ”a monologue instead of a conflict. Deescalation training and not dialogue.” Be mindful. People won’t always implicit bias training should be a priority. agree, but demonization of disagreements Citizens need those in authority on all levand differences is counterproductive. It’s els to be fair, compassionate and just. your move. f

“

feature

MIGUEL PENN

news

COVID Testing 101 HOW AND WHERE TO GET TESTED FOR CORONAVIRUS

By Jessica Luton news@flagpole.com

F

ollowing the reopening of businesses and recent demonstrations, public health experts are concerned that there may be another increase in positive cases for COVID-19. If you’re having symptoms or think you may have been exposed recently, it’s important to get tested.

Testing has become more accessible locally, and anyone can get tested since the Department of Public Health lifted restrictions in May. Locally, tests are available through the Department of Public Health, primary care physicians and urgent-care centers.

The difficulty for many people, say health experts, is understanding what type of test to get, when to get tested, understanding what the results mean and how to proceed based on the results to help curb the outbreak of the disease. Here are the basics.

Viral vs. Antibody Tests According to the CDC, there are two types of tests available: the viral test and the antibody test. Both are available in Athens, but Northeast Health District spokesperson Sarah Peck said they only offer viral tests.

Antibody tests, however, are being offered by several urgent-care businesses.

Viral tests check samples from your respiratory system with a nasal swab to find out if SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is an active infection in your body. While there are some test sites that offer immediate results for these nasal swab tests, most must be sent to a laboratory to analyze and can be returned in 1-2 days.

Those who’ve been to a protest and want

to get tested should wait 5–7 days after potential exposure.

Jose Cordero, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at UGA’s College of Public Health, says there may be an increase in positive cases as a result of all of these circumstances, but that increase won’t be reflected in the data for a couple of weeks.

“Assuming they have not been exposed before, the average incubation period is about 5 days,” Cordero says.

“So if you went to a demonstration… and you went the next day to get tested, you’re most likely going to see a negative result [with a viral test] because there wouldn’t have been enough time for the virus to become detectable.”

Antibody tests, on the other hand, “check your blood by looking for antibodies, which can show if you had a past infection with the virus that causes COVID-19,” according to the CDC website. Results can be given on the spot, but the results only show if antibodies—proteins that help fight off infections and usually provide protection against getting that disease again—are present in your system. Having antibodies, though, doesn’t guarantee immunity.

“An antibody test may not be able to show if you have a current infection, because it can take 1-3 weeks after infection to make antibodies,” the CDC website notes. “We do not know yet if having antibodies to the virus can protect someone from getting infected with the virus again, or how long that protection might last.”

Testing Sites Georgia Department of Public Health Where: Clarke County School District Transportation Department Hours: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday; 9 a.m.–noon Saturday Call 706-340-0996 to make an appointment. Tests are free.

Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center Where: PARMC and Oconee Health Campus Hours: Oconee Health Campus 9 a.m.–3 p.m. by appointment Call 1-866-460-1119 to make an appointment.

Peachtree Immediate Care Where: Clarke Middle School Hours: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Friday; 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday Visit clockwisemd.com/hospitals/1376/visits/new or call 706-543-0228 to make an appointment.

CVS Pharmacy Where: 3595 Atlanta Highway Hours: By appointment at CVS.com CVS has drive-through tests only. Patients will do the swab test on themselves with an employee observing to make sure it is done correctly. Rapid test results are generally returned in person within 30 minutes of specimen collection, while COVID-19 lab testing returns results within 2–4 days. CVS accepts most insurance.

Reddy Urgent Care Where: Athens and Epps Bridge locations Call 706-621-7575 (option 0) to make an appointment.

Understanding Results So, you’ve received your results. Now what?

The CDC has a one-page explainer, now housed on the White House website, to help people navigate how to proceed following positive or negative test results for both viral and antibody tests. Here’s what they recommend: If you received a positive result from a viral test, you most likely currently have an active COVID-19 infection and can give the virus to others. The CDC recommends staying home and following their guidelines on steps to take if you are sick. If you are a health-care worker or may have potentially exposed someone at your workplace, notify your employer of your test results.

If you received a negative result from a viral test, you most likely do not currently have an active COVID-19 infection. If you have symptoms, the CDC recommends monitoring those symptoms and seeking out medical advice. If you don’t have symptoms, you should get tested again only if your medical provider and/or workplace tells you to, and should continue to take steps such as wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing to protect yourself and others.

If you received a positive test result from an antibody test, you most likely have had a COVID-19 infection at some point. You may be protected from re-infection, but the CDC says this isn’t certain. Scientists are still conducting studies to provide further information.

If you received a negative test result from an antibody test, you most likely never had (or have not yet developed antibodies to) a COVID-19 infection. You could still get COVID-19. Take steps to protect yourself and others.

If you got both tests, with different results, consult the Guidance on Interpreting COVID-19 Test Results document on the White House website for further guidance.

Is the Spike Real?

Mercer University School of Medicine assistant professor Amber Schmidtke has been posting frequently to her Facebook page about state data on COVID-19 since

the March shelter-in-place order. Her deep dive into the data, she said, is an effort to help people better understand data and get access to first-hand information.

While there has been some increase in cases, particularly in areas at the border of Georgia, the most recent data isn’t showing a dramatic increase—at least not at this point. Athens, which has seen a steady increase in positive tests since the shelterin-place order was lifted in late April, had 64,701 cases and 2,643 deaths at press time.

A couple of weeks ago, the Department of Public Health posted a big influx of test results that made it hard to sort out what was a true increase in cases. “It was a big data dump from one or two laboratories, and they were apparently holding back on tests,” Schmidke said. “So that made it difficult to tell if this was a true increase or an artifact of the testing [data release] delay.

“Looking at what’s going on with the incidence curve; it looks like cases are on the rise,” she added. “It looks like they’re continuing to rise… although it looks like it’s leveled off a little bit in recent weeks.”

While the data may not show it yet, it’s important to keep an eye on the 14-day testing data. “Very few people are going to get exposed, display symptoms and seek testing and get a result on the same day. So for that reason we’re never going to know who’s sick in real time,” Schmidke said.

“We’re always going to be sort of adjusting that 14-day window and so sort of a lagging indicator, because our very best data are two weeks old.”

While Schmidtke said she believes there’s enough capacity for testing, there’s some discussion about the recent rise and fall in people seeking out testing and what that truly means about how the disease is trending.

“As far as testing goes, we’ve had a steady increase from the beginning of April until about mid-May, when we got a really robust testing output for a period of a week or two, and then it’s declined since then,” she said. “So there’s been debate as to whether that is due to decreased demand or does that actually mean that the disease has gone away. I tend to believe that it has nothing to do with the disease going away.

This is not something that showed up and we had, bam. a million cases all at once. It was a slow build, and there should be a slow decline.” f

JUNE 24, 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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Streets of Rage

Press on Toward the Mark

THE HISTORY OF RACE RIOTS IN THE U.S.

MILNER BALL’S FIERCE DRIVE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE LIFTED ALL

By Ed Tant news@flagpole.com

By Pete McCommons pete@flagpole.com

Atlanta was aflame with anger earlier them during the days of rioting that terthis month after police in the city shot rorized the city. The official death toll from and killed a young African-American man the Atlanta race riot was 12—10 Blacks and named Rayshard Brooks. Like scores of two whites—”but there’s no way of knowcities across this nation, Atlanta had been ing for sure,” said author Baurlein, who estithe scene of mostly peaceful and multi-ramates that a total of about 50 Black people cial protests that were sometimes marred may have been killed by angry whites by incidents of looting and vandalism in during Atlanta’s days of violence in 1906. the aftermath of Minneapolis cops killing Flash forward to 1921 and the city of a Black man named George Floyd in May. Tulsa, OK. A prosperous African-American The recent racial tension and class conflict neighborhood called “Black Wall Street” in Atlanta was fodder for newspapers and was attacked and burned by rioting white television reports citizens. Explosives in a town that had were dropped on In 1906, Atlanta was the billed itself as “the the neighborhood city too busy to from airplanes, the scene of days of racial hate” because of its first use of aerial rioting and mayhem that showed warfare against mostly moderate response to the Civil that many citizens of the bustling citizens in America.

Rights struggles to this day city were never too busy to hate. Nobody in the segregated knows the full toll in South during the deaths, injuries and late 1950s and early 1960s. While Southern property destruction, but the carnage was cities like Birmingham became hotbeds of horrific as dozens and possibly hundreds of hatred and tinderboxes of racial injustice victims, mostly Black, died in Tulsa’s urban during the Jim Crow years, Atlanta manwarfare of 1921. Today Tulsa is getting aged to avoid the image of intolerance so ready to commemorate the 100th anniprevalent in Birmingham and many other versary of the riot next year, but activists cities in the region. in the city were angered this month when Such was not always the case in Atlanta.

President Donald Trump chose the city as When the 20th Century was young, the the site of his first campaign rally since the roots of racism ran deep in Atlanta. In outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

1906, the city was the scene of days of The years after World War I were times racial rioting and mayhem that showed when white mobs lynching Blacks were that many citizens of the bustling city grisly but common events, and race riots were never too busy to hate. In his 2001 erupted in Chicago after a Black youth was book, Negrophobia: A Race Riot in Atlanta, killed by whites there because he drifted 1906, Emory University professor Mark into a segregated area of a beach in the city.

Bauerlein wove a The situation was compelling story same after World The years after World War the of how Jim Crow War II. Americans I were times when white segregation laws, fought that war to political posturing defeat fascism, but mobs lynching Blacks were by white candidates fascist philosophies grisly but common events. during a Georgia were still alive in the gubernatorial race hearts and minds of and sensationalist race-baiting by the city’s all too many white Americans as the war white-owned newspapers led to a tragic dragged on. In 1943, Los Angeles was the and deadly riot that terrorized Atlanta for scene of the infamous “Zoot Suit Riots” four days in September 1906. History long when white American military men and forgotten or suppressed comes alive with Hispanic youths battled on the streets of action and immediacy in the narrative of Hollywood. That same year, riots stemNegrophobia. ming from racial animosity broke out in Against a backdrop of postbellum New York City and Detroit. A nation that Atlanta rising from the ashes of the was fighting against the racism of Hitler’s Civil War, the Black moderate Booker T. Germany showed that it had racial probWashington and the more militant W.E.B. lems of its own. New York, Los Angeles and Du Bois waged a bitter rivalry for the Detroit would again become scenes of riothearts and minds of their fellow African ing and carnage during the turbulent times Americans in 1906, while the Black neighof the 1960s. borhoods of Atlanta sweltered under segIn his book Rage in the Streets: Mob regation. The four competing white-owned Violence in America, writer Jules Archer Atlanta newspapers ran daily stories and asserted that “those who complain of howling headlines depicting the city’s social injustice need to make powerful but African-American community as awash in nonviolent appeals in the court of public crime, lust, alcoholism, opium pushing and opinion.” The often violent response to cocaine peddling. Atlanta was a city ready racial injustice throughout the history of an to explode in 1906. Newspaper stories and America that was founded on genocide and political demagoguery about Black crime in slavery is proof today of what philosopher the city lit the fuse. White mobs attacked George Santayana meant by his famous Black men, women and children in Atlanta, admonition written in 1905: “Those who dragging African-American citizens out of cannot remember the past are condemned stores and streetcars and beating or killing to repeat it.” f

The family of Milner Ball has been running the people around him, broadly defined, ads supporting the free press and thanking as Milner Ball, and who was willing to do Flagpole “for being there at this important the hard work, and inspire others to join time in Athens.” And of course their ads do him, in helping the weakest among us—a help support Flagpole. His family’s promominister of the word in the truest biblical tion of the free press gains resonance if you sense. The many joys I shared with Milner know who Milner Ball was. included being his student and later his Milner and June Ball came to Athens friend, grateful recipient of his mentoring when he was hired as the chaplain at UGA’s and guidance, our many wonderful trips Presbyterian student center, Westminster and adventures together and the honor and House. Milner was graduated from meaning attached to Milner baptizing our Princeton and from the Harvard divinity daughters.” school and was an ordained Presbyterian minister. At Harvard, he was steeped in the social gospel—that you don’t just preach good works, you do good works: You get directly involved in public life and try to make a difference.

Milner plunged into life here in Athens, and his ministry expanded to include becoming a challenge-delegate to the infamous 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, where his slate, led by Julian Bond, was successful in unseating the handpicked party regulars and was officially recognized as the official and much more diverse delegation from Georgia.

That was too much for the deacons at Athens’ First Presbyterian Church, who oversaw the student center, and they fired Milner before he even got home from Chicago.

That convinced Milner that Milner Ball gave his daughter Virginia advice on how to keep going, in the ministry was too slow a running and in life. way to bring about change, so he enrolled in the UGA law school, graduated first in his class and took Milner was a runner and a biker, and he a job teaching in the Rutgers law school ran and rode with the same fierce determiin New Jersey. After six or seven years at nation that drove his disciplined life. His Rutgers, Milner came back to the UGA daughter Virginia may have discovered the law school, where he taught and wrote secret to Milner’s prodigious drive when for prolifically for 26 years in such areas as the first time she ran a triathlon with him. environmental law, Native American tribal Running through Five Points near the finish law, jurisprudence, law and theology, and line but overheating and feeling awful, she constitutional law. “Prolifically” scarcely heard these words from her father that she denotes the output of Milner’s scholarship. still hears at the most stressful moments in He wrote four books and such a long list of her life: “You are doing a great job, you no articles, chapters, reviews and other legal longer feel like this is going well, you feel writings that it doesn’t seem humanly posthat you may be about to fail. This is normal. sible, even if he had done nothing else. But When you attempt something bigger than Milner was also out in the world, showing yourself, somewhere towards the end, when by his own life how his students could make finishing is in sight, you start to feel at your the law an instrument of involvement and lowest and that you are not capable of finchange for the betterment of human life. ishing. The more of these experiences you Plus, however tightly wound he was have, the better you will get at recognizing inside, Milner was a low-key guy who this moment, the one just before you finish, always had time for friends and always cut when you invariably feel like giving up.” to the chase and did not beat around the Milner never gave up, and he inspires us bush. When Milner asked how you were still to persevere, especially in these deeply getting along, he drilled into you and found challenging times. Thanks to his family for out how you were really doing and knew their support of Flagpole. If you want to how to help you do what you needed to do. participate, too, it is easy enough to set up a He was ever the minister-lawyer-professor. recurring payment through Paypal of whatAt the time of Milner’s death in 2011, ever amount you can afford. Or just send R.E.M. attorney Bertis Downs recalled him a check to Flagpole, P.O. Box 1027, Athens as a teacher who became a friend: “I have 30603. We are struggling to keep Flagpole never known anyone who cared more about going. Thanks. f

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Cuts Threaten Maternal Health

births during the pandemic. They have covered the price of over 20 births with midwives so far and are also covering doula services and birth educators.

Renee Smith Athens

As lawmakers resumed the legislative session on June 15, Georgia’s maternal mortality crisis took a backseat to budget talks, and even more Georgia women will die as a consequence.

Georgia consistently ranks among the worst in the nation for maternal mortality, Editor’s note: This is an open letter adyet the breakdown in the health-care sysdressed to Gov. Brian Kemp, Chancellor tem due to COVID-19 has only exacerbated Steve Wrigley, UGA President Jere Morehead, existing access issues in maternity care.

Provost Jack Hu, Vice President for Finance Local grassroots organizations focused on and Administration Ryan Nesbit, Franklin maternal health worry that recent progress College of Arts and Sciences Dean Alan on the issue will be undone amid continued Dorsey and the Board of Regents. calls for budget cuts from Gov. Brian Kemp.

Before the pandemic, the state House I understand that UGA and the of Representatives passed legislation (HB 1114) and a corresponding budget line item University System of Georgia, along with the rest of the world, are facing difficult to extend Medicaid up to six months postdecisions balancing public health with the partum for eligible women, who otherwise need to carry on working. Any rational would lose medical coverage only 60 days response must face the fact that reopening after delivery. There is wide community will represent at best a risky experiment. support to move HB 1114 forward despite If we fail to take all reathe call to slash agency precautions, the budgets. Additionally, Reopening of UGA is sonable likely outcome will be the proposed budget a Black lives issue. a severe curtailment of cuts take aim at essential campus life, and possibly maternal health proa second shutdown. This would represent grams that have been working to reverse a still greater harm, not only to the unithe maternal mortality trend in our state. versity, but also to the Athens community Programs working to prevent maternal that depends on UGA for so much of our mortality through hospital-based initiaeconomic life. tives, increase access to psychiatric care for I want to emphasize one particularly mothers, establish a Center of Maternal catastrophic risk that a failed opening Health Equity and provide perinatal educawould carry. As is by now widely known tion support in rural areas are all in jeop(apmresearchlab.org/covid/deaths-by-race), ardy of being eliminated. the COVID-19 pandemic poses disproGrassroots organizations have risen to portionate risks for people of color, espethe occasion and are urging lawmakers to cially those who experience generational do the same. One Georgia-based organizapoverty. For this reason, the pandemic tion has developed a COVID-19 resource response in the USA is intertwined with guide for families. Another organization the recent uprisings to insist that our has released guidance on Safeguarding society value Black lives as fully human Maternal Health & Rights during COVID(nytimes.com/2020/05/29/opinion/ 19. Access to perinatal care appointments george-floyd-minneapolis.html). and doula services, restrictions on support Reopening of UGA is a Black lives issue. partners during labor and delivery, limited UGA’s longstanding institutional failures access to community midwives and teleto face our complicity with the impovermedicine limitations are only a few of the ishment of Black people in Athens was barriers families face during the pandemic highlighted a few years ago in the botched and beyond. To help alleviate some of these excavations for the Baldwin Hall expansion. barriers, one organization is using a Birth UGA’s merely symbolic response to that Justice Fund to help families pay for safe

COVID-19 Is a BLM Issue

“

fiasco failed completely to acknowledge the generational poverty that is a glaring fact of life in Athens. If we experience a COVID-19 outbreak at UGA in the fall, there can be little doubt that the harm will fall hardest on Black communities here.

UGA’s reopening is poised to produce yet another historic stain on its relationship with these communities. It can be argued that reopening is the best policy for poor people in Athens, who depend on the health of the larger regional economy for survival.

I am willing to accept this argument, but only if reopening is buttressed by enhanced precautions for these our colleagues.

The mandatory wearing of masks on campus, a measure that UGA and USG administrators have so far refused to require, would be the barest minimum.

Beyond this, there can be no substitute for honest and open discussions of further precautions, involving especially the sectors of the Athens community that stand to lose the most.

Joseph H.G. Fu Athens Fu is a professor of mathematics at UGA.

District 6 Lost the Election The residents of Athens-Clarke County District 6 suffered two enormous blows in the span of less than a week. First, on the Sunday before the election to fill the seat in that district, Commissioner Jerry NeSmith suddenly and shockingly died. His death left family and friends devastated. Two days later, the electorate in District 6 re-elected Jerry as their commissioner, showing their faith in his platform and giving some solace to his family. Many winning votes came early or with mail-in ballots long before Jerry’s death.

Before we could raise our glass in celebration of Jerry’s long, dedicated commitment to his beloved county, the residents of ACC District 6 suffered a second blow.

The county announced that all the votes for Jerry NeSmith were null and void. Our city attorney’s interpretation of a 1992 state law declared that his opponent would fill the vacant four-year term.

More shock waves ran through the district. How could this be? We all anticipated a special election in which we would choose our representative. Isn’t it our Constitutional right to elect our own county commissioner?

Any law that voids the votes of legitimate citizens must change. It’s time to

seek redress from our legislative and judicial bodies. Our government stands for democracy, justice and fairness. We hope Commissioner-elect Jesse Houle, along with his supporters, would agree that we cannot let this dated and flawed decision stand uncontested.

Many residents of District 6 are still grieving the loss of a proven servant-leader in Mr. NeSmith. But now is the time to stand united and fight for our Constitutional right to have our votes counted and thereby protect future elections from this breach to democracy.

The people of District 6 deserve to have their voices heard.

Joan Curtis, Madeline VanDyck, Helene Schwartz, Karen Porter, Caroline Aiken Athens

Who’s Accountable for COVID Response?

Rep. Jody Hice is right. Someone must be held accountable for the coronavirus management. However, his conclusion that the death toll and attendant economic devastation is a result of fear created by overzealous epidemiological models is wrong.

Hice deflects blame away from Trump and his administration, mocks early models predicting 100,000-plus deaths, and says they were simply wrong. Might Hice now regret saying 60,000 dead Americans is simply the number dying annually from the flu?

We have already surpassed 100,000 dead.

Looks like those first modelers were right.

My only child is a registered nurse. She hasn’t resorted to using garbage bags in her hospital like some health providers, but she is rotating six masks weekly. So far, thankfully, she isn’t infected.

Yes, someone must be held accountable for what is happening in America. A postmortem on our government’s actions or inactions will be needed. For now, let’s focus on saving lives and our beleaguered economy. Reckoning will come in due course, and Hice’s concocted attempt to set up a straw man won’t take our eyes off determining what went wrong. Irrefutable film has captured truth and facts to unequivocally counter administration lies and untruths.

Americans know the response is sluggish and sloppy, at best. We don’t need a charismatic cheerleader spouting happy talk and personal grievances daily on TV; we don’t need a salesman promising miracle cures and a recovery he can’t deliver. We’ve simply needed a leader from Day One. Regina A. Smith Athens

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locals through the pandemic, and that specifically place emphasis on addressing the needs of marginalized communities. Donations of $1,000 each were distributed to Athens Community Council on Aging, Athens Mutual Aid, Casa de Amistad, Live Forward and Nuçi’s Space.

Though the street festival was canceled—along with the zodiac-themed Athens Queer Prom back in March— Athens PRIDE has found creative ways to keep social distancing from escalating into social isolation. Every Friday in May, the organization co-hosted weekly Virtual Drag Story Times with Avid Bookshop, during which performers Ravion Starr, Lacie Bruce, Lori Divine and Cola Fizz live-streamed readings of family-friendly stories. The organization is also currently working with volunteers on an initiative to provide at least 600 handmade masks to underserved populations in need.

targets of alarmingly disproportionate—and likely underreported—instances of hate crimes, police brutality and violent murders. Recent rallies specifically held in support of Black trans lives have drawn thousands of participants across the country, demanding justice for Layleen Polanco, Nina Pop, Tony McDade, Riah Milton, Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells and countless others.

“We should let queer and trans people of color guide

By Jessica Smith arts@flagpole.com us on how to move forward and advocate for them,” says Amber Strachan, president of Athens PRIDE. “We need to impossible not to draw parallels between the listen to them, let them lead the way and give them our full origins of Pride Month and the current Black support. We should stand with them in solidarity, and fight Lives Matter protests against police brutality. Pride is held for their right to live a life without fear.” every June to commemorate the crucially pivotal Stonewall In this year’s absence of rainbow-decorated parties and Riots of 1969, a series of demonstrations held in resistance parades, consider celebrating Pride by redirecting your to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich time and resources into protecting and lifting up Black Village. Led by queer Black and Latinx queer lives. Donate to organizations that activists, including Stormé DeLarverie, address the needs of Black trans people, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, such as The Okra Project (decreasing food this rebellion marked a turning point in insecurity), Marsha P. Johnson Institute the fight for gay liberation. In order to (defending human rights), INCITE! (endbe truly intersectional and demonstrate ing violence) or For the Gworls (covering solidarity with the current Black Lives rent and gender-affirmative surgeries).

Matter movement, this year’s Pride celInstead of participating in rainbow capiebration calls for a return to its radical talism—the virtue-signaling of solidarity roots. from corporations looking to cash in on “We cannot begin to celebrate Pride LGBTQ culture’s profitability—make month without first examining the direct purchases from queer artists, history of the gay rights movement, designers, musicians and shopkeepers. a movement which began with Black Start by checking out Queerency, Wussy’s trans women saying enough is enough new pop-up market of Atlanta-based when it comes to police brutality and queer artists and makers at wussymag. raids targeted at LGBTQ people,” says com/queerency.

Cameron Harrelson, vice president of “During the Christopher Street Athens PRIDE. “In the context of where Liberation Day, 50 years ago this month, we are now, standing in solidarity with people marched through the streets of The Progress Pride Flag, created by graphic designer Daniel Quasar in 2018, modifies the popular Rainbow Flag to the Black Lives Movement, I’d like to New York chanting, ‘Say it loud! Gay include a five-color chevron. Black and brown represent LGBT communities of color, and white, pink and light blue are think Marsha P. Johnson is very proud. and proud!’” says Strachan. “We are still consistent with the Transgender Pride Flag.

The truth is this: Pride and equality as fighting for our voice today. We are still we know it would not be possible withfighting for every person who is not out the work of Black people, and it is pivotal that we, as While our country has made major strides towards shown that they should be proud of who they are. Join in. an organization and a community, make this known. And equality, there is still so much more work to be done.

Participate. Add your voice to the message.” this Pride Month, we must make sure we are giving voices Though the Supreme Court ruled on June 15 that the On the cover of Flagpole this week, “Pride Parade,” a to those within our community who are even further landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits diswork by former Athenian and current Brooklynite Scott marginalized.” crimination “because of sex,” officially extends to gay and Sosebee, incorporates imagery related to Black Lives Dedicated to promoting a sense of community, support transgender employees, the celebratory announcement still Matter, acknowledging that the two movements are interand fellowship for LGBTQ individuals, nonprofit organizaraises the question: How on Earth did this take so long? The twined. It’s important to recognize that many members of tion Athens PRIDE swiftly pivoted its energy and focus in decision arrived only three days after the Trump administhe LGBTQ population are further marginalized by race and response to both the pandemic and protests. Recognizing tration announced plans to roll back health care protections gender identities. the potential for coronavirus to linger for an indefinite for transgender individuals—on the fourth anniversary “That is why we cannot stop fighting. Why we cannot period of time, the board decided early on to cancel this of the Pulse nightclub shooting no less, with its typically stop working. Why we must stand up this Pride to say Black year’s Athens PRIDE street festival, which is held downinsensitive timing..

Lives Matter,” says Harrelson. “After all, where would we be town every fall. Instead, the event funds were reallocated Black people in America are systematically oppressed, without their work? I don’t even want to begin thinking of to assist other organizations that have been supporting and Black trans women, in particular, have long been the that.” f

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Pride Was a Riot BLACK TRANS LIVES HAVE ALWAYS MATTERED

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Do Racist Relatives Matter?

ADVICE FOR ATHENS’ LOOSE AND LOVELORN

By Bonita Applebum advice@flagpole.com Dear Bonita, I am at a total loss for what to say and do regarding my ignorant family members and their reactions to police violence against Black people and the Black Lives Matter movement.

I’m white, and when I post anything in support of Black Lives Matter or calling for justice for unarmed Black people killed by police on social media, I have several family members who will comment with ignorant stuff like, “All lives matter” or just outright racist statements about how Black people don’t know how to avoid police violence because they can’t help but act like criminals and break the law. It makes me so angry, and I really need some help trying to figure out how to respond.

the way your relationships have been with them in the past.

I’m very proud of you for wanting to respond to them, and there are lots of resources out there offering pointers on how to navigate these kinds of tough conversations. A helpful citizen named Anna Edwards created an infographic on this topic that was shared far and wide on social media, and I like her suggested response to “all lives matter.” We both understand that “Black lives matter” is not a statement meant to place the value of Black life over anyone else’s, but to highlight the ways in which Black life in America (and around the world) is considered “less than.” That statement is meant

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Hey friend, You most certainly are not alone in dealing with racist family or friends right now. I only use my Facebook account for lurking and information-gathering, but I see some real dummies actin’ up in comments and on their own profiles. A few years ago, I did a tremendous friends-list cleanout, specifically to avoid what you’re going through right now—and it’s not a simpler or easier task for me as a Black person. A marginalized identity does not guarantee that a person will understand the systemic nature of racism or support radical steps to remove its influence on American life. And let’s not forget about all the white people who expected me to accept their racism because of a bond we shared in the past.

I bet some of those white people are your relatives—people made uncomfortable by the current national conversation, or even worse, people who feel threatened by the idea of a truly equal society. Figuring out what to do with these people and how to find common ground can be challenging and sometimes even impossible. Personally, I think it’s fine for someone like me to simply write off any bigots or crypto-fascists in my vicinity, but I assume that you want to continue having a relationship with these people. It’s possible, but it might not look

to make one ask, “Why do we even have to say that Black lives matter?” If you wouldn’t trade places with a completely random Black person in America today, then I struggle to see how declaring that Black lives matter is problematic. The value of preserving white lives has never been in question.

I don’t think I even need to point out the problem with victim-blaming when African Americans are only 13.4% of the U.S. population while also being 38% of our country’s current prison population. I can see how a racist would interpret those numbers (if only we knew how to act), but dozens of studies have been done on this disparity, and there are three recurring explanations: racist policies and practices, the role of implicit bias and stereotypes in decision-makin, and structural disadvantages in communities of color which are associated with high rates of offending and arrest. The system is designed this way, and that’s what we’re fighting to change.

Thank you for being an ally, and I don’t think you should waste too much time trying to get through to these people. Their gaslighting could fatigue some of the fight out of you, and we don’t want that. The world is changing and moving forward, and there are always people left in the dust of a revolution. I’m glad that this time it will be racists. f

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Americans learned of another wide-reaching privacy overreach early this year, when the New York Times reported on a company called Clearview AI. Clearview had created a massive database of photos scraped from public posts on social media and across the web, in order to create a powerful facial recognition tool that allows users to find out who someone is, and even links back

ting any matches with a photo of a Black man whose mouth was wide open. So the department Googled “Black male model” and edited another man’s closed lips onto his face in order to try to find a match, says Jameson Spivack, a policy associate with the Georgetown center.

“You can see first of all, fabrication of evidence, and second of all, the racial implications of this thing,” Spivack says.

“It’s really wild the kinds of things they’ve done.”

Importantly, face recognition gives government power they’ve never had before, Spivack says.

“In 2015, police in Baltimore County used face recognition on the Freddie Gray protesters to locate, identify and arrest people who had unrelated outstanding arrest warrants,” Spivack says. “This is a politically protected demonstration, and without the protesters being aware of it, the police were using facial recognition to identify people with completely unrelated warrants and target them from the crowd.”

to the original posts. The Times reported that the tool was being used by hundreds of law enforcement agencies, and was more comprehensive than any recognition tool created by the government or other Silicon Valley companies.

“The tool could identify activists at a protest or an attractive stranger on the subway, revealing not just their names but where they lived, what they did and whom they knew,” the Times reported, noting just a few of the potential implications of such a tool.

Face recognition by law enforcement is, for the most part, very loosely regulated, which leads to significant issues, according to research by the Georgetown University Center on Privacy and Technology.

In some cases, police departments have used photos of celebrities they claim look somewhat like a suspect in order to search for matches. In others, departments have uploaded composite sketches, which led to matches with people who looked far different from the eventual suspect connected with the crime, the center reports.

In one case highlighted in the center’s “Garbage In, Garbage Out” report, the New York Police Department wasn’t get-

The technology also struggles with accuracy, with issues in identifying people of color, women and younger people, he says.

With no regulations to audit systems for accuracy, errors can persist.

Some states enter driver’s license photos into face recognition databases, while others only include mugshot photos. When the Georgetown center researched how widespread databases were in 2016, they found that about 54 percent of Americans were included in at least one database, Spivack says.

“A majority of Americans are subjected to face recognition,” he says. “It’s very likely that has increased, but we have no way of knowing.”

Washington state passed facial recognition legislation this year that Microsoft has been pushing in other states around the country, Spivack says. The rule requires government agencies to write an accountability report before using the technology, have a policy for external information sharing and train officers in proper use.

The rule also requires a warrant for ongoing or real-time surveillance, but all other uses are allowed, which is troubling, Spivack

Is Privacy Dead? Part 3 SMILE: YOUR DEVICES ARE WATCHING YOU

By Samantha Wohlfeil This is the last of a three-part series examining the effects of the coronavirus on privacy. A version of this article first appeared in the Inlander, a weekly based in Spokane, WA.

default to the broadest possible sharing of their data.

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nlike concerns about smartphone listening capabilities, if you’ve bought a smart home assistant like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home, you likely understand that on some level, the device needs to be listening in order to hear its wake-up command.

To have Alexa turn off your lights or read you a recipe, the smart speaker needs to first catch the magic words that indicate you want her to do something. But as smart assistants started rolling out in recent years, it wasn’t initially clear just how easily those devices would accidentally pick up audio they weren’t meant to hear, or that it would be listened to by other people.

After consumers complained of odd behaviors with Alexa—the most popular smart assistant—it was revealed that recordings captured by the devices are sent to Amazon, where employees listen for the sounds and phrases that may trip up the system in order to improve its accuracy. But as you can imagine, some recordings made in error captured snippets of private conversations and even people having sex.

“From a privacy standpoint, what a disaster,” says Jennifer King, director of privacy at Stanford University’s Center on Internet and Society. It would’ve been easier if Amazon had first asked people to opt in and share their recordings, explaining that they’d be used to make the system better, similar to when a computer program crashes and asks for permission to send an error report, she says. Instead, the default setting remains that Amazon can use recordings to improve its service, but users now have the option to opt out.

As many other home devices become more connected, creating the so-called “Internet of Things,” other privacy risks are popping up. Some smart TVs now include microphones and cameras that could be hacked by stalkers or the government to watch people in their living rooms and bedrooms. Less nefariously, most smart TVs collect every detail of what you watch, to target show suggestions and ads.

Amazon’s Ring Doorbell security system widely shares videos with law enforcement if users agree, raising questions of how those images could be used for other purposes, like facial recognition. The company also shares user information with third parties, sending the full name, email address and number of devices a user has to the analytics firm MixPanel, according to a January report from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a nonprofit that fights for civil liberties. In 2019, hackers exposed vulnerabilities in the system by getting access to the cameras and using the built-in speaker to talk to children in their homes.

While many systems offer some way to opt out of their tracking, King notes that consumers should assume their devices will

FLAGPOLE.COM | JUNE 24, 2020

says. Trying to identify someone with the technology constitutes a search, he argues, and should require probable cause.

“One way to think about this is, if you’re in a face recognition database, you’re essentially in a perpetual lineup, you’re always a suspect who could come up,” he says. “A lot will say, ‘Well, I didn’t commit a crime.’ It’s not really about that.

It’s more, ‘Does an error-prone, biased technology think you committed a crime?’ Then you have to worry.”

Until the kinks in the technology are worked out and proper protections of constitutional rights are codified, the center and other privacy rights groups are advocating that states implement a moratorium on the use of facial recognition.

Meaningful Legislation Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation, which took effect in May 2018, is the strictest data protection policy in the world.

It requires companies to inform users of what data will be collected, how it will be used, allow editing or deletion for some types of data, and on request, companies need to provide users with all the data they have on them. Companies that don’t comply with those and other rules can be fined millions of dollars.

Many want to push for something similar or even more protective in America.

Currently, California is the only state to have passed a similar level of protection, with the California Consumer Privacy Act. While state legislation can fill an important vacuum in data protection laws, Washington state Senate Majority Leader Sen. Andy Billig (D-Spokane) says he thinks federal standards would better protect all citizens. “While I think Washington is generally a leader in technology and consumer protection, and it would make sense for Washington to be a leader in this area, ultimately federal legislation would be the best so there’s one standard throughout the country,” Billig says.

As it happens, Washington politicians are also leading on the issue at the federal level. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the Consumer Online Privacy Rights Act (COPRA) with Democratic leadership in late 2019. The act would ensure, among other things, that people around the country have the right to access their data and see how it’s being shared; control the movement of that data; delete or correct their data; and take their data to a competing product or service. It also provides a right to private action against violators.

But many who work in privacy say proposed rules like COPRA, and even the GDPR don’t go far enough because they require people to opt out instead of opting in.

Protective legislation requires two major questions to be answered, says Jennifer Lee, the technology and liberty project manager for ACLU Washington. For what purpose is your data being collected, and is it collected with your consent?

“You might not know how you’re hemorrhaging your data, or who has it, but when aggregated and combined with different data sets, that can really reveal a very intimate picture of your life,” Lee says. “And if it’s not adequately protected, it can be used to discriminate against anyone in critical decisions, like our health care, housing, education or loans. It’s something everyone should be worried about.” f

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Recycling the Glass Ceiling MEET ATHENS’ FIRST FEMALE TRASH-TRUCK DRIVERS

By Daveon Montgomery news@flagpole.com

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18-wheelers before that. Gresham found it easy to learn to operate garbage trucks.

Being mothers, each of the three appreciates being able to see their children off in the morning and pick them up after school, without their work schedules interfering.

“We didn’t have much time for our kids,” Mapp says about her last job. “I would do the school bus route in the morning, hurry up and go work transit for a few hours, run back to the school bus, and then go back to transit at night and get off at 10:30.”

“With this job, I get to spend a lot of time with my kids, and I don’t have to stress about how to get them, how they’re getting home or who’s going to watch them,” Gresham says.

SUKI JANSSEN

akisha Mapp, Miah Love and Beverley In May 2019, Love joined Solid Waste Gresham worked alongside each other and became the second female driver. at the Clarke County School District transGresham became the third female driver in portation department before they traded June 2019. in their clean shirts and blue jeans for their When she was a child, Gresham’s father now oil-stained, bright-yellow, high-visibilintroduced her to trucks, since he was a ity shirts. driver. While she enjoyed trucks, she iniIn August 2018, Mapp was hired as Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste’s first female trash-truck driver. Solid Waste’s collections division has always been a male-dominated field.

“I don’t think women get encouraged to go for their commercial driver’s license or even work in the solid waste industry for that matter,” says Solid Waste Director Suki Janssen.

“We would post it just like any other job, and there just would not be any female applicants,” adds Collections Administrator Korey Jones.

Mapp says she has not felt any pressure from her male co-workers as the first woman in her role. “I never really thought of myself as the first. When I applied, something told me this would be my job,” she says. “A lot of people downed me, but I just see it as a job, and anybody can do it.”

“I don’t know if she felt as awkward as maybe the men around her,” Beverly Gresham (l), Takisha Mapp and Miah Love (not pictured) handle the big garbage trucks with ease.

Janssen says. “I think Takisha’s personality is so loving and sweet that she’s tially did not want to drive. “I only learned Love had a baby recently and is the first going to fit in anywhere.” how to drive because I went to Savannah in collections to be on maternity leave.

Coming into Solid Waste, Mapp felt welState and wanted to know how to drive “This is all new to us, but we are rolling on comed with open arms. “It’s like a family before I left,” she says. in her absence, and hopefully she’ll be back here, so I didn’t feel uncomfortable,” she Already used to working in male-domsoon. We miss her,” Jones says. says. “It was stressful learning everything inated fields, Gresham found herself at “For a lot of men, they have their wives and trying to keep up the pace, but I’m tryhome at Solid Waste. She had previously or their kids’ mom that can take them to ing to do my best and be the best I can be,” worked as a driver for Athens Transit and the doctor and other things, so they don’t she said.

Clarke County School District and drove have to take off of work,” Love says. “Trying

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to find a balance has been hard for me, because I have to take off days to do things for my older children, and now with a newborn, I have to take even more days off.”

Working as a driver comes with its challenges. Drivers can have over 800 trash cans to pick up in a day, and often have to get out to grab cans, move them and retrieve debris or cardboard. Drivers sit next to a hot engine with only a small fan on hot days, getting jostled around for hours by the truck’s power and size. They are sometimes set back hours when trucks break down, and they get little recognition for their hard work.

“Cleaning the back end behind the compactor blade is not fun,” Janssen says.

“Garbage juice comes out. It’s smelly, and it’s going to get on you no matter what you do.”

Mapp says that she has respect for those who do show their appreciation. “Throughout the week, we have people give us water, Gatorade and snacks. Some people you don’t meet until the holidays, and they give you gifts,” she says. “There are little kids that wait on you, and you get to interact with them, and dogs also wait for you to come.”

All three women have done a great job, according to their bosses.

“I think they’re more receptive to their job duties and tasks than their other co-workers can be. I ask them to do something, and they get it done with no questions or complaints,” Jones says. “All three of them are go-getters. They do their routes, then get lunch, instead of stopping in the middle and going like some crews.”

“I think it’s just become our time,” says Janssen. “I think women are getting better about fighting for their value. We’ve been OK just being hired. I think now, what we’re going to start seeing is, ‘No, we’re not OK with just being hired.’” f Daveon Montgomery wrote this article while a senior at Cedar Shoals, working with Solid Waste through their Great Promise Partnership. He is off to Howard University in the fall.

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Gilbert (53450)

Pancho (53461)

Sam (53344)

Gilbert’s one of the many dogs Sam’s a pup that’s all about a good Six-year-old Pancho’s still at the still waiting for a place to call time and a squeaky toy! This guy’s shelter waiting for his next pal to home. The pandemic may have also super friendly and loves to walk through the door! All it takes put a lot of things on pause, but is a quick call and an appointment, snuggle up. He’s house-trained, Gilbert’s heart is still open to and this guy’s problems could be crate-trained, and well behaved on a finding the perfect family for him. leash, so give the shelter a call make solved. Why not call and set up Contact the shelter today and Sam your furever pal today! some time to meet this sweetheart? help Gilbert on his quest!

FLAGPOLE.COM | JUNE 24, 2020

These pets and many others are available for adoption at:

Athens-Clarke County Animal Control 125 Buddy Christian Way · 706-613-3540 Call for appointment

Edited by Margie E. Burke

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PLUS, MORE MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP

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By Gordon Lamb threatsandpromises@flagpole.com STIFF BUSINESS: The new full length album by Nicholas

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Copyright 2020 by The Puzzle Syndicate

HOW TO SOLVE:

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain Week 6/22/20 1- to 6/28/20 theofnumbers 9.

The Weekly Crossword 1

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2 5 9 8 6 7 1 52 4 3 26

6 4 3 2 5 1 7 953 8

8 1 536 7 3 4 49 2 6 9

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34 38

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Copyright 2020 by The Puzzle Syndicate

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Planetary path Plague Egg entree Closet repellent Bag of tricks Do as directed One of the Waltons Key word Norwegian king Broken-off branch Has to have Camping shelter

DOWN 1 Was a passenger 2 Start the bidding 3 Deceptive action 4 Bronchial disorder 5 Frazier, to Ali 6 Pollster's find 7 Damaged, as a ligament 8 Psychic ability 9 Pot, in the past 10 Costner's "Bull Durham" co-star 11 Fertile soil 12 Penny ___

Darkness And Fear, opening track “Don’t Vote” is a shotsMallis, The Final Station, once again bursts to life in full fired salvo of the first degree. While that particular track bloom and is packed with notable touchstones he makes maintains a steady pulse throughout, the next track, “We his own. For fans of classic, expansive pop of the sort that Do Not Know What A Body Can Do,” is a blind roller coaster ran unchecked for a very long time (approximately 1972 of squeals, slow downs, hyper speed oscillations, et al. Final through about 1987) and incorporated influences from track “Liber Null” is the longest one here at nearly seven across the whole of the UK and Europe, as well as signifiand a half minutes long. Roughly, it incorporates a lot of cant rhythmic guidance from Jamaican artists of multiple the same elements of the first two tracks but makes very styles, his will fit into your wheelhouse quite nicely. Opening track “Disaster” really tees the album up nicely with its steady rhythm guitar and Brian Eno-perfect descending melody and doubled vocal. Lyrically, the record is timely in its criticisms and observations, but more often than not subsumes these bits into universal themes of the flattening aspects of modernity. To wit: “Forget to wonder/ Forget to dream/ Forget to switch out the laundry…” from “Multiply.”

That same song is punctuated with mystery and, ironically, warmth by a stellar but simple melodica line. Even on the hyped-up dance pop of “Catch 2022,” Mallis says, “How many people out there avoid their friends at the grocery store?… How many people out there would rather book a ticket to the moon?” Although I’d hesitate to conclusively paint Mallis and his music with the Nicholas Mallis broad brush of retro-futurism, his deft use good use of raygun-ish sound effects, and by its end slides of now-classic twists of point-making, both in a musical into a recognizable rock rhythm. While not in any rational and literary sense, are a welcome reminder of lessons we’d sense a traditionally enjoyable record, its scorched execueither forgotten or packed away while being convinced we tion never wavers in its intensity, and consistency of this learned them the first time. Check this out as soon as possort is very difficult to achieve. Head to wuornosath.bandsible at nicholasmallis.bandcamp.com, and be a fan over at camp.com and hear for yourself. facebook.com/nicholasmallis.

BRISTOL CALLING: It seems like a really long time ago when I

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ACROSS 1 Parks in 1955 news 5 Playful water critter 10 Picnic staple 14 Comic strip penguin 15 Most writing 16 First-rate 17 Card balance 18 Carry out (crime) 20 Install as king 22 Set up, perhaps 23 Touch up text 24 Hammerhead part 25 Thanksgiving Day event 27 Milton's "_____ Lost" 31 Little helper 32 Earliest stage 34 1,000 kilograms 35 Bit of slander 37 That group's 39 Close in on 40 Behind bars 42 Steer clear of 44 Caesar's seven 45 Not fit to eat 47 Full of testosterone

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Solution to Sudoku:

1 31 7 8 35 3 40 4 45 9 6 51 2 57 5

by Margie E. Burke 9

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threats & promises

Nicholas Mallis’ Final Station

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Hoe target Grab the tab Start over Place for a pergola "GoodFellas" Oscar winner Detective Pinkerton Grievance Sure to happen Kind of mail Chill-inducing Must, in legalese Reminiscent WWII's Rosie and others Greg Louganis, e.g.

Cable competitor Securing strip PC start-over Filled with ennui Loads from lodes No more than Like some proportions Parasitic insect Emulate Pisa's tower Uber rival "Take ___"

Puzzle answers are available at www.flagpole.com/puzzles

told y’all about how doomy goth rockers Feather Trade would be touring the UK with Spear of Destiny. Well, that all happened last fall, and the band just released a live EP from one of the shows on that tour. Simply titled Live From Bristol-The Fleece, the record is a tight collection of six tracks showcasing the throbby and dark tunes the band is known for. Highlights on this particular collection are “Mouthbreather,” “Deadbody” and the anxious slow grinder “Just Like Film.” Stream along at feathertrade.bandcamp.com, and keep up with the gang at facebook.com/ feathertrade.

BRING THE NOISE: Psychological horror show Wuornos makes

the noise of nightmares, and does so in a way so patently aggressive that the recordings have a vitality to them that similarly structured projects don’t. On the relatively new three-track EP When I Wander From You, Within Me I Find

HOME BREW: Evan Leima (ex-Dream Culture) has slowly

released songs from his newest project Pants That Fit onto a collection of tracks named The Cronoavitus Mixes. As a songwriter, he is well-skilled at exhibiting two primary styles: well-wound psych-pop and furious punk. Opening track “Stability/Desire” is a prime example of the former, while track number two, “Fill Eyes With Sun,” exemplifies the latter. So, too, does the newest song “Tear Through The Gas” fit that latter category. The song, written in reference to our current phenomenon of massive demonstrations/ direct action and police response, is currently the final song on this growing collection. I kind of like the idea of letting this group of songs gather steam and increase in size as kind of a dynamic document of 2020. No idea if that’s Leima’s intention, but it’s my take on it. Your experience will vary, so set your controls for the heart of the sun over at pantsthatfit.bandcamp.com, and if so inclined, give a thumbs-up at facebook.com/pantsthatfit. f

record review The Searchin’ Destroyers: The Misery Hang (Gimme Some Skin Records) The Searchin’ Destroyers considers its sound to be “psychedelic garage pop punk Tejano spaghetti western surf soul rock music,” and I hear precisely that in their debut album, The Misery Hang, released on June 12. This is an album I’d play cruising down a desert highway, with life stretched out before me, having everywhere and nowhere to go. Its loose, surfy instrumentals point to bands like Allah-Las and The Black Angels. Songs range from the playful and imaginary “Hepa Machine” to the poignant “You Lost Touch with the World,” released as a single in May, and a personal favorite. There’s no lyrical theme that makes The Misery Hang entirely copacetic, and the tracks certainly don’t emanate somber vibes, like the title may suggest. However, the juxtaposition of the higher-pitched lead vocals and refreshing guitar solos, prominent organ sounds (very The Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun”) and heavy bass lines thread the tracks together, carrying me along the open road to west coast waves. [Amber Perry]

JUNE 24, 2020 | FLAGPOLE.COM

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AC CARTER

SUDOKU

Difficulty: Medium

bulletin board Deadline for getting listed in Bulletin Board is every THURSDAY at 5 p.m. for the print issue that comes out the following Wednesday. Online listings are updated daily. Email calendar@flagpole.com.

Art

script. Performances held Oct. 2–4 and Oct. 9–11. 706-283-1049

AAAC GRANTS (Athens, GA) The Athens Area Arts Council is offering financial aid to artists in need. All local artists, arts organizations or arts-based projects are welcome to apply. info@athensarts.org, www. athensarts.org CALL FOR INTERNS (Athens Institute for Contemporary Art: ATHICA) ATHICA is seeking interns interested in development, social media, music, poetry, photography and gallery operation. Minimum five hours a week. College credit is available in coordination with department of study. Rolling deadline. athica. org/updates/internships GET ARTISTIC 2020 PROPOSALS (Creature Comforts Brewery) Get Artistic, Creature Comforts' community impact program designed to foster place attachment by investing in the creative economy, is currently accepting proposals from individuals and nonprofits for the 2020 grant funding cycle. Deadline July 17. getartistic@ccbeerco.com, bit.ly/ getartistic2020

Auditions THE ODD COUPLE (Elberton Arts Center, 17 W. Church St., Elberton) The Elbert Theatre Foundation hosts auditions for The Odd Couple on July 20–12, 6–8 p.m. Looking to cast a mid-sized group of adult men and women ages 25–50. Be prepared to read excerpts from the

Classes ART CLASSES (KA Artist Shop) Virtual classes are now held through Zoom. "Calligraphy Club" is held every first Thursday, 5:30–7 p.m.

FREE! hello@kaartist.com, www. kaartist.com BREAD FOR LIFE (Athens, GA) Bread for Life is seeking students for a new session that begins July 6. Applicants must be unemployed, living in Clarke County and 18 years old or older. Must meet one or more barriers to employment: criminal or addiction history (one year clean and sober), victim of domestic violence, or receive SNAP benefits. Bread for Life provides an eight-week training program to help improve lives and begin careers in the hospitality industry. 706-357-4405, contact@ breadforlifeathens.org DEDICATED MINDFULNESS PRACTITIONERS (Online) Weekly Zoom meditations are offered every Saturday at 8 a.m. Email for details. jaseyjones@gmail.com DRAWING WITH HEATHER JOSHI (OCAF) Classes cover outlining, contouring, hatching, crosshatching and scumbling techniques.

Classes include video demos, slide shows and examples using Google Classroom. July 6–31 or Aug. 3–31. $120–150. www.ocaf.com SAVE YOUR STORY (ACC Library) (Online) A digital preservation series focuses on saving documents,

art around town AMICI (233 E. Clayton St.) Jennifer Wallens Terry is a medium, pet psychic and spiritual coach. Her abstract paintings focus on texture and color, while others feature celestial and symbolic imagery. Through June.

CITY OF WATKINSVILLE (Downtown Watkinsville) “Public Art Watkinsville: A Pop-Up Sculpture Exhibit” consists of sculptures placed in prominent locations around downtown. Artists include Benjamin Lock, William Massey, Stan Mullins, Robert Clements, Harold Rittenberry and Joni YounkinsHerzog. • “Artscape Oconee: The Monuments of Artland” features a total of 20 paintings on panels installed around town. Artists include Claire Clements, Peter Loose, Andy Cherewick, Lisa Freeman, Manda McKay and others.

GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (90 Carlton St.) “Louis Comfort Tiffany: Treasures from the Driehaus Collection” features over 60 objects spanning over 30 years of the famous stained glass artist’s career. • “Master of Fine Arts Degree Candidates Exhibition” is an annual exit show for the graduating master of fine arts students at the Lamar Dodd School of Art. • “Rediscovering the Art of Victoria Hutson Huntley” contains approximately 30 lithographs and two paintings. Through June 21. • “Drama and Devotion in Baroque Rome” celebrates Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s influence. Through Aug. 23. • “Altered Landscapes: Photography in the Anthropocene” includes images that demonstrate humanity’s impact on the natural world. Through Sept. 27. • “Recognizing Artist Soldiers in the Permanent Collection” includes artists who served in conflicts from the Revolutionary War through World War II, as well as those who served in the 1950s. Though the museum is temporarily closed, many of the exhibitions, as well as the permanent collection, are currently available to view online at georgiamuseum.org. In celebration of International Museums Day, over 160 high-resolution works from the museum are available through Google Arts and Culture at artsandculture.google.com/partner/georgia-museum-of-art.

GLASSCUBE@INDIGO (500 College Ave.) “Supple Moments, Dark Corners” is a site-specific installation by Eli Saragoussi that is accompanied by a soundscape by Max Boyd called “Jungle Drone.” Saragoussi recently incorporated additional set pieces built for Ad•Verse festival.

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photos (June 25), audio (July 9) and video (July 23). Classes are held at 6:30 p.m. www.athenslibrary.org/ athens/departments/heritage SPANISH CLASSES (Athens, GA) For adults, couples and children.

Learn from experts with years of professional experience. Contact for details. 706-372-4349, marinabilbao 75@gmail.com

Kidstuff ACTING CLASSES (Madison County Recreation Department) "Acting Basics for Kids" is a six-part course that covers pantomime, improvisation, scene study and public speaking. "Auditioning and Scene Study 101 for Kids" is a six-part series that places an emphasis on the art of auditioning for television, commercial and film roles. Both courses are for ages 8–14 and held Mondays, Aug. 24–Oct. 5 (skip Sept. 7), 5:30–6:30 p.m. (acting basics) and 6:45–7:45 p.m. (auditioning). $80/ course. Register online. www.madco rec.com ART CLASSES (KA Artist Shop) "Art Club Junior" is for ages 8–12 and held on Fridays at 4:30 p.m. "Art Club for Teens is for ages 12–18 and held Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Check website for details and to register.

Classes are held over Zoom. $15. www.kaartist.com GARDEN EARTH EXPLORERS (State Botanical Garden of Georgia) Families can choose one of six 90-minute programs and enjoy their own private garden adventure with

the garden's education staff. Box lunches available. Themes include sensory garden, really remarkable rainforest, eco health, stream ecology, Georgia discovery quest and treasure hunt. $50/three participaints, $10 per additional person. botgarden.uga.edu/garden-earthexplorers-summer-expeditions VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMPS (Treehouse Kid and Craft) Each camper will receive a bundle of supplies to keep, organized projects, play dough, home rules, art bingo and more. Themes include creative beasts, under the sea, food trucks, insects, matchbox mice miniatures, slime and more. www. treehousekidandcraft.com

Support Groups AL-ANON 12 STEP (Multiple Locations) Recovery for people affected by someone else's drinking.

Visit the website for a calendar of electronic meetings held throughout the week. www.ga-al-anon.org RECOVERY DHARMA (Recovery Dharma) This peer-led support group offers a Buddhist-inspired path to recovery from any addiction.

Meetings are currently held through Zoom at zoom.us/j/2465753412.

Thursdays, 7–8 p.m. FREE! Find "Recovery Dharma Athens GA" on Facebook

On The Street ACRONYM (Athens, GA) ACRONYM is a new website compiling COVID19 aid for Athens-based live music venues and artists. Check the website for updated listings on funding and financial opportunities, mental health guides, organizational

LAMAR DODD SCHOOL OF ART (270 River Rd.) “Amiko Li: The Purpose of Disease” presents the Dodd MFA Fellow in photography’s explorations into acupuncture, palm reading, psychogenics, herbal supplements, antibiotics and the regeneration of limbs. • “KITCHEN” is a new animation by New York-based artist and former Athenian Michael Siporin Levine, inspired by his quarantine experience. • In “Mors Scena,” photographer Rachel Cox documents the viewing rooms and visitation spaces of funeral homes, drawing attention to how we mourn and memorialize the dead in America. • Atlanta-based artist Michi Meko’s 2017 installation, “One Last Smile Before the Undertow,” is a suite of works addressing Black life in America postObama. Exhibitions are available online at art.uga.edu.

LYNDON HOUSE ARTS CENTER (293 Hoyt St.) The “45th Juried Exhibition” presents 199 works by 144 local artists. Through July. • “Online: Collections from our Community” presents a collection of shark teeth found by Myung Cogan. Visit accgov.com/lyndonhouse to view. • The Lyndon House is currently open to the public, with precautions in place. Daily installments of artwork and activities are also available on Instagram and Facebook, using the hashtags #45JuriedShowOnline and #ArtsCenterOnline.

OCONEE CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION (34 School St., Watkinsville) Juried by Chris Clamp, the 25th annual “SouthWorks” exhibition features a juried show of works in all media submitted from across the country. The 2020 Director’s Choice exhibit presents “Inside and Outside,” a solo show

by Tom Stanley of Rock Hill, SC. Both shows are available online at ocaf. com.

TINY ATH GALLERY (174 Cleveland Ave.) Will Eskridge’s solo show, “Dogs of Athens,” celebrates some of Athens’ finest canine companions through 25 paint and gold leaf paintings. Through June 28.

UGA OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY (1180 E. Broad St.) “The Earth Day (Art) Challenge” is a virtual exhibition of works commemorating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Visit sustainability.uga.edu/earthday-art-challenge-exhibit.

UGA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIES (300 S. Hull St.) Online exhibitions include “Steele Vintage Broadcast Microphone Collection,” “Foxfire on Display at UGA: 50 Years of Cultural Journalism Documenting Folk Life in the North Georgia Mountains, September–December 2016,” “Covered With Glory: Football at UGA, 1892–1917” and “Fighting Spirit: Wally Butts and UGA Football, 1939–1950.” Visit digilab.libs.uga.edu/scl/exhibits.

FLAGPOLE.COM | JUNE 24, 2020

“The Indomitable One” by Howard Cook is currently on view in the Georgia Museum of Art’s online exhibition, “Recognizing Artist Soldiers in the Permanent Collection.” Visit georgiamuseum.org. support, community resources and more. Visit acroynym.rocks CINÉ FILMS (Ciné) Ciné has partnered with film distributors to make films available online. Ciné receives half of ticket sales. Current and upcoming films include I Am Not Your Negro, Whose Streets?, Shirley, Tommaso, Up From the Streets, The Wolf House, Hail Satan? and more. www.athenscine.com COMMUNITY COVID STORIES (ACC Library) The Athens Regional Library System is collecting COVID19 experiences from the community.

Submissions can be written journals, photos, videos, oral histories and saved social media posts.

Stories will be permanently archived through The Heritage Room. Fill out the submission form at athens library.org. heritageroomref@athens library.org SUMMER READING PROGRAM (Athens Regional Library System) All ages can participate in this year’s summer program, which has the theme “Imagine Your Story.” Patrons can check out digital eBooks, audiobooks and magazines online, or place holds for curbside pickup weekdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Prizes will be given to readers. www.athens library.org THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY: COVID-19 IN ATHENS, GA (Athens, GA) Historic Athens presents an 11-week, 55-episode interview series designed to document the effect of coronavirus on Athens. The free interactive series is available every weeekday at 1 p.m. through June 26. www.facebook. com/historicathens TRASHERCISE (Athens, GA) Complete your own Trashercise workout by walking, jogging or running along, trails, roads and neighborhoods. Bring a bag, gloves or a grabber, and pick up and trash you see. Share photos through #trasherciseathens. Report your cleanup online and Keep AthensClarke County Beautiful will send a prize. carlos.pinto@accgov.com, www.keepathensbeautiful.org VIRTUAL LEISURE SERVICES (Online) ACC Leisure Services hosts

various fitness classes, craft ideas, social distancing challenges, coding games for kids, daily crossword puzzles and other online activities. www. accgov.com/leisure

Events ADULT BOOK CLUB (Madison County Library, Danielsville) Discuss With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo. Copies are available during curbside service hours and on RBDigital. Discussion will be held via Google Meets. Register online. July 14, 11:30 a.m. www. athenslibrary.org/madison ATHENS FARMERS MARKET (Bishop Park) The market is open with safety precautions in place.

Wear a mask, pre-order when possible, keep your family home and use cashless payments. Saturdays, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. www.athensfarmers market.net LIVE WIRE SUMMER EVENTS (Live Wire Athens) Wedding Industry Happy Hour, every Wednesday from 5–6 p.m. Darts, every Wednesday from 5–10 p.m. Fresh Garden Jam with live jamming, every Thursday from 5–10 p.m. Love Music Live Stream offers bands streamed from the main stage, every Friday 5-10 p.m. www.livewireathens.com/ calendar STAR SPANGLED CLASSIC (Ben Epps Airport) Fireworks will be launched on July 3 at 9:30 p.m.

Guests are encouraged to view the display as a "drive in" type spectator experience. www.accgov.com/ fireworks THE CRY BABY LOUNGE PRESENTS (Online) Eli Saragoussi hosts bimonthly shows using YouTube Premeire. See Richard Loewen (ND), Annie Leeth (Athens) and Britt Moseley (NY) on June 26 at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Trans Women of Color Collective. See Telemarket (Athens), O Key (Athens) and Bathtub Cig (MN) on July 10.

Proceeds benefit The Okra Project.

Find The Cry Baby Lounge on Facebook. elinor.saragoussi@gmail. com, bit.ly/TheCryBabyLounge f

Turn Up The Heat On Your Summer Of Love! ice v r e ! #1 Slection & Se

Do T HO t?

I t w n o H Wa YOU

Through June, We Would Like To Offer All Essential Workers:

Have you tested positive for COVID-19?

Researchers at the University of Georgia are conducting a study to understand immune responses to the virus that causes COVID-19.

You may be eligible to participate if you: - are between the ages of 18-70 years old - are not pregnant - weigh at least 110 lbs - have previously had a positive test for COVID-19 - have been COVID-19 symptom-free for at least four weeks

15% OFF Their Total In-Store Purchase! (*Not to combine with other discounts. With ID/badge)

PLUS... A FREE Personal Care Bag!*

Please note we are not doing any COVID-19 testing as part of this study.

Eligible subjects will be asked to visit the study location once and provide a blood sample of approximately 7 tablespoons.

Subjects will receive compensation of $25 for completing the study.

The study will be conducted at the Clinical and Translational Research Unit (CTRU) on the UGA Health Sciences Campus. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Jarrod Mousa.

The study team is adhering to the CDC’s recommended infection control procedures and social distancing practices (where possible) during this study. If you have questions or concerns about our safety protocol, please let us know.

FOR MORE INFO OR TO SIGN UP, PLEASE EMAIL: CTRU@UGA.EDU OR LEAVE A VOICEMAIL: 706.713.2721 (Please expect delayed responses if leaving voicemails)

Medical Staff • Hospital Staff • EMT Services Truck Drivers • Social Workers • Power/Line Agriculture Workers • Grocery Staff etc.

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READY. SET.

GO SAFELY. ATHENS, GA

Athens-Clarke County is committed to prioritizing your health and safety and mitigating the spread of COVID-19. To do so, we recognize that community-wide measures and guidelines must be established and followed. READY, SET, GO SAFELY is a collaborative community effort to promote and encourage protocol, sanitization measures, and safety guidelines so that we can safely go forward together.

To Ready, Set, Go Safely, we are encouraging all businesses to commit to these 6 guidelines:

Ready.

Set.

Establish and follow approved protocol.

Follow CDC standards for sanitizing and disinfecting.

Monitor and follow distancing and capacity guidelines.

Train employees on protocol to reduce the spread.

As you start to venture out, we ask that you commit to go safely:

Go Safely.

Wear cloth face coverings and maintain 6-feet of distance.

Welcome patrons who are following guidelines.

Limit close contact and maintain 6-feet of distance.

Avoid large gatherings.

Wear cloth face coverings in public.

Wash hands or use hand sanitizer.

Clean and disinfect personal items and surfaces.

Respect people and guidelines.

Athens is closely following the guidelines and recommendations set forth by the State of Georgia and the CDC. At present, we are beginning to reopen as a community and several of our businesses are safely welcoming visitors and patrons. However, many are still operating under reduced hours and restricted capacities, so we encourage you to ready and set before you go safely. We invite you to explore all that Athens has to offer as you seek safe things to do this summer!

ReadySetGoSafely.com