If I were a police officer who led an equal employment office I would simply not be racist. Unfortunately, a now-dismissed officer in NYPD did not share the same sentiment.

Happening in the World: Europe is suffering from a rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths, with restrictions being put in place to combat the spread. On Friday, France saw its highest number of confirmed cases in one day so far, while Italy saw its highest death toll from COVID-19 in almost six months. Denmark has also found a mutation of COVID-19 that exists in Mink but can be transferred to humans, and plan to exterminate their 13 million population of mink farmed for fur. (BBC)

Happening in the US: A Missouri election judge supervisor passed away on Thursday after receiving a positive COVID-19 test before the election. Despite being told to quarantine, this supervisor worked at a polling site on election day. Officials say that although it is important to stay vigilant about the virus, this position has little interaction with people at the polling site and is not a high concern for spread. (CNN)

Happening in NYC: The NYPD Council Oversight and Investigations Division shared a 31-page report investigating the commanding officer of the NYPD’s Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, James Kobel. In this investigation, Kobel was found to have posted racist slurs or insults around 500 times within the last year on an online forum for police officers. Kobel has been removed from his position while the investigation proceeds. (Gothamist)

Happening in the Community: Columbia announced updated travel guidelines in an email from Cristen Kromm and Melanie Bernitz on Wednesday. Following the New York state changes, Columbia will allow students who travel to a restricted state to take a COVID-19 test within three days before their return to campus and after four days of quarantine, they will be eligible to test out of quarantine.

Film of the Week: Girl with Hyacinths (dir. by Hasse Ekman)

minky boy via Wikimedia Commons