SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWS
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020
Volume 155 No. 33 SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934
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PHOTOS BY BLUE NGUYEN | SPARTAN DAILY
Top: Deborah (left) and Carole Jett (right), married 10 years, hold hands and check in on other participants before the vigil portion of the “Count All Votes” rally begins. Bottom left: Aliza Kazumi, advocacy manager for the Council on Islamic Relations, Bay Area chapter, speaks during the vigil Wednesday night outside San Jose City Hall. Bottom right: Many members of the Showing Up for Racial Justice organization, Bay Area chapter, join the “Count all votes!” rally after 6 p.m. to advocate for racial equity.
Leaders host ‘Count All Votes’ rally at City Hall Faith leaders coalition puts aside religious differences amid election season By Stephanie Lam STAFF WRITER
Counting every single vote before electing a president is crucial for preserving democracy, said religious and anti-racism organization leaders during a Wednesday morning news conference. “Count All Votes,” an event that took place outside San Jose City Hall, featured speakers who spoke about the democratic principle of voting. The event was hosted by representatives from the Silicon Valley Faith Leaders Collaborative, a coalition of various faithbased organizations, and Scott MyersLipton, a San Jose State sociology professor who is on leave for the year.
There were times as a young adult that the presidential candidate that I wanted didn’t get picked, but this (not counting the votes) is totally a suppression of democracy. Dolores Ponce San Jose resident
Myers-Lipton said that nonprofit organizations from the “Protect the Community” group will host Zoom webinars in the upcoming weeks to offer their expertise to community members about topics like ballot counting guidelines and voter suppression. The group is a coalition of more than 20 Bay Area-based
nonprofit organizations and was formed in 2016. Most states counted mail-in ballots on Election Day, but battleground states such as Pennsylvania and Nevada can still receive and count ballots up to two weeks after election night as long as they are postmarked on or before Nov. 3, according to a Wednesday CNN article. During a news conference from the White House Tuesday night, President Donald Trump tried to declare victory despite several states still counting ballots. He then called for, “all voting to stop,” because he said delays in ballot counting are a result of voter fraud, according to an article published by Aljazeera on Wednesday. Myers-Lipton said during the conference that every ballot that was postmarked by election night counts toward determining the next president. He said that not counting the ballots would deny Americans their fundamental rights. “These are not principles of Democratic or Republican party . . . these are American principles,” Myers-Lipton said. Rev. Steve Pinkston, who represents the Maranatha Christian Center in the Faith Leaders Collaborative, said during the conference that all the organizations in the collaborative have put aside their religious differences and stand united behind the idea of counting each vote. “The (faith leaders) are a diverse group . . . but we have put differences that we might have had in the past behind us and unified ourselves to say that all votes count,” Pinkston said. San Jose residents Catherine Bell and Dolores Ponce said they went to the conference after receiving an email about the event. Bell said they came to listen to the leaders and show support for the cause. “There were times as a young adult that the presidential candidate that I wanted didn’t get picked, but this (not counting the votes) is totally a suppression of democracy,” Ponce said. Follow Stephanie on Twitter @StephCLam
public-safety servants to show that we can do this ourselves and nobody gets hurt.” Activists urge communities Rabbi Magat said during the vigil that he hopes for a peaceful transition of power after to monitor elections to presidential election. ensure all ballots counted the“We stand today for democracy and election integrity and we ensure that all of our fellow citizens have a peaceful path of self By Olivia Gerber expression,” he said. STAFF WRITER Meyers-Lipton said while the electorate Religious leaders from a variety of would meet and cast its vote for the next faiths each spoke on their commitment U.S. president, a peaceful transition of to nonviolent resistance and communal power based on all votes is not a matter democracy during Wednesday’s “Count All of party preference, but a matter of Votes” rally outside San Jose City Hall. American democracy. “As a gay person, I stand knowing that my rights and my freedom rests not on the whims of our leaders but on the power of our votes,” Rev. Bryan James Franzen said during the vigil that started right before the rally. Other religious speakers echoed Franzen and called for all votes to be counted and political leaders to respect a peaceful transition of power once the results were announced. Scott Meyers-Lipton, a San Jose State sociology professor on leave, teamed with the Silicon Valley Faith Leaders Collaborative to host the rally which was Susan Karlins an all-day event. About 150 people attended Campbell resident this part of the event, which hosted a news conference and police de-escalation training workshops earlier in the day. “We know it’s going to be a struggle,” Silicon Valley Faith Leaders Collaborative Scott-Myers said. “We know that anything is is a group of religious leaders from possible right now with the administration, different denominations who address racist so people who believe in democracy need to American heritage and white privilege. be involved with this movement.” “We believe that every vote has to be Campbell resident Susan Karlins said counted, we believe that there is a democratic she and her husband found out about process that we support and that’s what the event through Facebook and decided we are advocating for,” said Rabbi Dana to attend because they are concerned that Magat, a member of the Silicon Valley Faith President Donald Trump will refuse to count Leaders Collaborative. every vote cast. Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones, a senior minister “It’s so important that we value democracy,” at the First Unitarian Church of San Jose, said Karlins said. “It’s the essence of this country organizers were determined to keep the event and if we can’t count every vote then you peaceful as members wore bright yellow vests don’t have a democracy.” to mark them as non-violent ambassadors, which is a way to deter policing at the event. “Many of us are pushing to reimagine Follow Olivia on Twitter public safety,” Palmer Jones said. “Now we are @LivGerber actually doing that by becoming community
It’s so important that we value democracy. It’s the essence of this country and if we can’t count every vote then you don’t have a democracy.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
THURSDAY, NOV. 5, 2020
ANALYSIS
Political celebrities have agendas By Olivia Bowman & Olivia Gerber MANAGING EDITOR & STAFF WRITER
While you may buy products or services marketed by celebrities, it’s not a great idea to follow their political advice because the average American does not have the same financial concerns as a mega-rich celebrity. Celebrities are able to reach massive audiences because of commonly used social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande are two of the most followed people on social media. Bieber has the second most followers on Twitter with 112.6 million and Grande has the second most followers on Instagram with 203.39 million, according to an Oct. 1 article by Brandwatch, a digital consumer intelligence company and an Oct. 1 article by Statista, a German company specializing in market and consumer data. Social media platforms combined with large fan followings are helping celebrities mobilize voters to get them to the polls. This could have made them more influential than many cable news networks and political podcasts when it came to swaying voters this election season. With such a historic election, many celebrities
used their social media platforms this year to encourage people to vote. While this can be effective in mobilizing voter turnout, some went further by pushing their personal political ideologies onto their followers. On Oct. 29, Lil Wayne posted a picture with President Donald Trump on Twitter and showed his support for Trump by endorsing the Platinum Plan, the Trump administration’s economic proposal to increase wealth in Black communities. Conversely, rapper Cardi B, who originally supported Democrat and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, said “I think we should just go with Joe Biden,” according to an Aug. 7 iHeart Radio article. Celebrities engaging in politics can help drive voter turnout, but they can also influence some voters to cast their ballots the same way they would. According to a Nov. 3, 2017 USA Today article, following what celebrities say comes down to familiarity. When we see a face multiple times, like on TV screens, on a movie poster or on the cover of a magazine at a grocery store checkout, it makes us feel like we know them. We start to trust the faces of celebrities we don’t even know. So when they tell us to do something like purchase Coca Cola, drive a Range Rover or vote for their favorite politician, we feel
ILLUSTRATION BY NICK YBARRA
inclined to buy into their endorsements. But what celebrities promote isn’t always in the public’s best interest. One of the big differences between an average voter and a celebrity is the huge wealth gap. According to an April 26 article on Celebritynetworth. com, Oprah Winfrey has a net worth of $3.5 billion and Kanye West has a net worth of $3.2 billion. This is atrocious when you consider that the 2019 median household income in the U.S. was $68,703, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. So while we may feel like we personally know celebrities by relating to Chrissy Teigen treating
CLASSIFIEDS CROSSWORD PUZZLE
herself to a giant hamburger, influencers and their fans don’t have the same lifestyles which impacts what views and struggles we carry into politics. This is evident when we look at the discrepancies between how celebrities view the two presidential candidates’ tax plans. Trump and Biden’s drastically different tax plans have affected how some people vote. Biden’s tax policies focus on raising the top income tax rate for anyone making more than $400,000 a year according to his campaign website. On the other hand, Trump’s proposal would cut taxes by an additional $300 billion by the end of his second term if he
won reelection, primarily benefiting corporations and the uber wealthy according to an updated resolution regarding the Republican party platform. Celebrities such as 50 Cent have endorsed Trump on their social media accounts because they don’t want to pay higher taxes. According to a Sunday Politifact.com article, 50 Cent said he didn’t want to become “20 Cent” after learning that Biden’s tax plan would implement much higher taxes on wealthy individuals. However, while 50 Cent’s taxes would rise if Biden were elected president, the majority of Americans would see no change or even a slight reduction in taxes,
SUDOKU PUZZLE Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
according to the article. This shows that what works for the country’s wealthiest individuals doesn’t always apply to the majority of Americans, especially when it comes to financial matters. According to a Feb. 28, 2018 Business Insider article, $1 to the average person is the same as $1,355 to a billionaire. So while many Americans may like to believe that celebrities are our friends because of their social media relatability, the truth is, the wealth gap makes their political advice irrelevant to most voters. Follow the Spartan Daily on Twitter @SpartanDaily
JOKIN’ AROUND Why couldn’t the bike stand up?
It was two tired.
SOLUTIONS
ACROSS 1. One who colors cloth 5. Carve in stone 9. Neat 13. Ploy 14. Greek sandwiches 16. Dwarf buffalo 17. European mountain range 18. Chalice 19. Stair 20. Cries 22. Preoccupied people 24. Soft drink 26. Inscribed pillar 27. Popeye’s favorite food 30. Impassive 33. Hat or helmet 35. An analytic literary composition 37. Website address 38. Change gears 41. Mineral rock 42. Anagram of “Islet” 45. People who lead from the front 48. Words to a song 51. Noblewoman 52. Different
54. Immediately 55. A small restaurant 59. Fathers 62. Hubs 63. Burn slightly 65. Heap 66. River of Spain 67. Indian antelope 68. Stigma 69. To fancy (archaic) 70. Not more 71. Feudal worker DOWN 1. Sketch 2. Christmas season 3. Particularly 4. Answer 5. It comes from a hen 6. Apprentice 7. Grouches 8. Lifting devices 9. Braided cords 10. Within 11. One who accomplishes 12. Blabs 15. Mixture of rain and snow 21. Smelting waste
23. Blackthorn 25. Cards with 1 symbol 27. Close 28. Risk 29. Derisive laugh 31. Muscle-building exercises 32. Challenges 34. Tear 36. Cravings 39. Dandy 40. Fastens 43. Ablation 44. Seats oneself 46. Catches 47. Gallivant 49. An ancient board game 50. Periodical 53. Washing machine cycle 55. Gusted 56. Gown 57. Unit of land 58. Auspices 60. Dash 61. Arid 64. Ensign (abbrev.)
10/29/2020
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SPORTS
THURSDAY, NOV. 5, 2020
3
ANALYSIS
Athletes have the right to voice beliefs By Samantha Herrera STAFF WRITER
It’s easy to forget that athletes have their own political views while they’re out on the field, but they’re like anyone else. Many athletes who come forward and express their political views usually face backlash from the press, fans, teammates and leagues, and that’s not fair. Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, hasn’t signed with an NFL team since 2016. He knelt during the U.S. national anthem that year to bring attention to police brutality against people of color and highlight racial injustice, according to an Aug. 2020 article by Distractify, a media outlet that covers what is trending on social media. The NFL faced heavy criticism by 49ers fans who supported his protesting after owners blackballed Kaepernick. However, those who opposed Kaepernick’s actions burned his memorabilia because they considered his actions un-American, according to an Aug. 28, 2016 article by ABC News. But as an American citizen, Kaepernick has the right to protest against police brutality and racial injustice because not only is it his First Amendment right, but it’s a horrible reality of what people of
color face every day in the U.S. Being an athlete shouldn’t hold them back from expressing their views on a system that affects them just as much as any other American citizen. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way,” Kaepernick said in a NFL media interview on Aug. 27, 2016. “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” In 2018, Global Sports Matters did a breakdown of people of color in American sports teams. They found that 42.5% of MLB players, 80.7% of NBA players and 90.7% of NFL players are people of color. It’s unethical for fans to expect and demand athletes to turn a blind eye to the issues in America and focus solely on playing their sport. President Donald Trump criticized other NFL players who knelt during the national anthem before their games at a rally in Huntsville, Alabama on Sept. 22, 2017. “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field PHOTO EDITOR BLUE NGUYEN SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR ALYSON CHUYANG LIFESTYLE EDITOR MARCI SUELA
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ILLUSTRATION BY BLUE NGUYEN
right now. Out. He’s fired! He’s fired!,’ ” Trump said to his supporters according to a Sept. 22, 2017 ESPN article. However, athletes from different sports continue to stand together in their right to protest, as they should. More recently, athletes have been coming together in full force by using their platforms to protest against racism and injustice in America. The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many other innocent Black Americans across the country by ADVERTISING REPS MELINA CAMPOS JOEL CEJA MENDOZA ERIN COONEY KYLE JOHNSON SHAMSIA MIRWAIS HYEONJEONG PARK ARWINDER SINGH BHULLAR MIA WICKS NATALIE ACOSTA ADVERTISING ADVISER TIM HENDRICK BUSINESS MANAGER CINDY LUU
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police officers have only amplified their efforts. And when athletes in America speak, people listen. Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James have all used their platforms to support social justice in America, according to a June 10 article by Insider. NBA players protested the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police officers by issuing statements as a team condemning the killings and kneeling together with teammates, coaches,
staff and opposing teams, according to the same Insider article. During Borussia Dortmund’s game against Paderborn on May 31, Borussia Dortmund’s player Jadon Sancho revealed a Justice for George Floyd message written on his undershirt after scoring a goal. San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich called on white Americans to fight racism by saying that African Americans have been “shouldering this burden” for centuries
during a game on June 6, according to a June 10 article by Insider. Politics, social injustice, police brutality, racism and everything that happens in America affects professional athletes just as much as it affects all other Americans. Professional athletes should be able to voice their political opinions without the fear of losing their jobs or fans. Follow Samantha on Twitter @sammiherreraa_