June 16: Journalist Maria Ressa ’86 Convicted; Ralph Nader ’55's Reading List

Journalist Maria Ressa ’86 was convicted of “cyber-libel” by a court in Manila and faces up to six years in prison, a move condemned as a major blow to press freedom and democracy in the Philippines. — The Guardian

Retired U.S. Army general and former CIA director David Petraeus *85 *87 advocated removing the names of Confederate officers from 10 U.S. Army installations. — The Atlantic
 
Democratic U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell ’86 of Alabama called for “transformational change” to rein in police forces. — The Selma Times-Journal
 
Gen. Mark Milley ’80 apologized for walking with President Trump to a photo op in Layfayette Square, signaling a deepening divide between the military and executive branch. — The New York Times­
 
Cardiologist Ricardo Cigarroa ’80 has been making house calls for patients who have the coronavirus and providing public health leadership in Laredo, Texas. — Texas Monthly
 
John Stossel ’69 argued that volunteers who want to be infected with the coronoavirus in hopes of speeding up vaccine efforts should be allowed to do so. — Creators Syndicate
 
Director Josephine Decker ’03 and actress Elisabeth Moss explained their portrayal of author Shirley Jackson as “unlikable” in the film Shirley. — Vox
 
Journalist Judith Miller *72 criticized New York Times leaders who “caved to a staff revolt” following the publication of an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton. — Fox News
 

“We have to narrate America differently. We’re not the shining city on the hill. We have to confront the ugliness of who we are — and who we have been — so that we can imagine ourselves otherwise.”

— Eddie Glaude Jr. *97, chair of the Department of African American Studies, on racism in America. — Vox

Hate Among Us, a documentary about anti-Semitism co-produced by Dean Cain ’88, was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award. — Forbes
 
Anne-Marie Slaughter ’80, CEO of New America, says 30 years of national security efforts have failed and, post-pandemic, it’s time for a new approach. — The Korea Times
 
Barack and Michelle Obama ’85 addressed 2020 graduates virtually, addressing the pandemic and protests over racial injustice and telling them democracy “doesn't work if you silence yourselves.” — CNN
 
Ralph Nader ’55 released his annual summer reading list, 15 titles that tackle everything from inequality to corruption to surveillance. — Eurasia Review