“While June 1 could easily be confused with a day of shame and peril if we listen to Donald Trump, if instead we listen to Terrence Floyd, it is a day of hope. So mark your calendars—this could be the beginning of the change of American democracy not to illiberalism, but to enlightenment. But it will have to come from the bottom up,” writes Brookings President John R. Allen.
Despite their crucial role keeping the U.S. health system and economy functioning, many Americans in essential occupations earn low wages and have not received additional government support. Ryan Nunn, Jimmy O’Donnell, and Jay Shambaugh examine three policy options aimed at compensating these critical workers.
White supremacists are taking advantage of the protests and unrest happening in the United States to cause more havoc. Daniel Byman explains the concept of accelerationism—the idea that white supremacists should increase civil chaos to foster polarization that will tear apart the current political order—and what can be done to stop it.
The Brookings Institution campus in Washington, D.C. will be closed through at least September 7. For more information, read our full guidance here. As Brookings experts continue to assess the global impacts of COVID-19, read the latest analysis and policy recommendations at our coronavirus page or stay up to date with our coronavirus newsletter.
The conclusions and recommendations of any Brookings publication are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the Institution, its management, or its other scholars.
The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
