Kanye West to run for president
On Independence Day this Saturday, rapper Kanye West announced in a tweet that he would be running for the 2020 presidency. “We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States! #2020VISION hashtag,” tweeted West. According to USA Today, “The news was received with memes of disbelief and endorsement, including from his wife, Kim Kardashian West, who tweeted an American flag emoji, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who tweeted, ‘You have my full support!’”
Crowds fill Fort Lauderdale beach
Despite Broward County’s beach closures for Fourth of July weekend, three dozen protestors took to Ft. Lauderdale beach planting American flags in the sand and holding up signs that read, “My body, my choice” and “Trump 2020.” While the crowds defied the closed beach order, no one was arrested.
Florida records over 10,000 cases of COVID-19
On Wednesday, Florida recorded more than 10,000 new cases of COVID-19, breaking a new record and setting the total to more than 169,100. Other states that have seen high numbers include Arizona, California, Texas, North Carolina and Tennessee. With case numbers continuing to rise, on Friday, secretary of Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Halsey Beshears, announced that drinking alcohol will be banned at bars and some bars and beaches will be experiencing closures.
Trump signs PPP small business coronavirus relief fund extension
On Saturday, President Donald Trump signed a temporary extension until Aug. 8 on a subsidy program for small businesses battered by COVID-19. According to NBC, “About $130 billion of $660 billion approved for the program remains eligible for businesses to seek direct federal subsidies for payroll and other costs such as rent, though demand for the Paycheck Protection Program has pretty much dried up in recent weeks.”
Christopher Columbus statue dumped into harbor
On Saturday, protestors in Baltimore dumped a statue of Christopher Columbus into a harbor. According to the Baltimore Brew, crowds chanted “Hey, hey, ho ho, this racist guy has got to go” and used ropes and chains to topple the statue, causing it to shatter. As statues across the globe get reexamined, Lester Davis, spokesman for Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young said, “We understand the dynamics that are playing out in Baltimore are part of a national narrative.” No persons have been arrested.
