LEO Weekly June 17, 2020

Page 1

ALL EYES ON POLICE IS THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD CIVILIAN ENOUGH? WE DON’T NEED A NEW POLICE CHIEF | PAGE 5 A CASE FOR MIKE BROIHIER FOR U.S. SENATE | PAGE 7

FREE JUNE.17.2020

PLAN YOUR WEEK | PAGE 16 8 NEW, LOCAL SONGS | PAGE 19

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

1


A LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY

LIKE LEO? HERE’S HOW TO HELP. BY LEO WEEKLY We at LEO offer our sincerest congratulations to The Courier Journal for winning its 11th Pulitzer Prize, this one for studiously and unrelentingly chronicling the avalanche of last-minute pardons and commutations handed out by the corrupt, craven and mercenary Gov.-reject Matt Bevin. We are fortunate as a city to have it as our paper. In a poignant tribute and plea, former CJ reporter Howard Fineman wrote in The Washington Post that the paper’s latest plaudit “should remind us (and surely was meant to remind us), that what we call ‘local’ journalism is profoundly essential to self-government as the Founders designed it, and to the American way of life.” He cited a study that found nearly 1,800 newspapers have closed since 2004, and he said, “Virtually all of the remaining 7,000 are thinner and weaker than ever.” He implored you to subscribe to the paper because, as the op-ed’s headline said: “My former newspaper is struggling — and is more important than ever.” This is all true, but there is more. What Fineman’s op-ed neglected to underscore is that the news media landscape extends far beyond daily newspapers and must include alternative weeklies. Alt-weeklies also provide “local journalism” and are “profoundly essential.” They are critically important because they work in the margins and areas where newspapers do not or cannot. They provide free-to-read accounts of a community’s culture, ethos and priorities. Good ones are not substitutes for daily newspapers, although their coverage and stories may overlap. At LEO, our goal since John Yarmuth founded it in 1990 has been to dive deeply into areas that The CJ and other mainstream news media have neglected, dismissed or overlooked. Accordingly, LEO is the authority on local music, theater and visual arts. We publish A&E guides twice a year. Every issue of LEO has (or had) at least two food and drink stories, including reviews, a beer column and insiders’ views on the service industry. We offer a range of commentary, which, admittedly, skews left but also has included conservative and right-leaning views (such as a column from, gasp — Mitch McConnell). We print op-eds that The CJ would not, such as from Black Lives Matter. We champion equality and provide a voice to the LGBTQ+ community. Our printed and online lists celebrate the best things to do in the region to help you plan your week and weekends. We also publish news stories that are written differently (we’d like to say, more interestingly) than a newspaper would run. They include primary source stories (first-person) and stories told through alternative (there is that word again) formats. Our core topics include those that the daily paper rarely touches, such as urban planning, race relations, labor and the environment (since The CJ’s ace enviro reporter moved on). And, they include media criticism (we are looking at you CJ, but we have given ourselves thorns) because who else is going to do it? In short, Louisville has at least six ways you can get your news, counting TV and radio. We try to not be like any of them. We try not to tell the same story. We try to be more interesting and less predictable. And the hundreds of thousands of people who read us and click on our stories tell us we are doing something right. Alas, LEO, as you might imagine, also has been crippled by this virus, as have alt-weeklies across the nation. LEO is free to pick up and relies almost entirely on advertising. No subscriptions. No grants. No membership drive for donations twice a year. The backbone of our advertising is entertainment (think: music, ballet, theater and visual art) and food and drink. Similarly, we distribute to places where people enjoy those activities and relax (think: bars, coffee shops, restaurants, etc.), and those have been closed. LEO already runs lean and has not had to furlough any editorial staff — yet — but our editorial budget has been cut by three-quarters. LEO has been online-only mostly since the epidemic began. Starting with this issue, our goal is to publish a print edition every other week. Fortunately, we have been an outlier among alt-weeklies, so far. A story from NiemanLab listed more than 40 alt-weeklies that had taken steps to survive within just days of us all realizing this pandemic was real. Many suspended print publication, others furloughed staff and, still, others asked for donations. They included Pittsburgh City Paper, which launched a membership program: “in order to help fight some of these losses, with the hope that readers who depend on our daily coverage of local news, arts, music, food, and entertainment recognize the importance in the work we do to keep the city informed and want us to continue.” We like that idea! Won’t you please consider helping to fund LEO’s mission by underwriting a reporter or providing financial support for more stories? You could sponsor a reporter to cover a specific topic or issue, such as visual arts or theater or labor… or poverty… or the environment or… you name it. Perhaps you want to sponsor a weekly column on dance or jazz, or you want to underwrite a series of stories on land use in The West End. You would not have a say in exactly what we write and what gets printed, but you would see more coverage in the area you have selected. If you are interested, please contact us at: leoweekly.com And, please, if you value LEO and want us to continue to survive and thrive, continue picking up the papers, continue sharing stories on social media and consider advertising if you do not already. As always but particularly now, thank you for reading LEO, and thanks to all of you who have emailed and called to ask when you would see another printed edition on the news stands.

2

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020


click on LEOWEEKLY.COM

KENTUCKY ARTISAN DISTILLERY PRESENTS

BOURBON & BOTANICALS

READ MORE AT LEOWEEKLY.COM/WEB

M U S I C

S E R I E S

Free for members Regular admission for non-members

JULY 2-AUGUST 27TH THURSDAY NIGHTS 7 PM-8:45 PM

CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR COVID-19 VISITOR GUIDELINES: YEWDELLGARDENS.ORG

Hannah L. Drake.

REVISIT THESE LEO ARTICLES

There’s plenty of new content in this issue of LEO Weekly, all of which is also at leoweekly.com and on our social media pages. But keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages for past features and columns from our archives. This week, that includes “Cash bail keeps the poor in jail…a new bill aims to change that” by Danielle Grady, as well as “Black People Are Always Waiting For Justice…” by Hannah L. Drake. In Drake’s column from October, she writes: “Black people exist in the realm of always waiting for justice that has been too long denied.”

Notice of Petition for Termination of Parental Rights G.L. c. 210 § 3 In the matter of:

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court

Docket No.

Ml20A0091CW

Anniah Jennifer Lowder aka Baby Girl Lowder

To: aMI any unknown or unnamed father, parent(s) of the above named child.

Middlesex Probate and Family Court 208 Cambridge Street Cambridge, MA 02141

ON THE COVER BY TALON HAMPTON

ALL EYES ON POLICE IS THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD CIVILIAN ENOUGH? WE DON’T NEED A NEW POLICE CHIEF | PAGE 5 A CASE FOR MIKE BROIHIER FOR U.S. SENATE | PAGE 7

(617)768-5800

• A putative father will not have standing as a party to this case without a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage or an adjudication of paternity.

FREE JUNE.17.2020

PLAN YOUR WEEK | PAGE 16 8 NEW, LOCAL SONGS | PAGE 19

LOUISVILLE ECCENTRIC OBSERVER

Volume 30 | Number 30 735 E. MAIN ST., LOUISVILLE, KY 40202 PHONE (502) 895-9770 FAX (502) 895-9779 FOUNDER

John Yarmuth EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Aaron Yarmuth, ayarmuth@leoweekly.com PUBLISHER

Laura Snyder, lsnyder@redpinmedia.com OFFICE MANAGER

Elizabeth Knapp, eknapp@redpinmedia.com MANAGING EDITOR

Keith Stone, kstone@leoweekly.com EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Scott Recker, srecker@leoweekly.com

The LEO Weekly is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

CONTRIBUTORS

Neville Blakemore, Robin Garr, Fred Johnson, Anora Marie Morton, Writer Illustrations by Yoko Molotov ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Marsha Blacker, mblacker@leoweekly.com Eric Clark, eclark@leoweekly.com Julie Koening, jkoenig@redpinmedia.com Karen Pierce, kpierce @redpinmedia.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Megan Campbell Smith: distribution@leoweekly.com

MANAGER OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT / RED PIN TIX

Michelle Roeder: mroeder@redpinmedia.com

STAFF WRITER

Danielle Grady, dgrady@leoweekly.com

A petition has been presented to said court by Adoptions with Love, Inc, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464 representing that the parent(s) of the child lack(s) current ability, capacity, fitness and readiness to assume parental responsibility for the child; that the petitionets plan for the child will serve the child's best interests; and, requesting that this Honorable Court enter a decree under the provisions of the General Laws of Massachusetts, Chapter 210, Section 3, that shall have the effect of terminating the rights of the person(s) named herein to receive notice of or to consent to any legal proceeding affecting the custody, guardianship, adoption or other disposition of the child named herein. IF YOU DESIRE TO OBJECT THERETO, YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY MUST FILE A WRITTEN APPEARANCE IN SAID COURT AT:

Cambridge ON OR BEFORE TEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING (10:00 AM) ON: 07/16/2020 YOU ARE ENTITLED TO THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ATTORNEY IF YOU ARE AN INDIGENT PERSON. An indigent person is defined by SJC RULE 3:10. The definition includes but is not limited to persons receving AFDC, EAEDC, poverty related veteran's benefits, food stamps, refugee resettlement benefits, medicaid, and SSI. The Court will determine if you are indigent. Contact an Assistant Judicial Case Manager/Adoptions Clerk of the Court on or before the date listed above to obtain the necessary forms. WITNESS, Hon. Maureen H Monks, First Justice of this Court. Date:

May 18, 2020

ART DIRECTOR

Talon Hampton, thampton@redpinmedia.com GRAPHIC ARTIST

Hannah Boswell, hboswell@redpinmedia.com CONTRIBUTING ARTS EDITOR

Jo Anne Triplett, jtriplettart@yahoo.com

Register of Probate

ORDER OF NOTICE

It is ordered that notice of said proceeding be given by delivering in hand and if in-hand service cannot be accomplished, then by mailing by certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy of the foregoing citation to said parent(s)-guardian(s), fourteen Days at least before said return date, and if service is made by mail, unless it shall appear that all persons interested have received actual notice, by publishing a copy thereof in The LEO Weekly publication to be once in each of three consecutive weeks, the last publication to be at least seven days before said return day.

WITNESS, Hon. Maureen H Monks, First Justice of this Court. LEO Weekly is published weekly by LEO Weekly LLC. Copyright LEO Weekly LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed herein are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Publisher. LEO Weekly is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express permission of LEO Weekly LLC. LEO Weekly may be distributed only by authorized independent contractors or authorized distributors. Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO) is a trademark of LEO Weekly LLC.

�8Ad.•�-

Date:

May 18, 2020

�tAd.•�· Register of Probate

I

� LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020 3


VIEWS

YOUR VOICE A FORUM FOR YOUR OPINION FACEBOOK

facebook.com/theLEOweekly

TWITTER

@leoweekly

INSTAGRAM leoweekly

EMAIL

leo@leoweekly.com

ONLINE

leoweekly.com NOTICE OF HEARING STATE OF WISCONSIN*CIRCUIT COURT*CHILDREN’S DIVISION*MILWAUKEE COUNTY In the Interest of:

Date of Birth:

MN [Defendant’s Initials] (09/24/2000)] [Court Case #]

05/02/2015 [Defendant DOB(s) 2020TP000094

A Child Under the Age of 18 To: Seraphine Mukashyaka Jeannepo Mwiseneza [Defendant Father’s Name] 42 Wellington Terrace Drive 4503 Wesport Wood Lane Manchester, NH 03104 Louisville, KY 40245 [Defendant Father’s Address] The mother The presumed father[Defendant Mother’s Name] [Defendant Mother’s Address] Information regarding the above-named child is as follows: Name: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Conception: Place of Conception:

07/05/14-09/03/14

Unknown

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at a regular session of the Circuit Court of Milwaukee County, Children’s Division, to be held on June 29, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., Br. 28, Vel R. Phillips Juvenile Justice Center, located at 10201 Watertown Plank Road, City of Wauwatosa, County of Milwaukee, State of Wisconsin, there will be a hearing on a Petition for Termination of Parental Rights on the following: Seraphine Mukashyaka [Defendant Mother’s Name], the mother; Jeannepo Mwiseneza [Defendant Father’s Name], the presumed father [Defendant’s Initials]. This hearing will be conducted remotely. To access this hearing, you must contact the Branch 28 check-in clerk at (414) 257-4568. If you fail to appear remotely at such hearing, an order may be entered terminating your parental rights to the above named child. You have the right to be represented by an attorney; and if you cannot afford an attorney, one may be appointed by the State Public Defender’s Office by contacting said office at (414) 266-1210. If the court terminates parental rights, Notice of Intent to Pursue Relief from the Judgment must be filed in the trial court within thirty (30) days after the judgment is entered for the right to pursue such relief to be preserved. Petitioner’s Attorney:

Jenni Spies Karas [DA/ADA Assigned To] Assistant District Attorney State Bar No. 1059550 [DA/ADA State Bar #] 10201 Watertown Plank Road Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53226 Telephone No. (414)-257-7725

4

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

502.895.9770

SNAIL MAIL

735 E. Main St. Louisville, KY 40202

CCAP No.:

MN [Defendant’s 05/02/2015 Milwaukee, WI [Defendant Initials] st] DOB(s) (09/24/2000)]

VOICE MAIL

LEO Weekly welcomes letters, emails and tweets of no more than 350 words. Ad hominem attacks will be ignored. We may edit for length, grammar and clarity.

ON: EDITOR’S NOTE, CHARLES BOOKER FOR U.S. SENATE

We need leadership that understands our challenges, lives the very struggles we share, speaks the truth, and has a vision to unite all Kentuckians. The @leoweekly has been a staple for years. Proud of this endorsement. Ready to get to Washington & work with Congressman Awesome. —Charles Booker Why do you support candidates that won’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning? To defeat Bitch McConnell you better get behind a winner. There is way too much at stake here to play the snob game. Let’s win. —Kevin Shaughnessy Kevin Shaughnessy: And you think Amy McGrath, a “ProTrump Democrat” is that person? —Perry William Green III I would love to support Mr. Booker. Unfortunately, [Gov. Andy] Beshear’s cruel irrational tyranny is such that I cannot support any Democrat, at least for now. —Mary Callaghan @MaryCal18844902

ON: EDITOR’S NOTE, RETHINKING THE POLICE — NO TRAFFIC STOPS, NO-KNOCK WARRANTS I love it! It certainly can’t be done overnight, and there will be discomfort in the transition. But I can dig it. —T Renee Buster The ideas in this article are just boneheaded. That is a fact. — Kelly Tabor Kelly Tabor, these concepts still allow for armed response officers to be called out when necessary. — Jess George

ON: MEET YOUR LOCAL ANTIFA

I didn’t realize the LEO Weekly was a political activist newspaper. So, now we have to listen to opinionated political things instead of what’s going on with music and art and such? You know we all could use a little escape instead of everybody reporting the same story over and over again. —Jonny Burial If you think music and art aren’t inherently political, you’ve been missing the point of it. —Caitlin Soard Since the cops that murdered Breonna Taylor are still on public payroll ,and the protests are a block from LEO’s offices, I think it’d be an obvious insult to focus substantial energy elsewhere. This week’s issue is the [Pride] issue and covers lots of topics. I just picked it up while on lunch. So your opinion is actually very uninformed ... Please try not to be a Karen in the future. —Niki Finley

NO DEFENSE

A story about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalizes samesex marriage incorrectly characterized the role of Tim Love. He was a plaintiff in the case.


VIEWS

EDITOR’S NOTE

THE NEW POLICE CHIEF SHOULD BE ...NO ONE! By Aaron Yarmuth | ayarmuth@leoweekly.com LOUISVILLE doesn’t need a new police chief. Mayor Greg Fischer is surveying the community on what characteristics and goals we would like to see the next police chief embody. Focusing on whom to hire to be the next police chief is a fundamental misreading of the moment and movement. It’s also insulting. Hiring another chief would result in only more policy and procedure changes and not actually deliver change: Black people would still be harassed, abused and killed by the “bad apple” cop. Louisville does not need a new police chief — it needs a chief of health and safety, or a chief of peacekeeping and peacemaking. Asking for public feedback is fine — community engagement is never bad. But, in this instance, surveying the public is a cynical, calculated effort to appease an outraged citizenry. It feels a lot like all of

the other talk strategies the city and police have used in the past, which never fixed the fractured relationship between Black communities and police. This outreach ends up giving politicians time. It can divert some of the protesters’ energy. It conveys empathy, care and compassion — but not change. Plus, the community needs no official invitation to provide input. Protesters have been making their demands known for weeks, and they’re not focusing on the need for a new police chief. They’re focusing on the police. Want to change the result? Change the police. As Mariame Kaba, director of Project NIA, wrote in a New York Times op-ed this past weekend, “We can’t simply change their job descriptions to focus on the worst of the worst criminals. That’s not what they are set up to do.” What Fischer is proposing as reform, in

addition to changing out the chief, has been been here and done this before. As Kaba wrote, “When the streets calm done before with no success, obviously. He has called for an external top-toand people suggest once again that we hire bottom review of more black police LMPD, with a focus officers or create on training, bias-free more civilian review This outreach ends boards, I hope that policing, use of force, supervision, accountwe remember all the up giving politiability and community times those efforts engagement (… again cians time. It can have failed.” with the community Louisville doesn’t divert some of engagement). The need a public survey city earlier announced to be heard. We don’t the protesters’ the city would be need an accountability reconstructing a civilenergy. It conveys board, better trainian review board on ing or community empathy, care police accountability, engagement, and we which would include definitely don’t need a and compassion subpoena power. new police chief. I cannot overstate As long as police — but not change. this — it’s all been are allowed if not Plus, the comdone before. encouraged to rule Firing the police by force and violence munity needs no chief, also, has been with one-sided, qualidone before. official invitation to fied immunity from For the city to the law, nothing will provide input. return to the same change. failed processes, They must underwhich promises the stand they are there same failed result, is a failure of imaginato… ugh… serve and protect. tion and leadership. We need to reimagine police. • We know how this ends, because we’ve

UNDERCOVER

MANOFMETTLE.COM LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

5


VIEWS

RACIAL JUSTICE IN THE COURTROOM:

NOW IS THE TIME FOR BLACK PROSECUTORS By Anora Marie Morton | leo@leoweekly.com As a Black woman, I would love nothing more than to see Derek Chauvin brought to justice.

EVENT GOERS... EVENT HOSTERS...

6

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

“Fuck the police! Comin’ straight from the underground; A young nigga got it bad ’cause I’m brown; And not the other color, so police think; They have the authority to kill a minority…But don’t let it be a black and a white one; ’Cause they’ll slam ya down to the street top; Black police showing out for the white cop …”

AS A BLACK LAW STUDENT, I would love nothing more than to see Derek Chauvin, his conspiring officers and every bigoted cop brought to justice at the hands of a Black prosecutor, just for the irony. This song hit the top of the charts in However, unless you are currently read1988, but the Black population can still ing while Black, I doubt you understand relate to the depth of the injustice and pain the stigma associated with Black prosecutors. So, please allow me to be blunt: Black just the same in the year 2020 in the midst of the protests and riots surrounding the people do not trust Black prosecutors. deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor We trust Black people with our braids and George Floyd. and fades, with our lawns and plumbing The legal world and with our food is still very much and infant children. dominated by white However, we do We trust Black people men with very little not trust the Black representation of person facing us with our braids and Black legal profesfrom the other side fades, with our lawns sionals, especially of the V. prosecutors. The average and plumbing and with Black Probably because: Black layperson our food and infant perceives Black “It is true, every prosecutors to be the children. However, we person and every enemy, and Kamala Harris’ failure to do not trust the Black class and descripof persons, who garner support person facing us from tion were at the time of among the Black community is the the other side of the V. the adoption of the Constitution recogmost recent example nised as citizens in of this perception. In the several States, the Black commubecame also citizens of this new political nity, Black prosecutors are considered to body; but none other; it was formed by be sellouts or Uncle Toms, mostly because them, and for them and their posterity, but Black people distrust law enforcement in for no one else.” general. Can you blame us? Justice Roger B. Taney in his Dred Throughout history, the relationship Scott (1857) opinion made it clear that between Black people and law enforcewhile this land was definitely made by us, ment has been sensationalized to inform it was not made for us. To date, we still see the majority of what the minority has more Black barbers and mechanics than already known and endured for centuries. Black doctors and lawyers due to generaEmmett Till, Rodney King and Traytions of Black people following Booker von Martin; the evidence supporting the T. Washington’s teachings — urging distrust in law enforcement by the Black careers in trade work. Our deeply rooted community is in our news feeds and in familiarity of Black people in trade work our own backyards. Most people associand deeply rooted unfamiliarity in more ated with law enforcement are perceived prestigious careers are other reasons why as antagonists in the eyes of most Afrithe Black layperson does not trust Black can Americans. This antagonism is best prosecutors. verbalized by Ice Cube in the first verse of N.W.A’s greatest hit: “African American males play a major

role in our American legal system not as lawyers, judges, or prosecutors but as defendants in criminal proceedings. Indeed, on any given day and almost in any criminal court or juvenile justice system, African American males will be defendants, represented by a court appointed white attorney, prosecuted by a white prosecutor, sentenced by a white judge and ultimately incarcerated and guarded by white prison guards.” —“The Status of African American Males in the Legal Profession: A Pipeline of Institutional Roadblocks and Barriers,” racism. org If African Americans are more likely to be arrested, and therefore more likely to be indicted, then they are therefore more likely to be prosecuted, right? We need more Black prosecutors in order to be representative of the population they are prosecuting. Prosecutors wield the most power in the courtroom. Think of playing fetch with your dog. The dog runs and catches the ball and brings the ball to your feet. In the criminal justice system, the cops (good ole boys) run and catch the accused and bring the accused to the feet of the prosecutor. The discretion to charge and to plea bargain is the power to determine the extent that the accused is involved in the criminal justice system. The time for Black prosecutors is now. We need more Black prosecutors to help mend the disproportionate amount of Black Americans incarcerated. We need more Black prosecutors to put criminals like Derek Chauvin & Co. behind bars to help prove that there is no place for bias, murder and incompetent policing in these United States of America. • Anora Marie Morton is a “Human First. African American Second. First gen college student & law student. Passionate about crime and social justice.” This was first published by “I Taught the Law,” “untold stories of the rules, institutions, and people that govern our lives (without too much legalese),” as written by lawyers, law professors, student and other legal professionals.


VIEWS

MIKE AND ME:

THE JOURNEY OF BECOMING ALL IN By Fred Johnson | leo@leoweekly.com MIKE BROIHIER and his wife Lynn were leaving a teacher’s rally and protest for social justice a week or so ago when Mike slipped down his mask and a young woman noticed him. She asked, “Aren’t you running in the Kentucky Democratic Primary to go up against Mitch McConnell”? Mike answered, “Yes, I am.” The lady then questioned, “Why didn’t you speak today, then”? Broihier replied, “I’m here as a teacher, not as a candidate.” And he went on to say, “There is nothing I can add to what was said so elegantly by the speakers on the podium. I am here to stand with them and listen.” There it is in a nutshell. The reason why Mike Broihier will beat Mitch McConnell this coming November and win Kentucky’s U.S. Senate seat that has been occupied by a despot for the last 36 years. Character. In McConnell’s previous six elections, he has never run against a candidate like Mike Broihier. There are no gimmicks in Mitch’s bag of dirty tricks he can play against Mike’s unimpeachable character. I don’t haphazardly make character judgments of political candidates. I was burned once before trusting a politician who turned out to be a flake. I let my emotions get in the way instead of being more wise and thorough in my research. Now, I do my own homework on candidates. I don’t allow partisan politics and big-money ads tell me how to think. My journey of becoming all in for Mike Broihier has been a deliberate one. I was finishing up my first year as a sixth grade teacher in the Jefferson County Public Schools system. Originally, I supported Amy McGrath, until I became disenchanted with her series of gaffes and flip-flops that included a vow to help enable Trump’s agenda and that she would have supported Brett Kavanaugh’s U.S. Supreme Court nomination and then not. I voiced my frustration to fellow Army veteran and friend, George Wright, and he asked if I’d checked out Broihier. I hadn’t, but said I would. I started with his website where I learned Mike and I had a lot in common. We’re both teachers and retired career military officers who served in combat. We’re writers, and Mike was an editor of his hometown news-

paper in rural Stanford, Kentucky. He is also a farmer (and I like to eat). What struck me was Mike’s depth of unique life experiences no other candidate possessed. In addition to being someone comfortable working with his hands, he was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley where he taught leadership. Mike is an intellectual. I watched a March 5, 2020 debate of the then-four candidates. I viewed the video twice, observing Mike’s delivery, listening to his position on the issues juxtaposed against the other candidates. It was a no-brainer for me. Broihier commanded the stage convincingly communicating that McConnell is an existential threat to our republic. More importantly, he was the only person who took the time to develop policies ranging from his support of Universal Basic Income, single-payer healthcare and criminal justice reform. I think there are various levels of involvement in our democracy; the most basic is to vote. Part of that obligation is to perform your due diligence on the candidates you choose to support. I did that but felt the need to go one step further and really get to know the candidate I felt had the strongest possibility to win. I reached out to Broihier’s campaign team to volunteer and support Mike. My intimate involvement in the mission led to my absolute conviction that Mike Broihier is the only candidate who can beat Mitch McConnell. When I spoke to Mike’s staff, I told them up front I was a registered independent, having voted for Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians in past elections. I cast my ballot for the person — their character — and their platform, not the party. It was inspiring working with Mike’s team, many of whom served on the Andrew Yang campaign team before Yang ended his run to be the Democratic presidential candidate. Andrew Yang endorsed Mike, along with former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson. The Yang connection was an important one for me because I think Universal Basic Income is a game-changer to help eliminate many of the obstacles to attaining economic

Mike Broihier is seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

and social equity in America and create greater overall well-being for our most atrisk populations. Another insight I gained from working closely within the campaign was the plan to defeat McConnell, which aligned perfectly with Mike’s strengths. In the past, candidates running against Mitch focused almost exclusively on the 500,000 registered voters of the urban core in cities — Louisville and Lexington. In contrast, Mike would expand his reach into the rural areas where the other 3 million registered voters resided and where Mike lived and worked in Lincoln County since 2005 after he retired from the Marine Corps. It’s a strategy focusing on all 120 counties in Kentucky, and that leverages Mike’s depth of experience as a farmer, teacher, veteran and former newspaper editor to connect with people of similar backgrounds and interests. Mike prides himself on being a “bentback asparagus farmer,” and that is something the majority of Kentuckians can relate to. If you look at the demographics of voters in any past election, you have to win rural Kentucky. There’s no way around it. However, understandably the focus of many voters right now is on what’s happening in our cities, particularly Louisville and the unrest there.

Herman Melville wrote in his book “Billy Budd,” “Let not warm hearts betray heads that should be cool.” And this is where I am currently in my journey with Mike and being all in for his candidacy to run against and defeat Mitch McConnell. As the June 23 primary approaches, we reside in a world that seems to be burning down around us with hate and divisiveness that Mitch McConnell is partly responsible for. These are dire and soulful times as we demand justice for Breonna, David and George. This is when we must take action by ensuring our nation is safe from six more years of Mitch McConnell. To defeat McConnell is both an immediate and long-term step to dismantling institutional racism and ending economic and social injustice that are so destructive to our republic. This moment, this primary demands that we choose the right person to run against McConnell. We all must be all in and I believe the candidate to take that journey with is Mike Broihier. • Fred Johnson is a Jefferson County Public Schools teacher, 29-year Army veteran and volunteer with Mike Broihier’s election campaign and Restorative Justice Louisville, and he is co-founder of Shakespeare with Veterans. LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

7


VIEWS

ELECTIONS 2020

WE NEED THREE POLLING LOCATIONS FOR THE JUNE 23 PRIMARY, NOT ONE By Neville Blakemore | leo@leoweekly.com IMPOSSIBLE is a word to use with discretion. Yet, the Jefferson County Clerk selected this word to explain why Louisville cannot have more than one primary polling location. After extensive research, I believe it would be more accurate to say three polling locations would not only be doable, but more prudent. Impossible is also the wrong word to use when you learn Franklin and Shelby Counties will each have three polling locations.

PUBLIC HEALTH, ROBUST TURNOUT

To balance public health safety with a robust turnout for June 23, I see two driving principles: 1) ensuring we have ample social distancing capacity for in-person voting; and 2) encouraging as many people as possible, supported by a sustained voter education campaign, to vote absentee. In a May 22 letter to the State Board of Elections, in response to a May 21 letter from state Reps. Jason Nemes and Attica Scott (in which they demanded multiple locations), the county clerk provided nine reasons why it is “simply impossible” to have more than one site. In short, the reply letter references insufficient funds, not enough workers and the unprecedented nature of COVID-19. When you scratch the surface, these arguments do not stand.

INSUFFICIENT FUNDING?

There would be plenty of money — $4.3 million in additional revenue. As a fee-based office (we each pay to register cars, deeds, wills, etc.), the clerk generated $19.8 million in fees for 2019. In 2020, the office will produce an estimated $24.1 million. Yes, the Jefferson County Clerk, because of Frankfort’s fee hike, will increase projected revenue by $4.3 million in just one year. This 21.7% growth, even after including a raise for its hard-working employees, also includes a $1.2 million surplus for 2020. Funding is not an issue for the County Clerk.

NOT ENOUGH WORKERS?

The clerk’s second major argument? “I

8

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

don’t have the people.” But that office is the biggest clerk’s office in the state. The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office is big — eight remote locations, nine departments and 320-plus full-time employees. It is one of the largest governmental agencies in town and it is the biggest — by a wide margin — clerk in the state. So much so, it is the only clerk with multiple offices. The size of the Jefferson County Clerk is to be expected; we are, after all, the largest county. But, when you link the employee count to every million dollars in revenue generated from fees, Jefferson is not only the biggest, it also has a 39.2% greater employee capacity when compared to the second-largest clerk office, Fayette County’s. Normally, when analyzing employeecapacity ratios, you have to compare apples to apples. In this case, we are: All of the county clerks — across Kentucky — have the same duties and responsibilities.

THE UNPRECEDENTED NATURE OF COVID-19.

Typically, organizing a primary in Louisville, even without a pandemic, is complex: It involves 232 polling locations, 623 precincts, 2,000-plus ballot styles and 2,400 election workers, just to mention the fundamentals. It is logistics at its best. Clearly, COVID-19 complicates matters. Each election cycle, for multiple reasons, polling locations change. People do not like it, but it happens. All the time. On average, anywhere from 5% to 10% of locations can change. How are voters informed of these changes? The clerk mails postcards. Why couldn’t the clerk inform voters of our new locations this time? It could. Moreover, it already has, sort of. But instead of dividing us into 232 polling locations, it has crammed us into one — the Fairgrounds. And it did not mail postcards, but rather presented the plan at a County Board of Elections meeting. With some hustle and proactive planning, the county clerk could have sent a postcard (as it already does whenever polling sites change), yet it would have been mailed to

all 615,000 registered voters to inform us we have been assigned to one of three locations. Considering the primary is around the corner it might be too late, but I bet the U.S. Federal Judge in the Western District of Kentucky does not care. Remember the letter from Rep. Nemes? Well, he, and several others, followed up with a class action lawsuit stating “significant voter suppression will occur” because of Jefferson County’s one polling location.

EDUCATING VOTERS: THE KEY TO EVERYTHING

The main goal of a voter education campaign — and I mean the absolute, 110% main goal for the June 23 primary — is to encourage absentee voting. And the job of the county clerk is to stand proud and to stand tall in blasting out this message: weekly press conferences, text messages, public service announcements, email blasts, social media posts (TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), appearances on radio stations, TV shows and podcasts, as well as good ol’ fashion postcards. The county clerk — as the chief elections officer for Jefferson County — is responsible for taking a leadership role in communicating this message. And the message, even with the challenges of COVID-19, is direct and simple: vote by mail, and if you have to vote in-person, you will be assigned to one of three locations. To repeat, the benefits to three polling locations instead of one is twofold: 1) it would increase equity and access to polling locations across our hometown; and 2) it would support public health safety by ensuring we have sufficient social distancing capacity at the voting booths. If the Jefferson County Clerk had been more proactive, we could have avoided one location. But depending on what the U.S. District Judge has to say, it still just might happen. • Neville Blakemore worked on the ClintonGore Campaign in 1992, ran for state treasurer in 2015 and served as vice-chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party. He can be reached at: nevilleblakemore3@gmail.com


NEWS & ANALYSIS

FIRST STEPS TOWARD RETHINKING THE POLICE

METRO COUNCIL, MAYOR BAN NO-KNOCK SEARCH WARRANTS UNDER ‘BREONNA’S LAW’ By Danielle Grady | dgrady@leoweekly.com NO-KNOCK search warrants are banned, and police must follow more restrictive rules for executing search warrants under a new city ordinance called “Breonna’s Law.” The Louisville Metro Council unanimously approved the ordinance Thursday night, and Mayor Greg Fischer signed it into law Friday afternoon. Louisville police shot and killed Breonna Taylor, 26, on March 13 while executing a no-knock warrant. No-knock warrants allow police to enter a property without announcing themselves and are ostensibly used to prevent suspects from fleeing, destroying evidence or injuring a police officer. In Taylor’s case, she was an ER tech with no criminal record whose ex-boyfriend, a suspected drug dealer, had been allegedly seen picking up a package at her home. When officers broke into her home, her boyfriend Kenneth Taylor shot at them, thinking they were intruders, according to his attorneys. Police shot her eight times. No drugs were found at Taylor’s home. Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, spoke at the council meeting. “All Breonna wanted to do was save lives, so it’s important this law passes because, with that, she’ll get to continue to do that, even in her death,” said Palmer, who attended the meeting with her attorneys Ben Crump and Lonita Baker. Black women were integral in winning passage of Breonna’s Law, including Palmer, Councilwoman Jessica Green, D-1st District and ACLU Policy Strategist Keturah Herron. And, among the Black women celebrating on the steps outside the council chambers upon the ordinance’s passage were Herron, Black Lives Matter core organizer Chanelle Helm and Louisville activist Hannah L. Drake. Under the ordinance, police must “physically knock on an entry door to

Picking up on national calls to the premises in a manner and duration defund the police, Herron advocated that can be heard by the occupants” Thursday night for diverting money and “clearly and verbally announce from LMPD in the next city budget in as law enforcement having a search favor of funding social services. warrant in a manner that can be heard In addition to banning no-knock by the occupants,” according to a warrants, Breonna’s law also requires statement from the council. “Absent Louisville police officers to have their exigent circumstances, wait a minibody cameras on five minutes before mum of 15 seconds or for a reasonand after executing a search warrant. able amount of time for occupants to Louisville may be leading the answer the door, whichever is greater, charge in no-knock warrant bans in before entering the premises.” other cities, states — and maybe even Green called Breonna’s Law the a nationwide most significant legislation she In addition to banning ban.Kentucky has worked on no-knock warrants, junior senain her years as a tor, Rand Paul, council person. Breonna’s law also announced “Breonna, we requires Louisville Thursday that owe a great portion of the hope police officers to have he’d be filing federal legislathat we have their body cameras on tion to ban noof the future to knock warrants. five minutes before you,” she said in an emotional and after executing a And on Monday, Lexington, Kenaddress before search warrant. tucky’s mayor the ordinance’s issued a moratopassage. rium on most no-knock warrants. Green also credited council memCrump, a civil rights attorney also bers Barbara Sexton Smith, Brandon involved in advocating for George Coan and David James for their work Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, said in an on Breonna’s Law. Herron, who address before the council, “Tonight, thanked Green, Sexton Smith and you all have the power to lead the James, called the ordinance a “first nation.” step.” The law applies to only the The Courier Journal reported that Louisville Metro Police Department and not the suburban departments that Ryan Nichols, president of the local Fraternal Order of Police lodge, said operate in Jefferson County. no-knocks are “a valuable tool to law In a tweet Thursday, Fischer enforcement when properly used,” explained why he would sign the and the mayor and his police leaderordinance into law. ship should legislate police policy, “I plan to sign Breonna’s Law as not the Metro Council. soon as it hits my desk. I suspended “They’re doing that because they use of these warrants indefinitely last don’t have faith in the mayor to month, and wholeheartedly agree adequately do that,” Nichols told the with Council that the risk to residents newspaper. “I think there’s other steps and officers with this kind of search they should be taking, not legislating outweigh any benefit,” he wrote. what he can and can’t do, policywise, “This is one of many critical steps but they should be looking at, should on police reform that we’ve taken to he be the mayor?” • create a more peaceful, just, compassionate and equitable community.”

THORNS & ROSES THE WORST, BEST & MOST ABSURD THORN: CITY, POLICE CAN SHOOT TO KILL BUT ARE NOT STRAIGHT SHOOTERS

The Louisville police released the incident report that was supposed to explain how they shot Breonna Taylor at least eight times, killing her. But it contained virtually no information, except mistakes. It said she had suffered no injuries and no force was used to enter. You would think that Mayor Greg “Seen Better Days” Fischer would be demanding to personally inspect every statement and document before any are made public. Either he did not see the document, or he and his advisors are idiots. After the report was released, he tried to staunch the wound: “Full stop. It’s issues like this that erode public confidence in LMPD’s ability to do its job, and that’s why I’ve ordered an external top-to-bottom review of the department.” You think?

THORN: AMY WAS BORN ON THIRD BASE BUT THINKS SHE HIT A TRIPLE

Democrat darling Amy “I’ll Make Your Trump Vote Matter” McGrath tried to insult U.S. Senate race opponent Charles Booker in a tweet: “Congratulations Charles on your fundraising. Now you will have the resources to actually provide health insurance to your staff and pay your interns $15/hr like we do.” It was an error. His reply, in part: “I understand, Amy. You’re getting nervous about our campaign. But know, people will never forget you are against guaranteeing healthcare as a human right, and you oppose raising the min wage to $15. Your tweet won’t hit the way your consultants think. ... ”

ROSE: HOW ABOUT LOUIS COLEMAN JR. FWY?

A tweeter pointed out that Henry Watterson, a Courier Journal editor from 1868-1919, was a former Confederate and leading segregationist, yet he was honored with a freeway and school bearing his name. The CJ news director tweeted back: “All true. Also a champion of journalism and of government accountability, as well as a @PulitzerPrizes winner. The @courierjournal has struggled with Watterson’s duality for decades.”

ROSE: THE CJ PUTS A CAPITAL B IN BLACK

The CJ has started to capitalize Black “when describing Black culture, ethnicity and communities of people.” It is a Gannett chain-wide initiative. LEO began in January.

ABSURD: 911! THEY ARE BURNING SAGE!

Someone marking the removal of the John B. Castleman statue from Cherokee Triangle lit sage “to cleanse the area ... ,“ The CJ reported: “Soon after the sage burning, a fire truck was called to the area,” but firefighters “left without putting out the sage burning.” LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

9


UPCOMING EVENTS Stay home and stay safe while still supporting your favorite local places with online and future events.

Weekly Psychic & Mediumship Development Group

JUN

NOW OPEN

Jessica Tanselle: Medium

JUN

Getting All Thai’d Up In Kentucky All Thai’d Up Online

JUN 12-26

Peace Art Activism Event and Raffle Peace State

Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center

Teri’s Play Date: How To Write a 10 Minute Play

JUN 18

Louisville Literary Arts Online

KMAC Museum General Admission

JUN 19

KMAC Museum

Glassware & the Cocktails that Go in Them

JUN 20

Make & Muddle

redpintix.com 10

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

3733 Lexington Road, Louisville 40207 502-901-1101/1102

BurgerIMLouisvilleKY@gmail.com

#burgerimlouisvilleky


RETHINKING POLICING IN LOUISVILLE

WILL A NEW CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD BE CIVILIAN ENOUGH TO JUDGE POLICE PROPERLY? By Danielle Grady | dgrady@leoweekly.com BOTH activists and Metro Council members agree that civilians need to lead a civilian review board being created to investigate police misconduct and procedure. They differ on how to get there. A new civilian review board is one of the demands from Black Lives Matter Louisville and members of Breonna Taylor’s family in response to her death. Louisville police shot and killed the unarmed Taylor on March 13 while executing a no-knock search warrant. The city’s current Citizens Commission on Police Accountability, which investigates police shootings and police-involved deaths, is ineffective, according to Ricky Jones, a UofL professor who sits on the board: It does not have subpoena power, it often receives cases that are years old, and its function is to only review investigations conducted by the police department and judge them based on whether the department’s guidelines were followed. “You can’t have a critique of a system that is run by the system itself,” said Jones. “So, if we’re going to have legitimate civilian review, civilians — citizens right? — they have to sit at the heart of that review. Not the politicians, not the police.” The city has started the process of creating a board with subpoena power by putting together a working group. To Chanelle Helm, a core organizer for Black Lives Matter Louisville, the fact that the city started the process is part of the problem. She believes the community should start the planning of a civilian review board. “I don’t think that the mayor was at all correct, or whoever was leading him in that, having the city plan what came from demands from the community,” she said. “And that’s not OK. And that just looks like… more confusion, and it just looks like more corruption. The communities are not going to be able to jump on board with that.” Another issue is the makeup of the 33-member working group. Joshua Poe, a community organizer and a coprincipal investigator at the Root Cause Research Center, said that a significant percentage of its members are former or current city employees, and 15% work for the police department or a police union. The rest work for established institutions such as Spalding University and the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky. He would like to see grassroots organizers involved who aren’t connected to an institution, such as The West End youth without group affiliations who have led Louisville’s anti-police brutality protests. “People within institutions have to understand that they have blind spots,” said Poe. “There are systemic and institutional bias based in that. And, most importantly, there are political pressures for people who work for institutions. And

so there’s nothing about this review board that is independent in nature whatsoever.” If the working group is flawed, then the final board will be too, according to Poe. “You have to remember that this work group is deciding on the policies and the structure,” said Poe. “So, we can put the best

people, the most radical people on the board at this point, but if the FOP designs the structure, we’re going to have a white-supremacist civilian review board no matter how many radical voices we put on it.” Metro Councilwoman Paula McCraney, D-7th District, is leading the civilian review board working group alongside Deputy Mayor Ellen Hessen. McCraney said that she wants the final board to represent the community and include “boots on the ground”

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

11


ists involved. advocates. But, she thinks the working group is “wonderfully diverse,” and she said it is “only “The new Metro Council would be wise fair” that the city spearheads the initiative as to tap into some of the expertise that was the mayor might be in charge of appointing developed at that time,” said Owens, who is a members to the eventual board. member of the board for the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. “We need to get things done,” she said. When asked, David James, Louisville’s “We’re not trying to wait around and play with current Metro Council president, said that he this thing. We want things to get done. So we expected members of Owens’ group, Citizens put the right people in the right place to move Against Police Abuse, to be consulted eventuthese things along.” ally. James also defended the city’s working McCraney said that the public has the group efforts, saying chance to provide input “everyone’s voice on what they’d like the is going to have the board to look like via a form on the city’s The working group opportunity to be heard.” website, which can be plans to send a The ordinance that found by searching Owens worked on, louisvilleky.gov. civilian review which created a civil“We’re listening,” ian review board with said McCraney. “We board outline to subpoena power, was hear them. And we Metro Council in passed by the Board of know things must at the time. change. This is a huge July. It’s expected Aldermen But, the Louisville beginning, and the police union sued over community as a whole to be a meld of it, and it was abanwill be involved in this different civilian doned after the city and process.” merged in the The River City FOP review board struc- county early 2000s. and the Mayor’s Office Jones said that it did not return calls and tures: those that would be good to have emails for comment complete their grassroots organizafrom LEO. tions represented The working group own police inveson the board, but plans to send a civilian that it shouldn’t be review board outline tigations, those mandatory. to Metro Council in that simply review “You can’t make July. It’s expected to grassroots organizabe a meld of different police investigations the sole arbiters civilian review board tions and those of who will be a part structures: those that of organizations like complete their own that use an auditor this,” he said, “because police investigations, in effect they then those that simply or monitor to parbecome another level review police investicipate in invesof overlord.” tigations and those He has his own that use an auditor to tigations and recproblems with the participate in investigaworking group, calltions and recommend ommend broad, ing it a “bureaucratic broad, organizational organizational behemoth” with its change. 33 members. But, his A main priority, change. issues with the process for the board to have and the city’s efforts on subpoena power, would racial issues go beyond need approval from the the makeup of the majority-Republican working group. Kentucky legislature. “They didn’t take the time early on right K.A. Owens, a Louisville activist who before the explosion happened to take this stuff helped lead a push in the late 1990s to create seriously and do things substantively,” Jones a civilian review board with subpoena power, said that he would advise the working group not said. “And now they’re trying to respond after the bombs have already gone off, and it’s too to start their work from scratch. They should late, and they don’t have the skills. And we’re study the ordinance that his coalition ushered seeing them really, really scramble right now.” • through, he said, and consult some of the activ-

12

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD WORKING GROUP Kendall Boyd, chief equity officer for Louisville Metro Government Jim Burch, chair of Citizens Commission on Police Accountability Raoul Cunningham, president of the Louisville NAACP branch Keisha Dorsey, Louisville Metro councilwoman representing District 3 Drew Fox, governmental affairs chairperson for state Fraternal Order of Police Eric T. French Sr., pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church Reginald Glass, Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission Advocacy Board chairman Ingrid Geiser, criminal division director of Jefferson County Attorney’s Office Jessica Green, Louisville Metro councilwoman representing District 1 Jessie Halladay, special advisor for Louisville Metro Police Brenda Harral, chair of the Police Merit Board Chris Hartman, director of Kentucky Fairness Campaign Keturah Herron, field organizer for juvenile justice with the ACLU of Kentucky Ellen Hesen, deputy mayor of Louisville Amy Hess, chief of public services for Louisville Metro Government Bill Hollander, Louisville Metro councilman representing District 9 Paul Humphrey, Louisville Metro Police major who commands training division Chandra Irvin, director of Center for Peace and Spiritual Renewal at Spalding University, leader of Metro’s Synergy Project Ricky Jones, professor and chair of Pan-African Studies department at University of Louisville, member of the Citizens Commission on Police Accountability Josh Judah, assistant chief of police overseeing patrol division operations Nima Kulkarni, state representative representing District 40 R. Lightsy. Jr., pastor at Community Missionary Baptist Church and member of the city’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee Edgardo Mansilla, executive director of Americana World Community Center John Marshall, chief equity officer for Jefferson County Public Schools Paula McCraney, Louisville Metro Councilwoman representing District 7 Kim Moore, executive director for a nonprofit in the Russell neighborhood, former Louisville Metro staff Gerald Neal, state senator representing District 33 Ryan Nichols, president of River City FOP Sadiqa Reynolds, president and CEO of Louisville Urban League, former Louisville Metro staff Erwin Roberts, First Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Jefferson County Judy Schroeder, board member for OneWest, former senior manager for neighborhood engagement at Metro United Way Anthony Smith, executive director of Cities United, former Louisville Metro staff Imani Smith, a youth leader in Louisville


PHOTO ESSAY

#JUSTICEFORBREONNA

PROTEST FOR RACIAL JUSTICE TAKEN TO THE BIG FOUR BRIDGE By Kathryn Harrington | leo@leoweekly.com THE KILLINGS of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police brought protests in downtown Louisville and have since spread to other parts of the city, all calling for police reform and demands for racial justice. Peaceful protests continue near the Hall of Justice, and on Saturday, June 13, about 40 protesters marched on the Big Four Bridge for a vigil organized by the Derby City Sisters. The vigil began at 8 p.m. with groups gathering on the Kentucky and Indiana sides of the bridge, which then met in the middle. A blessing was said for the Black people who

have been brutalized and killed by police and the others affected by that violence. Participants then either knelt or laid down on the bridge for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, and some also placed their hands behind their backs. Eight minutes and 46 seconds is the amount of time a white police ofďŹ cer knelt on the neck of George Floyd while his hands were cuffed behind his back, leading to his death. Here are photos from the protest.

The recent killings of Black people by police, including in Louisville, brought the Derby City Sisters and others to The Big Four Bridge for a vigil to show solidarity. | PHOTOS BY KATHRNYN HARRINGTON. The Derby City Sisters and others walked to the middle of the Big Four Bridge to hold a vigil for Black people killed and brutalized by police.

The Derby City Sisters held a vigil on the Big Four Bridge on June 13 to support racial justice and Black rights.

Tom Murphy was at the head of the peaceful march on the Big Four Bridge as protesters chanted the names of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

13


PHOTO ESSAY

Sister Ida Claire knelt on the Big Four Bridge for 8 minutes and 46 seconds during the vigil.

Many participants placed their hands behind their back and lay on the ground to symbolize how George Floyd was handcuffed while a white police officer knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. The protesters carried signs and used their bodies to get across their message: Stop police brutality against Black people.

14

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020


e h t n Joi

t s i l l i a LEO em

s, t r e c n o c to s y a w a e iv g t e k c i T ls! • a v i t s e f plays & e h t l l a h t wi r e t t e l s ew n y l k s! e e i e r o t •W s d n a s w e n t ! d lates n e k e e w y r e v e ” o D o T s g n i Th 5 p o T “ r • Ou letter

s w e n / m o c . y l k e e leow

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

15


STAFF PICKS THROUGH JUNE 30

‘Out Of The Gate’

Kentucky Fine Art Gallery, Leslie H. Spetz Custom Picture Framing 2400-C Lime Kiln Lane | kentuckyfineartgallery.com | Free Spring sprung this year withDERBY ART out the Kentucky Derby. But that hasn’t stopped artists from depicting all the festivities of the annual running of the horses. The Kentucky Fine Art Gallery presents a Derby show each year and has decided to continue that tradition in 2020, pandemic be damned. This year’s group exhibition ‘Streaking’ by David O. Schuster. Oil on canvas. features Jaime Corum, Susan Hackworth, Robert Halliday, Greta Mattingly and David O. Schuster. The gallery is inside Leslie H. Spetz Custom Picture Framing. While the show is best viewed in person (as all art is) by making an appointment and wearing a mask, it is also available online. —Jo Anne Triplett

THURSDAY, JUNE 18

Teri’s Play Date: How To Write a 10 Minute Play Red Pin Tix | redpintix.com | $20 | 7-8:30 p.m.

Looking for a new challenge? Louisville Literary Arts is here to help budding writers launch their literary careers. Kentucky playwright and poet Teri Foltz hosts 600 SECONDS this webinar on the structure of the Ten Minute Play. A portion of the seminar will also be devoted to writing exercises to inspire ideas for short plays, as well as how and where you can submit your work — and get discovered! You’re also welcome to just join and watch the webinar, no pressure to participate. Who knows? You could be a Literary LEO awardwinning writer this time next year. —LEO

16

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

FRIDAY, JUNE 19-21

The Game Of Kings, A Rebroadcast Of 3 Past Productions Search Facebook or YouTube | Free | 7 p.m.

War, rebellion, deceit… and that’s before you look outside of the King’s family. Kentucky Shakespeare is …celebrating? …honoring? Father’s Day with a weekend TRAGEDY of performances from the C. Douglas Ramey Amphitheater in Central Park and from three different years. “Richard II” from 2017, “Henry IV” part one from 2018 and “Henry IV” part two from 2019. The social disruption of the spring shouldn’t stop the satisfyingly devilish fun of Shakespeare in the In ‘The Tragedy of King Richard the Second,’ Tome Luce (l) as henry Bolinbroke, summer. —LEO and Neill Robertson as King Richard in the 2017 production. | PHOTO BY BILL BRYMER

FRIDAY, JUNE 19-NOV. 29

KMAC Museum Reopens

KMAC Museum | 715 W. Main St. | kmacmuseum.org | Prices vary KMAC Museum is reopening with timely new shows and installations. “The profound focus around the country on social injustice and inequality underscore some of the core ART ideas being explored in these exhibitions,” said KMAC Curator Joey Yates, “[with the artists pursuing] their creative paths as a way to manage and process isolation which has been brought on by poverty, racism and, as in the case of recent lockdowns, illness.” “Where Paradise Lay: Art and Southern Sanctuary” is a group exhibition of work inspired by the book “Walks to the Paradise Garden” by Jonathan Williams. Artists include Howard Finster, Mary T. Smith and Edgar Tolson. Louisvillian Julie Baldyga has an ongoing series titled “Heavenly People.” This show features a selection and coincides with the release of her book “In Heaven Everyone Will Shake Your Hand.” Also on view is a new mural in the lobby by Louisville artist Jaylin Stewart and an ‘Billy on the beach in California’ installation on the front windows by Julia Baldyga. Oil pastel. featuring the work of local author, activist and LEO contributor Hannah L. Drake. —Jo Anne Triplett


STAFF PICKS

FRIDAY, JUNE 19

SUNDAY, JUNE 21

Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. EMANCIPATION This happened later than many realize, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Much like the actual ending of slavery, the effects of the imprisonment of Black people have gone on much longer than many are aware, manifesting in hidden racism in housing, education and policing. And this year, as police killings of Black people come to public attention again, the need to recognize Juneteenth is magnified. Here are some events going on in Louisville this week to commemorate the anniversary.

Instagram | @limbotikibar | Free | 8 p.m.

Juneteenth Celebrations

The CookOut | Online Search Facebook | Free | 1 p.m. KMF, a Louisville neofunk and soulhop band, is celebrating Juneteenth with Black music. The band is planning virtual performances, as well as live pop-ups, which have yet to be announced. Events include the KickOff Concert and Kickback Karaoke.

Landlocked Luau

Landlocked or locked down? Don’t let any obstacles keep you from getting your summer Limbo fun COCKTAILS and drinks in. Every Sunday night through July, join The Limbo on Instagram live for a tropical party, with musical guest performances curated by Ben Sollee. Cocktail kits are prepared for order and pickup. If Sunday nights are your recovery nights, maybe try The Limbo’s new Rum Club. For $20 a week, each Thursday you will receive a delivery with four servings of the cocktail of the week, plus a cookie and rum sample. Guest liquor experts will also livestream a cocktail class. — Aaron Yarmuth From The Limbo, left to right, a Jungle Bird , Blue Hawaiian and

Painkiller. | PHOTO BY MARY HELEN NUNN.

Russell Juneteenth | 1718 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. | Search Facebook Free | 2-5 p.m. The Russell neighborhood’s Juneteenth celebration will include food, art activites and music. Wear a mask, bring chairs and blankets and practice social distancing, organizers ask. Becoming a Better Ancestor Juneteenth Celebration | Jefferson Square Park 301 S. Sixth St. | Donations accepted | 4-9 p.m. Jefferson Square has been the starting point for Louisville’s downtown protests, but on Juneteenth it becomes a celebration zone with performers, vendors and free food and drink. And it’s a fundraiser for the Roots101: African American Museum. Juneteenth: Why We Celebrate | Facebook Live | Search Facebook | Free | 4-5 p.m. For an all-virtual celebration, Actors Theatre Direct presents a Juneteenth event featuring Black leaders: District 4 council candidate and musician Jecorey Arthur; President of Simmons College and pastor, the Rev. Kevin Cosby; Louisville Central Community Center CEO and President Kevin Fields; gospel musician Pat Mathison; and state Sen. Gerald Neal. Juneteenth Celebration Gathering | Coles Place Events | 2928 W. Kentucky St. Free | 5-11 p.m. This community Juneteenth gathering features music, Black vendors, food trucks, poetry and spoken word, fireworks, bounce houses and face painting. Phresh Phix: A Juneteenth Celebration of Beauty, Bravery and Blackity Black Blackness | Online | Donations accepted | Time to be announced Prince Crittenden of BO$$ (Blacks Organizing Strategic Success) presents a virtual Juneteenth celebration featuring a stacked lineup of local Black artists, including Hannah L. Drake, Jecorey Arthur, Otis Junior, Scott T. Smith and more. The show will premiere on BO$$’s new website, which launches on Friday. Keep an eye on Crittenden and BO$$’s social media pages for a start time. —LEO

MONDAY, JUNE 22, 23

Becoming A White Ally

Becoming a true white ally to Black people involves LEARN letting go of being comfortable: start speaking out and confront your privilege head-on. Here are some locally-led courses to get started with. White Fragility: A Four Week Exploration (starting June 22) | Zoom | Donation based 5:30-6:30 p.m. Read and discuss as a group “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism” by Robin DiAngelo. This four-week course, starting June 22 and led by the Passionist Earth and Spirit Center, will cover white privilege, implicit bias and systemic racism and should ultimately “equip you with information, meditations, discussions and tools to begin taking sustainable and meaningful action to stand in solidarity with communities of color for racial justice.” The course would typically cost $45, but organizers are waiving the usual fee and are instead asking for donations if possible. Want to Help End White Silence? (June 23) | Zoom | Free | 5:30 p.m. Louisville Showing Up For Racial Justice leads this workshop on how to end white silence and to start meaningfully advocating for Black people, including ways to get involved locally. LSURJ has been doing this work since the 2000s. —Danielle Grady LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

17


STAFF PICKS

ANY TIME

THROUGH JUNE 23

Search Facebook for Louisville SURJ

Vote, Kentucky! | govoteky.com | Free Now!

How White People Can Help Louisville Showing Up For ALLY Racial Justice members have practice being white allies. It’s what they’ve done since they formed in response to the so-called “colorblind era” that came after President Obama’s election. Here’s what they suggest white people do in this time of civil unrest: One, if you’re able, show up to a protest. If that’s not your thing, donate supplies. On its Facebook page, LSURJ is asking for water, fruit, homemade masks, goggles and more. Organizers also suggest talking to fellow white people about racial justice in a welcoming manner. If you’re worried about coronavirus, LSURJ is still hosting weekly Freedom Fridays, a vehicle caravan that meets at 4:30 p.m. downtown to protest people being held unnecessarily in jails during the COVID-19 crisis. These protests have been expanded to demand justice for Breonna Taylor. —Danielle Grady

Vote Now!

If you don’t think your vote matters, remember how close we were (5,000 votes) to having VOTE to suffer through COVID-19 and protests against police brutality with Matt Bevin as our governor. Primary election day is June 23 and, as of now, there is only one polling location planned for all of Jefferson County. While the deadline to request a mail-in ballot has passed, early in-person voting has been extended because of COVID-19. Monday through Friday through June 22, you can cast your vote at one of two locations: The Edison Building at 701 W. Ormsby Ave. in Old Louisville and the Fairgrounds at 937 Phillips Lane, South Wing A and B (where parking is free). Don’t let the County Clerk’s lack of imagination or laziness in making more voting locations available get in the way of having your vote counted. —Aaron Yarmuth

UNTIL THERE IS SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE!

Follow These People Online Twitter, Facebook

ANY TIME

Bail Out A Protester

Search for Louisville Community Bail Fund and The Bail Project Help Louisville protesters get out SUPPORT of jail by donating to two of Louisville’s bail funds. Stand Up Sunday’s Louisville Community Bail Fund “exists to not only bail out folks, but provide post-release support to get them from jail, fed and to a situation of safety.” You can find it at actionnetwork. org/fundraising/louisvillecommunity-bail-fund/. The Bail Fund is also looking for volunteers to help out those who have been bailed out after they’ve been released. More information is available on the Facebook group. Another Louisville bail fund is The Bail Project, which got started in Kentucky in 2018. When you donate to bailproject.org, your donation goes to the national Bail Project, but you can specify that you want your donation to go to Louisville. One of the great things about The Bail Project is your money gets recycled back into the fund if the city pays back the money. —Danielle Grady

18

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

Want to glean insights and wisdom from people who have been fighting for equal #BLACKLIVESMATTER rights and social justice since long before the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd? Sometimes the best way to be an ally is to just listen and learn. Here are some people worth a listen: Perry Bacon Jr. (@perrybaconjr) — Male High School alum. Writer, reporter for FiveThirtyEight.com. Hannah Drake (@HannahDrake628) — “Mother, author, poet, blogger, publisher, storyteller, truth speaker...STILL GROWING.” Marc Murphy (@MurphyCartoons) — Award-winning editorial cartoonist for The Courier Journal, trial lawyer who is just out of fucks to give. Dr. Ricky L. Jones (@DrRickyLJones) — Chair of UofL Pan-African Studies, columnist for The Courier Journal, LEO veteran and general troublemaker/truth-teller who gives fewer fucks than does Marc Murphy. Joshua Poe (@JoshuaPoe_Lou) — co-principal investigator at the Root Cause Research Center in Louisville who detailed a history of redlining in Louisville. Sadiqa Reynolds (@SadiqaReynolds) — Louisville Urban League CEO. Attica Scott (@atticascott4ky) — state Representative 41st District. Bruce Williams (FBruceWilliams) — Pastor at Bates Memorial Baptist Church. And, finally, LEO Weekly — If you don’t yet follow us on social media, you’re missing out.


MUSIC

RECENTLY RELEASED: EIGHT NEW SONGS FROM LOUISVILLE ARTISTS By Scott Recker | srecker@leoweekly.com

Rmllw2llz. | PHOTO BY NIK VECHERY.

IT’S BEEN A TOUGH TIME to stay tuned into pop culture. There are more pressing matters right now, so it’s understandable that entertainment has taken a back seat. But, over the past week, I went searching for local songs that have been released since I made my last playlist in mid-April. What I found was not only an array of great songs by talented artists, but that the current social moment is starting to seep into music. At its best, art has always been an honest reflection of humanity. Here are eight recently-released songs from Louisville artists. JORDAN JETSON ‘FEEL LIKE FINN’ April 24 Jordan Jetson does a lot with a little amount of time on “Feel Like Finn,” a minute and a half song that showcases the rapper’s speed and prowess as he weaves through a thick verse before settling into a breezy chorus. Jetson’s flow is the stuff of technical wizardry — a razor-sharp wit paired with the ability to shift speeds and rhythms with agility. At this point, everything he releases is a must listen. JOAN SHELLEY ‘BED IN THE RIVER’ May 1 Joan Shelley has an incredible ability to juxtapose nature with stories, perspectives and issues. The lyrics for her latest song were written by Max Porter, but that reoccurring theme is still present, as the outdoors and existentialism runs through “Bed In The River.” It vividly brings you into a scene, but the deeper meaning is more hidden. It’s both evocative and a puzzle. It’s perfectly-balanced folk music.

JAYE JAYLE ‘GUNTIME’ May 21 The post-punk band Jaye Jayle has always excelled at creating sweeping, ominous atmospheres that translate tension in subtle and sharp ways. And, of course, “Guntime” is no different — there’s no abject aggression from the instruments or vocals, but there’s darkness and pain deeply embedded in this track, making it reminiscent of Nick Cave’s latest albums. RMLLW2LLZ ‘C.T.T.C. (COME TO THE CAR)’ May 22 Rmllw2llz’s “C.T.T.C. (Come to the Car)” is a nuanced love letter, creating a portrait of a couple who’ve been through a lot together and maintain a solid relationship through the simple things. Rmllw2llz has the ability to make songs that are both poetic and focused, crafting stories with vivid points, but bars that have serious depth. “C.T.T.C. (Come to the Car)” highlights what Rmllw2llz has been doing well for years.

BLACK CROSS ‘LET ME SINK’ (INSTRUMENTAL DEMO) May 27 Matt Jaha, drummer of Black Cross, passed away on April 15 at the age of 37. On the band’s recent Unreleased Demos album, there are a few instrumental tracks that are Jaha and his cousins Ryan and Evan Patterson (on guitar and bass) building the bones of songs that were then in their infancy. The version of “Let Me Sink” is a reminder of Jaha’s dynamic drumming. It was recorded in 2004, during the writing sessions for Sink Knives, & Chrome, and it exudes the heart and talent that Black Cross was known for. CHURCH FRIENDS ‘ARMS’ May 28 Church Friends blends psych-rock, soul and jazz into a smooth, powerful hybrid that picks and pulls elements from the various genres but easily connects them together with a pop backbone. “Arms” is a feel-good summertime song about falling in love, with that easy-going feeling that recalls the ’60s.

DEAD LETTERMAN ‘WHEN THE WORLD BURNS’ June 5 In the coming months, we’re probably going to see a lot more art that reflects the current social and political climate, but we’re already seeing the first wave of it. The Dead Letterman’s “When The World Burns” is a jangly, acoustic, pro-activism reflection on the protests and the injustices that sparked them. DRONESTORE COWBOYS ‘TIRED FOG’ Streaming; physical copies July 3 Dronestore Cowboys is the instrumental, post-rock project of Ben Traughber and Blake Edward Conley, who use guitars, keys, synths and vocal drones to build a cinematic sound that is magnetic and emotional. “Tired Fog” seems like a score to the sadness and frustration that’s currently deeply embedded to the world — the numbness brought on by a downward spiral. On a brighter observation, this might be the best pop culture pun band name out there. • LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

19


FOOD & DRINK

RECOMMENDED

CARRY OUT YOUR GUINNESS AND DINNER TOO, AT IRISH ROVER By Robin Garr | LouisvilleHotBytes.com SOME PEOPLE crave potato chips or chocolate. The other day, I started craving Guinness stout. The more I thought about that dark, malty, bitter-chocolate beer with its creamy head so thick that you could float a farthing on it, the more I wanted a pint. Thanks to Kentucky’s newly enlightened alcohol laws, a call to the Irish Rover put that right and got us a delicious Irish dinner to enjoy with it too. As it turned out, when we visited the Irish Rover, the Frankfort Avenue eatery, like many others around town, was reopening that very evening under the state’s strict “Healthy at Work” regulations. The Rover’s dining room is scheduled to open at one-third capacity in July, but the restaurant is now providing table service at its outside tables, with scrupulous sanitizing, masked servers and 6-foot distancing. There’s also no-touch pickup for takeout orders over long tables barring public entry at the doors. Having passed enough birthdays to be technically considered in a risk group (harrumph), I stuck with takeout anyway, and the Rover handled it beautifully. Take that Guinness, for example. No, wait, don’t take it — it’s mine. Until the pandemic prompted a fresh look at some of Kentucky’s more rigid alcoholcontrol laws, the idea of ordering a drink online, picking it up and driving it to your destination was pretty much unimaginable.

20

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

Shanagarry fish cakes at the Irish Rover are fashioned from a blend of smoked salmon and cod, served with veggies and mashed potatoes. | PHOTOS BY ROBIN GARR.

But within days after Gov. Andy Beshear ordered a halt to dining in at Kentucky restaurants, he and the legislature set up new rules. For the duration of the pandemic, at least, restaurants with liquor licenses may now offer beer, wine, liquor or cocktails for takeout or delivery. This seemed worth celebrating with a pint of Guinness to go. Since the rules require that your booze-to-go be ordered with food, we summoned an Irish dinner as well. Irish Rover’s online menu offers nine, substantial, pub grub dishes that range from $6.95 (for veggie smash with steamed vegetables and mashed potatoes) to $16.95 (for cabbage rolls stuffed with ground lamb and smoked cheddar). Ten sandwiches, all served with Irish chips, are priced from $8.95 (for a salmon burger, Irish club sandwich with chicken and Limerick ham, a pub burger or Irish banger sausage roll) to $12.95 (for a fried basa sandwich). Fifteen starters, soups and salads range across the British Isles and beyond, such as British bubble and squeak ($3.95), the Rover’s delightfully filling Scotch eggs ($4.95), cordon bleu fritters ($5.95) and Louisville’s own benedictine ($6.95). Draft beer taps feature a half-dozen standards, including Guinness and its paler sibling, Harp and six more rotating taps with regional craft beers. You’ll find broad

In a sturdy plastic cup that looks just liks a classic Guinness mug, my classic Irish stout made it home safely.

Irish Rover’s bar staff seals up a full pint of Guiness safely with plastic wrap and a tight lid. And it fits in my cup holder! (Leave it sealed until you get home, though!)


FOOD & DRINK

Irish Rover’s Welsh Rabbit sandwich is a tangy, spicy grilled cheese for grown-ups.

selections of bourbon and single-malt scotch and an extensive Irish whiskey collection, of course, with more than 40 bottles for your enjoyment. I placed our order online, provided my phone number and headed over to the Rover. Right on time, I got a text: My order was ready! They would have brought it to my car, but the no-touch pickup seemed so safe that I went up to grab it. All our food was neatly bagged, with the Guinness presented separately. It came in a sturdy Guinness-branded plastic cup that fit neatly in my cup holder and was securely closed with plastic wrap and a tight-fitting lid. Here’s a tip: No matter how tempting it looks, the law still rules firmly against having an open container in the car, much less drinking from it. You can’t be doin’ that! We headed home and set up the dinner on proper plates and the Guinness in a pint glass, and I was delighted to see that the properly drawn beer had held up very well. It was cool, not cold, as it should be, and the pale-tan head remained thick and creamy. Our dinner dishes and sides were appealing, too. Shanagarry fish cakes ($11.95) come two to an order, fashioned from a blend of smoked salmon and cod. The hefty cakes, at least 3 inches across, were firm yet light, expertly bound-breaded and fried light golden brown. It came with a generous portion of fresh, carefully prepared steamed carrot, onion and cabbage slices

and broccoli florets, all cooked until tender but not overcooked. Even au naturel, with no butter or oil, they were just right. Irish champ — mashed potatoes dotted with slivers of green onion — added a real comfort food touch. A Welsh Rabbit sandwich ($9.95, plus 50 cents for red-onion slices) was tangy and spicy, a grilled-cheese sandwich for grown-ups. It’s not the traditional rendition with creamy, buttery hot roux-based cheese sauce but a simpler version, a deli slice of yellow cheddar slathered with coarse, grainy mustard between slices of the Rover’s excellent, white sourdough bread. Who needs tradition? This was simple fare, flavorful and filling. A quarter-loaf of soda bread ($1.50) made an appetizing side dish. The Rover’s version is a good one, dense wheat bread with a chewy crust, a bread made to be slathered with the best butter you have. Dinner for two, including the Guinness, came to $34.44, plus the 25% tip that really needs to be the standard in these troubled times. •

THE IRISH ROVER

2319 Frankfort Ave. 899-3544 theirishroverky.com Facebook: bit.ly/Irish-Rover LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

21


ETC.

8

24

26

27

13

14

37

32

38

46

53

47

54

55

58 64

67 71

72 78 83

88

89

84

102

103

91

93

94

97

98

99

95

100

101

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

88 Like urban legends, again and again 89 Figure out 90 Only state capital that shares no letters with the name of its state 95 Animal whose genus name, Phascolarctos, means ‘‘pouch bear’’ 97 What contacts contact 99 Zest 100 Cache 102 Direction for one who’s been in Benin to go to Togo 103 Popular name for a black-and-white pet 105 W-2 ID 106 ‘‘How ____!’’ N T I N C T E N A E F I I E R L I D S H W O A U I S F E S H I I T D E

O P T A I R T R I C Y A N L N I I G H T N L A Y G O Y M A J L I B I L L E I S T W I E I T O T S R C T D H A K E F O R O F A N D E L O D R A W

H U L A

S Q U I R T G U N

B R E W

N O N O I M F I N E

W E S T C A L D E R

O R E O H E E L C S N Y S N E E R S

54 Squirrels away 55 ‘‘Good to go!’’ 56 Stand up at the altar 57 Biodiverse habitat 58 Gets going, so to speak 60 Abbr. that begins some entry-level job titles 61 Start of a conclusion 62 Goddess who cursed Echo to just repeat the words of others 63 Ingredient that turns a Black Russian into a White Russian 64 Entrance 65 Roman triumvirate? 67 German city where Charlemagne was buried 68 Do a favor for a vacationing friend, maybe 70 Four for a grand slam, briefly 71 They often end on a low note 72 Many a Dickensian child 73 Water heater? 74 Polynesian performance 75 Last-eaten part of a loaf, often 78 Women’s History Month: Abbr. 80 ‘‘Supplies are limited!’’ 81 Paste used for home repairs 82 Frequent result of wearing a bike helmet 83 Getting three square meals a day 84 Office worker 86 Appetizer often served with mint chutney 87 Pioneer Day celebrant

80 85

90

E L I T E S

92

75

A Q U A

82

79

D U P E D

87

74

68

M A R

77

73

65

C A S S

66

56

59

63

76

50

M I N E

62

70

49

39

45

69

48

33

42

57 61

19

C Z A R

52

18

T B U I R G N D S A O N N C T E O R H E E E R F A

51

17

28

41 44

16

25

31

36

15

T H U S

35

43

96

12

22

30

40

86

11

A S S T

29

60

10

21

23

34

9

P E E L

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

7

A B S R E E V E R D E S T A E R R P R I S U E S O M P F A S F R A M O V A I L E A L L S C K S H W E D P E N E I L D E L S U R F S C R E N E E D

22

Down

6

20

81

1 Mama ____ 2 Shade similar to turquoise 3 Makes aware of 4 March Madness tourney, with ‘‘the’’ 5 Flip inside out 6 Put a bluffer in a tough spot 7 Give a whirl 8 Son of 62-Down 9 Muppet who sings ‘‘I Refuse to Sing Along’’ 10 Humorist David 11 One-percenters and the like 12 ____ Creed 13 Demolition material 14 Like some granola bars 15 Amazon predator 16 Dublin alma mater of Oscar Wilde 17 ‘‘Don’t worry, that only looked painful!’’ 18 Early accepter of mobile payments? 19 Haughty looks 24 Doesn’t go straight 28 Requiring a lot of attention, say 30 Go on a rampage 32 Off the beaten path 34 Industry magnate 35 ‘‘Hands off!’’ 37 Adidas competitor 38 A.O.C., e.g. 39 Grab (onto) 44 Any member of the Twelver branch of Islam 46 Hornswoggled 47 Author Murdoch played onscreen by Kate Winslet and Judi Dench 48 Faux pas 49 Begin to develop 50 Quartet that performed at Woodstock, for short 53 Revenue sources for podcasts

5

E R T V E R E R Y R A T I R S U E N S R H A I I D O I S T T E R B B A I S S S O E S Y E S

1 Sadistic feline character in a Scott Adams strip 8 Out 14 Concern for a P.R. team 20 Trembling 21 Land, as a fish 22 The Red Baron, for one 23 ‘ ‘The operation was a success!’’ e.g.? 25 Unimportant-sounding dessert 26 Novelist/poet Cisneros 27 Posthumous award? 28 Cause of death in many a murder mystery 29 Lampoon 31 Kidney-related 33 Montana, in the 1980s 34 ‘‘Let’s get going!’’ 36 People who start arguments out of nowhere? 40 Metal in galvanization 41 Comes after 42 Embedded design 43 Stud fees? 45 Lighthearted movie 46 Painter Velázquez 48 Network that once advertised its prime-time block as ‘‘Must See TV’’ 51 Bygone car company that bore its founder’s initials 52 City with views of the Mediterranean and Mount Carmel 54 Officers who woke up on the wrong side of the cot? 57 No longer plagued by 58 The ‘‘R’’ of the Bay Area’s BART 59 Material for some suits 60 One who’s unfaithful? 63 They’re written in chess notation 64 Loose and flowing, as a dress 66 Unit of stamps 67 Felt bad 68 What’s the holdup? 69 Soirees where people are dressed in their finest board shorts? 72 ‘‘Holy guacamole!’’ 73 Response to a breach of movie-theater etiquette 76 Airport monitor, for short 77 Supports 78 Island whose name rhymes with 72-Across 79 Chef’s topper 81 ____ kebab 83 Tailors’ measurements

4

H A T H A I R

Across

3

S P A C K L E

No. 0621

2

R E T O L D

BY ANDY KRAVIS / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

1

U T A H A N

SURPLUS STORE

85 Be awesome 86 Got 101 percent on an exam, say? 91 ‘‘Don’t touch that ____!’’ 92 Really bothered 93 Stuntwoman Kitty known as ‘‘the fastest woman in the world’’ 94 One of a pair on the table 96 Hotheaded ones? 98 Site of a noted oracle 101 How a tandem bicycle is built 104 ‘‘Well, all right then’’ 105 Why someone might practice deep breathing every five minutes? 107 ____ Mae 108 Multiparagraph blog comment, maybe 109 Nit pick? 110 Celsius with a namesake temperature scale 111 Knit pick? 112 Intrigued by

S A M O S A

The New York Times Magazine Crossword


PHOTO BY RACHEL ROBINSON

ETC.

SAVAGE LOVE

By Dan Savage | mail@savagelove.net @fakedansavage

ORAL REPORTS

Q: I’m a 32-year-old straight guy. My wife and I have been married for four years and together for nine. We have a great marriage, and all is well. We have been quarantining at home since March. During this time, we have been exploring things sexually, which has been really fun. We have also been talking more about our kinks and fantasies. One thing my wife really wants to try is an MMF threesome. I’ve agreed and she’s been talking about how hot it will be to make this happen once quarantine is over. She is particularly turned on by the fact that this would be my first sexual experience with another guy. The only issue is, in reality, it won’t be. The truth is that when I was in high school, a guy friend and I fooled around a few times. I have no regrets, but those experiences only served to reaffirm that I preferred women. I never did anything with another guy, and I never felt the need to mention these early experiences to my wife. She just assumed I had never had a same-sex encounter. Now, I feel like I’ve misled her or lied to her somehow. Should I tell her the truth or just let her believe our MMF threesome would be my first time with a guy? Nervously Omitted Homosexual Occurrences, Mostly Oral

If your wife reads my column, NOHOMO, then you’ve just told her the truth and the advice that follows is moot. So, here’s hoping she doesn’t read my column: You don’t have to tell your wife about the handful/mouthful of times you messed around with another guy in high school. If you’re like most straight guys with one or two cocks in your past, NOHOMO, I’m guessing you didn’t tell the wife because you didn’t want her to feel insecure or spend all her free time corresponding with advice columnists about whether her husband is secretly gay. In fairness to the wife, NOHOMO, not every woman whose straight-identified male partner admits to a little same-sex messing around worries her boyfriend or husband is going to leave her for a dude or all the dudes. But this worry is common enough to be something of cliché. A straight guy doesn’t even have to admit to having sucked one dick one time for his wife or girlfriend to worry he’s secretly gay; I get at least one letter every day from a woman who’s worried her husbands is gay because he like to have his nipples played with or his butts touched or because he has feelings. So, while it’s not ideal that straight-or-mostly-straight guys don’t feel they can be honest with their wives

about their long ago and far away same-sex experimentation, NOHOMO, it’s understandable that many straight guys err on the side of keeping that shit to themselves. But your question isn’t, “Why didn’t I tell her then?”, but rather, “Should I tell her now?” And I don’t think you have to. She wasn’t harmed by this omission — you didn’t deprive her of information she was entitled to — and disclosing now would only serve to deprive her of something, i.e. the excitement she feels about being there to witness what she thinks is your first same-sex encounter. Q: My wife questions my use of the word gay as being potentially offensive, and I’d like to get your take. I’m male, and my male friends like to flirt and joke about performing sex acts on each other. We’ve never actually carried through with it but I consider myself on the “spectrum” and might be open to gay sex. My male friends and I say we’re being or acting gay (though we’re all practicing heterosexuals), and this is where my wife takes issue. For example, I might say, “We’re so gay!”, in our conversations, but the word is used in a positive way. My wife makes the point that the word has a history of being used negatively, so may be considered offensive, and should only be used casually by people who are more legit gay. Should I stop using the word gay this way? Gay Poser Jesus, just suck off one of your male friends already — just get it over with — and then you have my permission to keep using “gay” as compliment, GP. Q: I’m a 35-year-old seemingly straight man, but in the past year — roughly corresponding with the longest sex drought in the history of my adulthood — I have had recurring wet dreams where I suck myself off. Probably a dozen or so of these dreams, all up, and I very much enjoy both sides of the transaction. What do you think it means? Am I witnessing the stirrings of some latent bisexuality or am I just desperate? Should I heed the call? Originally Unilateral Regarding Oral But Oneiromancy Reveals Opening Sexuality I usually don’t allow elaborate signoffs, OUROBOROS, but I’m making an exception for yours because it’s brilliant. (To save my other readers the trouble of googling: “oneiromancy” is the interpretation of dreams to predict the future and an “ouroboros” is an image of snake swallowing its own tail,

often used an infinity symbol.) That said, I’m not sure there’s really any call to heed here — other than a call to start doing the kind of stretching that would allow you to suck your own cock if you were 1. to get limber enough and 2. your cock is long enough. But a desire to suck one’s own cock — or even an attempt, successful or not — doesn’t mean a man is latently bisexual or gay. I assume you’ve been masturbating for more than two decades, OUROBOROS, and just as there’s nothing gay about all those handjobs you’ve given yourself, there’s nothing gay about the blowjobs you can only dream about giving yourself.

were arrested at them. (You can donate at actblue.com/donate/bailfunds.) Please keep marching, please wear your masks (they work!), and please — please — make sure you and everyone you know is registered to vote. mail@savagelove.net Follow Dan on Twitter @FakeDanSavage www.savagelovecast.com

Q: I’m that rare gay man who doesn’t like sucking dick. It wasn’t hard for my VGL husband to find guys who wanted to blow him before quarantine and for years I didn’t ask about it because I didn’t want to know the details. But I knew he had video on his phone of some guys blowing him that he sometimes watched, and I recently asked to watch one ,and I was completely shocked. It wasn’t just a blowjob. He spat in the guy’s face, called him homophobic names and was just generally brutal. The intensity and violence wasn’t something I’ve ever detected in my husband or been on the receiving end from my husband. When I pressed my husband, he shrugged and said, “That’s how a lot of guys like it.” I’m not sure what to do. Gay And Gloomy Guy Extremely Disturbed

These vehicles will be offered for sale to the highest bidder at the time, date, and place stated below. Term of sale is cash only. Seller reserves the right to bid and purchased at said sale. Dealers welcome.

I read your letter three times, and I still can’t tell whether you’re appalled or you’re jealous. Do you disapprove of your husband treating someone that way or are you disappointed that your husband has never treated you that way? If it’s the former, well, don’t watch any more videos of your husband throat fucking his subby cocksuckers. If it’s the latter (and I suspect it is), GAGGED, then you’re going to need to figure out how to articulate that clearly — something you failed to do in your letter — so you can tell your husband you’d like it like that too. Not being used for oral like that, of course, since you don’t like performing oral sex. But maybe you’d like anal like that? Dear Readers: This is gonna feel a little weird stuck onto the end of this week’s column, I realize, but I wanted to say something about protests all over the country and the world. While I haven’t been able to personally attend a Black Lives Matters protest over the last two weeks — I have deeply shitty lungs and I’m concerned about contracting coronavirus — I fully support everyone who has taken to the streets to protest the violence of systemic racism and the specific violence inflicted on the Black people by racist cops. And while I can’t be at the protests, my husband and I made a donation to bail funds across the country to help out people who

CLASSIFIED LISTINGS REPOSSESSION SALE

June 25th, 11:00 A.M. 2006 Dodge Charger 2B3KA43G96H521973

DIXIE AUTO SALES (502) 384-7766

(NEXT TO GOO GOO CAR WASH) 7779 DIXIE HWY, LOUISVILLE, KY 40258

LEGAL Leo’s Towing & Recovery, 510 E Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202 (502)727-9503, has intention to obtain title of a 2000 Black Ford Ranger VIN #1FTYR14V4YPC10480,Owner Sean Ryan 4305 Quiet Way Louisville KY 40219 Lien Holder: Unless owner or lienholder objects in written form within 14 days after the last publication of this notice. Leo’s Towing & Recovery, 510 E Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202 (502)-727-9503, has intention to obtain title of a 1993 Red Ford E150 VIN #1FDEE14HXPHB24085 ,Owner Samantha E Craig 3049 Autumn Lake Dr Louisville KY 40272 Lien Holder: Unless owner or lienholder objects in written form within 14 days after the last publication of this notice. Leo’s Towing & Recovery, 510 E Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202 (502)-727-9503, has intention to obtain title of a 2002 Blue Chrysler town and Country VIN #2C4GP74L32R567206, Owner Gerry or Ann Crawford 3415 Burrell Ave, Louisville ky 40216 Lien Holder: Unless owner or lienholder objects in written form within 14 days after the last publication of this notice. Leo’s Towing & Recovery, 510 E Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202 (502)-7279503, has intention to obtain title of a 2013 white Prius Toyota VIN # JTDKN3DU7D0337750 ,Owner Davis E Hutch 10110 E 700 N Lafayette, IN 479058 Lien Holder:Unless owner or lienholder objects in written form within 14 days after the last publication of this notice. I am a Kentucky Notary Public State At Large - I will notarize any document or legal document. $30 Flat Fee (Up to 5 documents. More than 5, we will negotiate the price) $5 Travel Fee (Must be in Jefferson County) I am the cheapest and best notary in the 502! Text me at 502-693-3627 or email me at ericac5555@gmail.com

REAL ESTATE ready for immediate move in! www.4rentlouisville.net www. billstoutproperties.com Furnished Rooms For Rent Western Hostel, Large Rooms, All Utilities Included plus FREE CABLE. $120/wk, $480/month, Call 502-638-0636 FIND YOUR NEW HOME TODAY! Louisville’s Leader in Real Estate Management Services offers both affordable and high-end rentals in Louisville’s most popular neighborhoods. Visit our website for available apartments, condos, and single family homes throughout the Louisville areasome with utilities included and LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020

23


24

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JUNE 17, 2020


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.