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You are here: Home / Politics / America / For Our Readers In the Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul Area: Be Prepared, Be Alert

For Our Readers In the Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul Area: Be Prepared, Be Alert

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The Chauvin trial is in closing arguments. For our readers in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area, you need to be following events outside the courtroom as the case goes to the jury and a verdict is reached and returned.

This isn’t me saying this, it is the City of Minneapolis saying it!

Resident safety

Stay informed and create a plan to be safe during the trial.

Be prepared

Create a hazard plan

Residents should create an all-hazards plan. All-hazards means learning to how to protect yourself, your family and your business during and after a disaster. This could include a tornado, transportation accident, snowstorm, civil disorder and more.

  • Create a plan and emergency kit.
    • You should be prepared to either shelter in place or evacuate, depending on the circumstances.
    • You should plan for disruptions to normal services for up to 72 hours.
  • Create a communication plan.
  • Document and insure your property.
  • Know how to receive and understand alerts and warnings.
  • Take steps to safeguard documents and valuables.
  • Conduct a home security review and make any recommended improvements.
  • Know and practice alternate routes to and from key locations.
  • Review insurance coverage with your insurance agent.

Explore guides and templates for creating your plan

I haven’t seen an equivalent alert for St. Paul regarding the Chauvin trial and its outcome and aftermath, just the general St. Paul resident hazard information page, but what Minneapolis put out should cover you regardless.

Especially because the Boogaloo Boys have been planning to use the outcome of the trial to engage in their own brand of mayhem. From The Minneapolis Star Tribune 18 JUL 2020 (emphasis mine):

Solomon, who manages the maintenance division for a local property management company, called himself “an armed redneck” who joined the Boogaloo movement after dabbling in right-wing conservatism, libertarianism and militia activity. The police bulletin that named Solomon noted that he had a “III%-er” militia sticker on his truck.

In an interview, Solomon said his allegiance rested with the Boogaloo movement and that he had neglected to remove the armed militia sticker. Like many Boogaloos, Solomon also said he now recants his past support for President Donald Trump. Now, Solomon views himself as an “anarcho-capitalist.”

Both Solomon and experts who have tracked the movement add that it was initially miscast as an offshoot of far-right white power extremism.

“Our whole thing is, we believe in freedom and absolute liberty for everyone regardless of race, creed, sex, gender, whatever; we don’t care,” Solomon said.

J.J. MacNab, a fellow at the George Washington University Program on Extremism, said the confusion can distract from the movement’s true beliefs and plans, particularly “accelerationism,” which holds that the political order can be dismantled through increased civil disorder.

“Just because they’re not white supremacists doesn’t mean that they aren’t antigovernment extremists wanting to take down cops and the rest of the government,” MacNab said. “What they want to do is to kill cops, to kill politicians, to start chaos so that their anarcho-capitalist world can emerge. It’s accelerationism. It’s just not white supremacist accelerationism.”

In Minnesota, Solomon said, Boogaloo Bois rarely gather in groups of more than 20 or 30. More common are training exercises in smaller “squads.” That’s what Solomon said is happening now in anticipation of another looming wave of unrest. Solomon predicts one or more of the four fired officers charged in Floyd’s death will escape conviction, sparking fresh chaos.

“Round one is going to look like a trip to Disney World, and we’re just trying to get ready for that,” Solomon said.

Have a plan. Stay informed. Stay alert. If you need it, follow your plan!

Open thread!

Reader Interactions

161Comments

  1. 1.

    gwangung

    Yeah, I’ve heard repeatedly from my Minneapolis friends that out-of-area white folks are flooding into the area, intimidating the locals (who are usually BIPOC) and looking to cause trouble.

  3. 3.

    Citizen_X

    the movement’s true beliefs and plans, particularly “accelerationism,” which holds that the political order can be dismantled through increased civil disorder.

    Some men just want to see the world burn, in other words.

  6. 6.

    Adam L Silverman

    @PaulWartenberg: I expect the lawsuits on that will be followed by tomorrow morning at the latest. Notice he went and held it in Polk County with Grady Judd as the host. And, of course, Grady did his usual bullshit.

  7. 7.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    Fucking AnCaps. I’ve had the displeasure of interacting with at least one. They were a horrible person who celebrated the two deaths caused by that Kenosha shooter. And they also seemed to have never met a conspiracy theory and/or bit of disinformation they didn’t parrot

  8. 8.

    cain

    I hope today will be ok and we get the right verdict. Otherwise, I think this country is going to burn and burn hard and it’s going to be filled by white agitators. I have little confidence that the governor on down has the ability to manage this situation.

    I will say that an aquittal will not only trigger black rage, but it will also bring in a bunch of others.

    You can bet that the same shit is going to go down in Portland. So we should be prepared here too.

  9. 9.

    Laura Too

    Thanks Adam. I’m watching the closing arguments. There have been sporadic reports of violence that i think fit the Boogs pattern. It seems like they are waiting though for a big show of force.

  10. 10.

    VOR

    @gwangung: Last year there were a bunch of white people from out of town sparking problems. The riots were arguably kicked off by a white guy smashing store windows. IIRC there were some arrests of people who came to Minneapolis to cause trouble. I’m not saying the locals are blameless, but IMHO there were clearly outside elements trying to exacerbate the situation.

    One thing different this year is the police and National Guard are already mobilized and ready. That’s one reason why the protests in Brooklyn Center are raging – the police were mobilized and on edge so they went right to aggressive tactics.

  11. 11.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Adam L Silverman:

    That Grady Judd sounds like a real nice guy /s

    In 2006, after a traffic stop resulted in a deputy and his K-9 dog being shot and killed, deputies shot and killed the suspect, shooting him 68 times. When asked by a reporter about the number of shots, Judd responded, “That’s all the bullets we had, or we would have shot him more.”

  12. 12.

    cain

    I am not watching any of he closing arguments. We might still have 24 hours or more for the jury to come back with a verdict, yes?

  13. 13.

    kindness

    From everything that has come out of that trial I have to believe he will be found guilty. Not sure what charge he’ll be found guilty on but there seems to be no way that cop walks away clean.

  14. 14.

    Laura Too

    @cain: I watched as much of the trial as I could stomach but felt the need to bear witness to how the defense could justify what happened. I will most likely go downtown when the verdict is read. I doubt it will be quick. I have to think they will be out for a few days at the least.

  15. 15.

    Roger Moore

    @kindness: ​
     

    Not sure what charge he’ll be found guilty on but there seems to be no way that cop walks away clean.

    I’ll believe it when it happens. I’ve seen too many obviously guilty cops acquitted to have any confidence it won’t happen again.

  16. 16.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @kindness:

    Not sure what charge he’ll be found guilty on but there seems to be no way that cop walks away clean.

    I can’t imagine an acquittal, I can imagine a hung jury. The phrase “they only need one” keeps echoing in my head.

  17. 17.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): Judd’s had to fire five or six deputies since the insurrection in 6 JAN because of their ties to various white supremacist and/or anti-government groups. But unless someone can actually pin an actual crime on him personally or he and his deputies wind up on the national news every night for a month for doing something really, really, really bad, he’ll be sheriff until he decides he doesn’t want to be sheriff anymore.

  19. 19.

    CaseyL

    How did we get to the point where at least one-third of the country wants to just burn the country down?

    Left and right, in case anyone doubts.  A very-much-former friend who styles himself as some variety of Leftist-anarchist was so jazzed by the early widescale protests against the Muslim ban, he kept tweeting “Now is when we burn it all down!”

    I am hoping against experience for a guilty verdict.  I am very worried about a hung jury.

  20. 20.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Roger Moore: I’m expecting a mistrial. Because the judge refused to sequester the jury when asked by defense counsel in the aftermath of Daunte Wright being killed. I think there’s a high likelihood that a juror will be influenced by that event and the subsequent events and coverage and this will force the judges hand. I expect if Chauvin is convicted, the defense will appeal on the basis that the jury should’ve been sequestered, the conviction will be set aside, and a new trial will be ordered. At that point I have no idea what happens.

  21. 21.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: They’ve been playing for juror nullification. They can’t really argue the evidence convincingly, believe me, I’m watching the defense attorney try to do it now in his closing argument. All they have is juror nullification.

  23. 23.

    jonas

    Anarcho-capitalism? I’ve heard of anarcho-socialist communes, and their stubborn, disrespectful peasants and all, but anarcho-capitalism? Doesn’t capitalism by definition require a state to guarantee rule of law (e.g. to enforce contracts) and private property? Or is this just what you call yourself when you’re a libertarian running around in tactical gear with an assault weapon?

  26. 26.

    Almost Retired

    I remain cautiously optimistic, at least in part because the defense closing statement, so far, has been remarkably ineffectual – and punctuated by the occasional profoundly offensive observation.  For example, he just said “after all, people suntan in the prone position.”

  31. 31.

    Roger Moore

    @Laura Too:

    I googled juror nullification and can’t figure out what you mean.

    Juror nullification would be if a juror ignored the facts and voted to acquit because they wouldn’t want a cop to go to prison for killing one of Those People.  They probably can’t get the whole jury to go along, but it’s easy to imagine one or two jurors who just refuse to convict no matter what, and the defense is playing to that.

  33. 33.

    MisterForkbeard

    @PaulWartenberg: If you have a truly reprehensible sheriff, there’s a lot of incentive NOT to run.

    And generally, people vote for the incumbent unless they’re really unhappy with him.

  34. 34.

    trollhattan

    @PaulWartenberg:

    My Very Blue county sheriff is loudly pro-Trump and anti-accountability (he threw out the independent overseer who happens to be the retired city police chief). He has been reelected every time, once after his hand-selected successor lost the primary. And yes, the sheriffs have gunned down more than one non-threatening person and getting dashcam videos from them is quite an ordeal. He also hands out concealed carry permits like a Pez dispenser.

    Again, this is a “blue” California county. Sheriffs have carved out a weird nearly unassailable role for themselves.

  35. 35.

    Nicole

    I’m listening to the defense’s closing statement and I have to keep reminding myself the guy is just doing his job and everyone is entitled to a defense, because I hate him.  He actually used “we’ve all heard anecdotal stories about the pregnant woman who lifted a car…” to justify Chauvin’s actions.

    Because, of course, cops should always factor in urban legends when determining appropriate use of force.

    Ugh.

  37. 37.

    mrmoshpotato

    @jonas:

    Anarcho-capitalism? I’ve heard of anarcho-socialist communes, and their stubborn, disrespectful peasants and all, but anarcho-capitalism?

    LOL!  I enjoyed that bit of dumbfuckery too.

  38. 38.

    WaterGirl

    @Laura Too: You see jury nullification on shows like Law & Order.  The prosecutor proves his/her case and it’s obvious the person did it, but the jury doesn’t think, for instance, that the dad – who killed the guy who raped and murdered his daughter – should go to jail, so they find him innocent.

    They ignore the jury instructions and the law and do what they feel is right.

  39. 39.

    Kay

    The Frontline documentary on the insurgency is really good.

    I feel like I follow news pretty closely and I did not know a Boogaloo person targeted a federal building, murdered an officer and then shot at other officers in a later event. Then, an ordinary man and woman out in the street caught and detained him for law enforcement. It’s a freaking amazing story.

    It’s two ordinary people – “the pipe bomb is over there”, they tell police, when the police (finally) arrive.

  40. 40.

    WaterGirl

    @Roger Moore: Yeah, but that’s how you get the hung jury – if there are a few people who won’t convict no matter what.

    But that’s not jury nullification.  Jury nullification is when the entire jury arrives at a verdict but has either ignored guilt or ignored instructions from the judge.

  41. 41.

    Laura Too

    @Roger Moore: Ah, thanks I think. I mean, thanks for the info. I think is there because I had to pick my jaw off the floor. I don’t want to live in that world.

  43. 43.

    Adam L Silverman

    @PaulWartenberg: No one is going to run against him until/unless he’s actually vulnerable. Otherwise as soon as he wins reelection, they’re a target for payback under the color of law.

  45. 45.

    trollhattan

    @Kay:

    I found it riveting, and it filled a lot of holes (with rivets?) in my knowledge of both the leadup and what occurred that day.

  46. 46.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Laura Too: Here you go:

    law.cornell.edu/wex/jury_nullification

    Jury Nullification

    A jury’s knowing and deliberate rejection of the evidence or refusal to apply the law either because the jury wants to send a message about some social issue that is larger than the case itself, or because the result dictated by law is contrary to the jury’s sense of justice, morality, or fairness.

    Jury nullification is a discretionary act, and is not a legally sanctioned function of the jury.  It is considered to be inconsistent with the jury’s duty to return a verdict based solely on the law and the facts of the case.  The jury does not have a right to nulification, and counsel is not permitted to present the concept of jury nullification to the jury.  However, jury verdicts of acquittal are unassailable even where the verdict is inconsistent with the weight of the evidence and instruction of the law.

    Basically, the defense is trying to get one juror to vote not guilty even though that juror recognizes based on the evidence what Chauvin did, but that convicting him for it would be wrong.

  47. 47.

    RandomMonster

    @germy: Biden to deliver remarks after Derek Chauvin trial verdict

    He’s doing it wrong. He should just stand outside Marine One and spew a bunch of contradictory bullshit for 5 minutes.

  48. 48.

    Laura Too

    @WaterGirl: “Jury nullification is when the entire jury arrives at a verdict but has either ignored guilt or ignored instructions from the judge.” Christ, that’s worse!

  49. 49.

    Alison Rose

    @trollhattan: Also Very Blue county in California here, and I don’t know if our sheriff is a Trumper but it wouldn’t shock me, because he’s definitely a racist POS who also at first refused to enforce any COVID restrictions.

  50. 50.

    Miki

    @Laura Too: Have been thinking about you throughout the trial. I’ve watched all but a few hours, and I’m exhausted. Please  stay as safe as you can when you go out. I’m staying home (can’t physically handle standing for long).

    Really hoping the 12 jurors reach the right decisions, but it’s always, always, a crap shoot with juries. And I can’t forget the acquittal of Yanez, not even 3 years ago. So I’m hoping for the best but expecting the worst and making myself sick with worry and fear for our Twin Cities. 

  53. 53.

    Benw

    @PaulWartenberg: they might try, but the only videos will be of angry jars of mayo and cops smashing shit. It’s getting harder to sell that shit (non-Fox News, of course).

    Also, of course, guilty is the right verdict, and our people will safe.

  54. 54.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Everyone’s entitled to a defense yada yada, but doesn’t this make the defense lawyers objectively bad people? They’ve already trotted out the racist super negro myth. These lawyers are racist POS as far I’m concerned

  55. 55.

    cain

    @Nicole:

     
    Whut? I remember the first episode of the Incredible Hulk where they mentioned that bit and what lead David Bruce Banner to look at gamma radiation.

    So you know it is so much more hilarious now as a defense. :P

  58. 58.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): The defense attorney’s job is to do everything legal and ethical in his power to get his client acquitted. That’s what they’re supposed to do and that’s what they should do.

  62. 62.

    Laura Too

    @Miki: Thanks, I am cautiously hopeful but hold no illusions to juries ability to set aside bias. You have my email, please feel free to reach out if you need anything. I’m in the old neighborhood pretty frequently.

  63. 63.

    The Thin Black Duke

    I don’t know why folks are worried about white assholes stirring up shit. Treat ’em like they’re BLM protestors. I guarantee you they wouldn’t do it a second time.

  65. 65.

    Adam L Silverman

    @cain: They did a lot of tweaking of the origin for the TV show. The original origin, if I recall correctly, was that while being in the secure and protected bunker observing a test of a gamma bomb, Bruce Banner noticed a motorcyclist had driven on to the test site. He left the lab, ran out, got the biker to safety, but didn’t make it back before the blast went off.

    What’s interesting is Jack Kirby actually cited the woman lifting a car off of her child as one of his inspirations in creating the character, which is, I think, why they did that retcon for the TV show.

    archive.ph/20130505014926/http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,,999977,00.html

    The Hulk on a rampage represents the smash-up satisfactions of liberated rage, yet he emerges from deep shadows of despair. Given that such behaviour is what we commonly associate with delinquent or distressed men, it is intriguing that one of the Hulk comic books’ artists, Jack Kirby, has said he was inspired by seeing a woman rescue her child from beneath a trapped car.
    With fright sending adrenaline rushing round her body, she found a physical strength and imperviousness to pain she would not otherwise have possessed: it is this effect of stress that athletes use chemicals to replicate. How fitting, then, that the side-effects are Hulk-like too: weight-gain, depression and a tendency to violence with no logical purpose or control.

    This is also a bullshit explanation of what happens when athletes use performance enhancers.

  66. 66.

    Geminid

    @gwangung: The Germans have one of their long words that applies to the folks you describe traveling to Minneapolis. It translates to “mayhem tourists.”

    Some accelarationists can be deadly when they think they can get away with it. Last spring, in the San Francisco Bay area, a law enforcement officer was killed with a long rifle at some distance. Several days later, the assassin was arrested. He turned out to be an active duty Air Force noncom with right-wing leanings, stationed at a northern California airbase. He probably hoped the murder who be ascribed to the left. This morning I heard of a drive by shooting of some National Guard soldiers, and I thought of that guy in California.

  67. 67.

    Nicole

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

    Why did the judge refuse to sequester them?

    From what I could find via google, this was a recent request, to sequester because the defense argued that the police shooting of Daunte Wright could influence the jury.  The judge’s response was that, as that is a separate incident, and has not gone to trial yet, it shouldn’t have bearing on the Chauvin trial.

    I agree with Adam that the defense will probably try to use it to get the verdict overturned (if the verdict is guilty), but I think the judge made the correct call.  I don’t see a juror’s position on Chauvin suddenly flipping because of protests over the killing of Daunte Wright.

  69. 69.

    Laura Too

    @mrmoshpotato: Yeah, I shit you not. One of his first statements. Conversation with my nephew the lawyer- Me: When in doubt go with space aliens. Always a winning defense.” Him: ” I think he was trying to be disarming. I can’t blame him. If you make them smile they will at least listen to what you want to tell them.” “But yeah, odd example.”

  70. 70.

    Kay

    @trollhattan:

    It was actually more coordinated than I suspected. The shift is interesting too- “this isn’t about MAGA or Donald Trump”….they’re leading the followers from specific to general.

    I was driving behind a pickup today with all the signs on it- the skull, “build the wall”, blue lives matter flag stickers. A genuine US Right wing extremist faction, just out and about in the world and identifiable.

  71. 71.

    Almost Retired

    @Laura Too:  I’m with you.  The space alien analogy was just weird, and not at all disarming (at least to me).  Also, my long-ago trial advocacy professor would have flunked me if I had repeatedly referenced my long-windedness without adding something about the importance and complexity of the issue, etc., to justify it.  I think Nelson secretly hates Chauvin.

  73. 73.

    Nicole

    @cain: The Incredible Hulk was one of my favorite shows from childhood.  I showed it a few years ago to my kid, who was underwhelmed by Lou Ferrigno’s physique, compared with the CGI of Marvel films today.  I told him back then, those kinds of special effects had to be practicals and to not make me angry; he wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.

  76. 76.

    FelonyGovt

    I was in court in downtown L.A. the day the verdicts in the Rodney King case were announced. I had been planning to take surface streets home which would have left me in the middle of the riots. Fortunately, there was some buzz in the courtroom about it and I took the freeway home.

  77. 77.

    Kay

    Tim Ryan is asking to come out to our middle of nowhere Democratic group, to meet with like, 7 people.

    I think you all know what this means :)

  81. 81.

    mrmoshpotato

    @WaterGirl:

    They get treated like Rittenhouse, who flat out murdered someone, and they let him leave. 

    Are his whereabouts still unknown?

  86. 86.

    MomSense

    If the jury fails to convict it will be a travesty.  The prosecution has been stellar.  I’m afraid to hope for a guilty verdict and scared of what happens regardless of the outcome.

  87. 87.

    Kay

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Well, what’s funny about him is although he may have this working class persona he’s actually someone who espouses the benefits of meditation and clean living, so probably no sugar or caffeine.

  89. 89.

    Kay

    @Adam L Silverman:

    My husband likes Nina Turner. They met at a Democratic voting rights event in Columbus prior to her turn Left and he thinks she’s amazing and powerful and smart.

    Huge fan.

    Ryan will be welcomed here. They like him.

  91. 91.

    trollhattan

    @Alison Rose:

    You’ll be shocked that our sheriff likewise instructed his people to inform, not enforce Covid restrictions. Heaven forfend somebody not have their seven and seven inside.

  92. 92.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Kay: Turner would be a disaster. In any position of public trust. But if you want to guarantee that the Democrats have no chance at all in contesting for the open Senate seat in OH, she’s your nominee.

  93. 93.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Laura Too:

    I’ve been thinking of you a lot throughout this trial, and especially in the aftermath of the Daunte Wright shooting. Please be careful, and continue to give us your first-hand experiences and reactions.

  94. 94.

    trollhattan

    @mrmoshpotato:

    I just know he was out on bail (natch) and was filmed enjoying himself in a bar with good old mom. NB he’s not of legal drinking age and that seemed not to be a bail condition.

  95. 95.

    Captain C

    @CaseyL: A very-much-former friend who styles himself as some variety of Leftist-anarchist was so jazzed by the early widescale protests against the Muslim ban, he kept tweeting “Now is when we burn it all down!”

    The answer to that is, of course, “Start with your own house.”

  99. 99.

    cain

    @Adam L Silverman: ​
     
    Right right – and i remember the one scene where a mother was talking aout how she lifted the car to save her child – and the depiction was a bit of what happened there.

    I was quite puzzled as to why they used “David” instead of “Bruce”. But yes, the original was him trying to save Rick and while he managed to save Rick he got caughtin the gamma blast – but also the asshole at the test site was a russian plant or something and was looking to kill off Banner.

  100. 100.

    Geminid

    @Kay: I trust you will let us know how Ryan does. And whether more than just seven Democrats show up.

    If this were a betting site, we could do an over/under prop.

  102. 102.

    cain

    @Nicole: ​
     
    Mine too – and it was a Friday night family tradition for us. All of us my immediate family and my uncle’s family would gather to watch the Incredible Hulk – we had popcorn and everything and we’d watch that and the Dukes of Hazzard – then we’d be sent upstairs so the adults can watch Dallas. Which I found boooorring.

  103. 103.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @RandomMonster:

    He’s doing it wrong. He should just stand outside Marine One and spew a bunch of contradictory bullshit for 5 minutes.

    Yup. What Stephen Colbert used to call … “CHOPPER TALK!!!”

  104. 104.

    CaseyL

    @Captain C:  Heh.  I used to get in a lot of trouble with people demanding that Israelis give their land back to the Palestinians, when I’d tell them to give their homes back to the Native Americans first, to set an example.

  105. 105.

    Laura Too

    @SiubhanDuinne: Thanks. I’ll try-other than living under occupation it’s been pretty quiet here. The trial is 2 miles away and the 3d is also downtown now-they haven’t said what they are going to do with that burned out fortress.

  111. 111.

    Laura Too

    @Captain C: My hope, at least the ones who are now considering what a massage by Chauvin looks like. It is a new technique to the therapists I know.

  112. 112.

    Icedfire

    I just got back from a week and a half in NJ dealing with my mother’s passing (I live in North Minneapolis), watching the events in Brooklyn Center from a distant rage, and now I’m afraid to hope for a guilty verdict because why wouldn’t the next worst thing possible happen in this godforsaken month?

  113. 113.

    Adam L Silverman

    @cain: Especially because in the comics he was Robert Bruce Banner. I think the name change was a licensing thing to keep the comics from getting tangled up in the rights from the TV show. Remember, at that point Marvel wasn’t making any of this stuff on their own, all of it was licenses. Universal still technically owns the movie rights to live action Hulk and Sony to Spider-Man. Which is why Marvel/Disney has worked out reverse licensing agreements with them allowing Marvel Studios to make the films with the characters, get paid a percentage, and either Universal or Sony to pocket the rest. Everything else – Fantastic Four, X-Men, etc – Fox owned and Disney got that back when they bought Fox’s movie and TV business.

  114. 114.

    VFX Lurker

    @cain:

    I was quite puzzled as to why they used “David” instead of “Bruce”.

    Wikipedia lists different reasons for the name change.

    Johnson changed the name of the Hulk’s comic book alter ego, Dr. Bruce Banner, to Dr. David Banner for the television series. This change was made, according to Johnson, because he did not want the series to be perceived as a comic book series, so he wanted to change what he felt was a staple of comic books, and Stan Lee’s comics in particular, that major characters frequently had alliterative names.[8] According to both Stan Lee[7] and Lou Ferrigno, it was also changed because CBS thought the name Bruce sounded “too gay-ish”, a rationale that Ferrigno thought was “the most absurd, ridiculous thing [he had] ever heard”.[9] On the DVD commentary of the pilot, Johnson says that it was a way to honor his son David. “Bruce” ultimately became the television Banner’s middle name, as it had been in the comics. It is visible on Banner’s tombstone at the end of the pilot movie,[7] and that footage is shown at the beginning of every episode of the series.

    In the 90’s, I’d heard about the reason given by Lee and Ferrigno, but not the other two reasons.

    It’s possible that all three reasons are true. The TV exec may have wanted a more “realistic” name and a way to get his son’s name into the show. The TV studio may have opposed the name “Bruce” for truly stupid reasons and thus supported a name change by the TV exec.

  120. 120.

    WaterGirl

    @Adam L Silverman: Right.  But if I recall correctly, he wasn’t staying at the address the attorneys had supplied to the court, and supposedly no one knew where he was.

    Are you suggesting that the court does now know where he is

    Did they give him bail AGAIN after it was known that he wasn’t staying where he said he would be???

  121. 121.

    Adam L Silverman

    @WaterGirl: His defense attorney informed the court that the reason the court couldn’t find him is that he was informed by a senior official in the sheriff’s department to provide a false address to the court so that he couldn’t be tracked down via public records and harmed, but a real address to one person in the sheriff’s department who would then know how to find him. The court and the prosecutor and the sheriff were all like “what?” And, at that point, the judge ordered the defense to file the proper paperwork with the real address where he is residing. My understanding is they did because the defense attorney didn’t want to get cited for contempt or have Rittenhouse’s bail revoked.

  123. 123.

    Adam L Silverman

    @WaterGirl: And they didn’t give him bail again, they made it clear that if the proper paperwork with the proper address wasn’t filed with the court – and that had to be confirmed – then the judge would consider a prosecution motion to revoke bail.

  124. 124.

    Citizen Alan

    @cain: I may be way off, but I remember being told at one point that the NBC execs in the 1970’s thought anyone named Bruce was gay. The only other Bruce with a pop culture impact at the time was Bruce Wayne, best known from the 60’s era Batman series, which was perhaps the campiest thing ever on TV back then.

  126. 126.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @WaterGirl:

    Yes, if the white supremacists were treated like the other protesters, it would be quite the shock for them. I wish.

    This is 100% true of the white supremacists.  Their whole thing is unearned privilege, and they fold like a game of pancake jenga when they have to face consequences.  Anarchists are a different breed.  I knew one.  They’re in it for the fight.  A bunch of the boogaloos are in it to boast they want a fight when they’re actually bitch baby cowards, but I expect a hard core who are hoping to be tear gassed like the guy I knew in college giddily enthused about.

  127. 127.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Laura Too:

    Yeah, I’m thinking there will be some fancy lawyer school using this as an example of what not to do. Or so I hope. 

    Today’s lesson is: Batshit-crazy defenses!  DON’T do this!

  129. 129.

    Roger Moore

    @Adam L Silverman:

    IIRC, the licensing situation with Hulk is especially weird, with Universal having the rights to solo Hulk movies, but Marvel free to include him as long as it’s a group movie.  That’s why it was fine to have Hulk in the Avengers movies (and Thor: Ragnarok) but they haven’t tried to make any more solo movies.  I forget what the licensing situation is with the Fantastic Four, but that’s also confusing.  And until they bought Fox, Disney didn’t have the rights to the X-Men, but somehow were allowed to use Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, but not to call them Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.

    It’s actually one of the things that’s been most impressive about the whole MCU.  Marvel licensed their most popular characters and teams, so when they started their own studio they were left with the ones the other studios didn’t want.  It’s remarkable that they’ve succeeded in making blockbuster juggernaut by building around their second team.  Or maybe it was the need to build around the second team that encouraged them to focus on the crossovers and teamups rather than relying on the individual brands for success.

  131. 131.

    Brachiator

    @Roger Moore:

    Marvel licensed their most popular characters and teams, so when they started their own studio they were left with the ones the other studios didn’t want.

    Good point. Ages ago, when I was reading comics, Iron Man was not necessarily a First String character. And yet, with RDJ, he has become the foundation of the Marvel Universe.

    Also, the movie audience is not exactly the same as the comics fan base. Some comics fans still forget this.

    I had no idea who the Guardians of the Galaxy were, and the first trailers did not generate any interest in the film for me. But the early strong acclaim for the movie made me curious, and I loved the first film.

  135. 135.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Icedfire:

    That’s a lot to deal with all at once. And there are few experiences that make you feel more bereft than losing your mother. I’m so sorry. May good memories be healing.

  136. 136.

    trollhattan

    @Alison Rose:

    Nice. The unburnt part I hope?

    Had a sideline dad conversation with another soccer dad whose house in Coffey Park had somehow survived the fire, just a few weeks after it happened. Most of his block was gone.

  138. 138.

    James E Powell

    @Adam L Silverman:

     I expect if Chauvin is convicted, the defense will appeal on the basis that the jury should’ve been sequestered, the conviction will be set aside, and a new trial will be ordered.

    I cannot find a case where the decision not to sequester the jury was reversible error.

  139. 139.

    James E Powell

    @Kay:

    The Frontline documentary on the insurgency is really good.

    Is that available for streaming anywhere?

    I watched it in real time because I was sitting around doing nothing. I normally don’t watch news, but I turned it on because I wanted to see TFG’s reaction to losing both senate seats in Georgia.

  140. 140.

    Laura Too

    Wow, closing argument by Mr. Blackwell. Bouquet of humanity has it’s own spot in the Urban dictionary. His last sentence had me in tears.

  142. 142.

    James E Powell

    @Kay:

    Tim Ryan is asking to come out to our middle of nowhere Democratic group, to meet with like, 7 people.

    I think you all know what this means :)

    Does he have an credible competition in the primary?

  150. 150.

    Larch

    Longtime Mpls lurker here…. I’m about midway between the two police precincts that were the focus of the protests against Floyd’s Floyd’s murder last year. I’ve been following this Twitter stream: mobile.twitter.com/i/lists/1266080640056930305

    No idea who’s managing it, but it captures tweets from mainstream and independent, mostly local but some national, field reporters (I.é., the ones on the ground, not the anchors/talking heads), as well as a range of activists and a few outfits that monitor police/fire bands, and info on helicopters/small aircraft overhead. Most are progressive but not all.

    There’s a fair amount of repetition, since there are often multiple people reporting an event, but it’s been interesting to see their different perspectives. It’s also interesting to see what gets tweeted by individuals with direct experience vs what’s filtered by editors & producers & sent out bu the “official” mainstream publications. The tweets from reporters covering the trial have been enlightening, to put it mildly.

    I don’t follow it most of the time, but when I hear the helicopters start to circle this is where I go to find out what’s up.

  151. 151.

    Miki

    @Larch: Thanks for that link. Seems like it pulls from a variety of sources and remarkably current. I’m on the East Side of St Paul and appreciate being informed.

  155. 155.

    Mike G

    Look at this.

    Look at all the shit you go through, and money spent, because of dirty cops.

    Because politicians tolerate if not encourage violent psychopaths with badges.

  158. 158.

    J R in WV

    @Kay: 

    Tim Ryan is asking to come out to our middle of nowhere Democratic group, to meet with like, 7 people.

    I think you all know what this means :)

    He wants your money~!!~ All of your money!! He’s running for office…. and needs all the money.

  159. 159.

    J R in WV

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    …I expect a hard core who are hoping to be tear gassed like the guy I knew in college giddily enthused about.

    Only someone who has never been teargassed would enthuse about it. Really~!!~

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