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Reverend Al Sharpton has called for an end to the use of stop and search in the UK, accusing the police of disproportionately targeting people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

The US civil rights activist said he fears unless urgent reform is instituted in UK policing, Britain will see its own version of the George Floyd case.

Mr Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020 in a killing that sparked widespread protests across the America, and the world.

Speaking on Sky News' Beth Rigby Interviews, Rev Sharpton asked: "How do you explain the disproportionate amount of citizens that are black, or people of colour, being stopped and searched to whites in this country?

"How do you explain in COVID, when everybody is locked down, people of colour, and blacks in particular, are stopped and dealt with and arrested, more than whites?"

Rev Sharpton, who has been a vocal campaigner in the US for decades, added: "There is a systemic problem, and I think the studies - the data - has shown that. That is why it is critical that we get ahead of it, and deal with it, before you end up with a George Floyd.

"Stop and search, it is inherently set up in a situation, that we found - when they called it in America 'stop-and-frisk' - that it was disproportionately done in areas where blacks and browns were. When you have a disproportionate police strategy, you must eliminate that strategy."

The reverend also highlighted the issue of police brutality in his home country, citing the recent case of Tyre Nichols - a black man who was beaten by five black police officers in the city of Memphis, Tennessee and died three days later.

Read more:Punched, kicked and tasered: Timeline of violent arrest of Tyre NicholsSixth Memphis police officer sacked over father-of-one's brutal killingTyre Nichols' mother: 'I'm not going to stop' fighting for justice

"The thing that was troubling to me about the killing of this young man, is that Tyre was beat to death by five black policemen minutes away from where Martin Luther King was killed," he said.

"Martin Luther King was in Memphis fighting for black city workers. I could argue the case they may not have even been on an elite squad if it hadn't been for Dr King.

"So, we are fighting systems as well as race, because I don't believe those black cops would have beat a white kid like that, because they knew the penalty."

'The police are not being policed'

However, Sharpton didn't view the situation in America as without hope, saying he wanted reforms to US policing at a federal level, with the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

"I think there is the broader question of police being not policed," he said. "I think that white and black police have been infested with the same kind of power trips that 'I don't have to be held accountable'.

"Which is why the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act makes them accountable. Why does that make them accountable? Because it removes qualified immunity."

Qualified immunity in the US protects police officers and other officials from civil lawsuits except in very rare circumstances.

"If a policeman knows he can lose his property, his house, his car, for his actions, his family would say, 'wait a minute, you've got to be more careful and follow the letter of the law'. There's no skin in the game," Rev Sharpton said.

The reverend believes there is now sufficient pressure on officials in the Senate to pass the act, which failed to pass in 2021.

'Imagine if Dr King had given up'

Asked if he thought Tyre Nichols' death could be a catalyst for change in America, he said: "I believe that Tyre's death can be that. I believe the same with George Floyd, where we did get the executive order. I always have hope, no matter how bad it looks.

"You must remember when the historic March on Washington happened in 1963, when Martin Luther King made his speech 'I Have A Dream', two months later, they bombed a church in Birmingham, Alabama - 16th Street Baptist Church - and killed four little girls.

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"There's always going to be a reason to give up. But you have to keep going. Suppose that [Nelson] Mandela had given up - 27 years in jail - but South Africa ended up being a democratic one man, one vote.

"Suppose if Dr King had given up, we never would have had a Barack Obama or Kamala Harris. So every time I get discouraged, I think of people that face greater odds than we have and say if they could hold on, we can hold on.

"Victory is certain. I don't know the date or the time, but I know we will win, and I won't stop fighting."

Asked if lasting change could come in his lifetime, Reverend Al Sharpton responded: "In my lifetime, hopefully. But if not, my children, they'll say in their lifetime, or my grandchildren in their lifetime, that we won. And my dad or my granddad was part of the victory. They will not say he quit and gave up."

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US civil rights leader Al Sharpton calls for an end to stop and search ...

The Rev Al Sharpton has warned that racially charged incidents such as the brutal death of Tyre Nichols in the US will also occur in the UK without far-reaching police reforms.

On the eve of a two-day visit to the UK, the US civil rights veteran said that systemic racism and a culture of policing that produces brutality must be addressed.

Nichols, a 29-year-old father and black man, died in hospital three days after being pulled over and beaten by police officers in Memphis on 7 January.

Sharpton, the president of the National Action Network, who last week delivered the eulogy at Nichols funeral, called for reforms of UK policing.

The failure to address systemic racism in UK policing and the culture of policing that produces brutality against our people will only lead to more incidences like the tragedy of Tyre Nichols, he said in a statement.

His comments contrast with Suella Braverman, the home secretary, who in September said that initiatives on diversity and inclusion should not take precedence over common-sense policing.

A damning UN report last month found that the government has failed to address structural, institutional and systemic racism against people of African descent in Britain.

We have serious concerns about impunity and the failure to address racial disparities in the criminal justice system, deaths in police custody, joint enterprise convictions and the dehumanising nature of the stop and (strip) search, the UN working group said in a statement.

Sharpton will expand on his comments on Monday when he begins his UK visit. He is expected to address Nichols death and the parallels of allegations against the police in the UK.

It follows demands for justice from the families of Chris Kaba, who was shot in the head in Streatham, south London, after a car pursuit in September, and Oladeji Omishore, who died after being after being shot with a Taser weapon on Chelsea Bridge and then being pulled from the River Thames.

The IOPC is conducting a criminal investigation into the officer who discharged their firearm which led to Kabas death.

The IOPC is also conducting an investigation into Omishores death but do not consider that a more thorough conduct investigation is required.

Sharpton will also raise police searches of black children after the outcry over Child Q, the 15-year-old girl who was strip-searched at school by female police officers while on her period.

Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you through the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning

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Nichols, who had been pulled over after an alleged minor traffic violation, was pepper-sprayed, stunned with a Taser and beaten by five black officers who took turns to hold him up for others to attack him. Footage of the incident was released on 27 January and led to unrest across several US cities.

Sharpton, who has been at the forefront of the US civil rights movement since 1991, used Nichols funeral to condemn the officers for being a disgrace to their race before adding that the officers would not have attacked a white man in the same way.

You know you couldnt get away with doing that in Tennessee to a white guy. Youll find out you aint getting away with it doing it to a black guy, he said.

Sharpton, who is attending an event by Operation Black Vote on Monday, is also expected to address electoral rights in the UK amid fears that new laws requiring photo ID at polling stations will disfranchise black and Asian voters.

Lord Simon Woolley, the founder of OBV and a mentee of Sharpton, said: The Revd Al Sharpton is coming to the UK at a critical time when simply acknowledging systemic race inequality is proving difficult.

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Al Sharpton warns UK could suffer US-style police brutality without ...

Top Democrats are questioning Vice President Kamala Harris' leadership abilities, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton even reportedly has her doubts.

"Members of Congress, Democratic strategists and other major party figures all said she [Harris] had not made herself into a formidable leader," a Monday article from The New York Times read.

The piece said two Democrats recalled Clinton privately dismissing Harris' chances of clearing a presidential primary field because she lacked the necessary "political instincts."

"Two Democrats recalled private conversations in which former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lamented that Ms. Harris could not win because she does not have the political instincts to clear a primary field," the Times reported.

KARINE JEAN-PIERRE MISTAKENLY REFERS TO KAMALA HARRIS AS THE PRESIDENT DURING PRESS CONFERENCE

A spokesman for Clinton pointed to their "strong bond," although the Times didn't quote him issuing a specific denial of Clinton's reported private thoughts.

"They have built and maintained a strong bond. Any other characterization is patently false," Nick Merrill said on Clinton's behalf.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has privately expressed doubt about Kamala Harris' ability to win a future Democratic nomination, the New York Times reported. (Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

He also claimed the two held discussions focused on their separate experiences of being "a woman in power" and, according to the Times, reiterated that Clinton remains "strongly supportive" of her.

The Times article relayed Democrats' malaise around Harris' inability to "carve out" a political identity for herself beyond her legacy as many "firsts" the first African American, Asian American and woman to serve as vice president in U.S. history.

"Even some Democrats whom her own advisers referred reporters to for supportive quotes confided privately that they had lost hope in her," the article stated.

In 2016, Clinton became the first and to date only woman in U.S. history to win a major party presidential nomination. The 2020 Democratic field saw a record number of women seek the nomination, Harris among them, but they failed to win even a single primary or caucus.

Harris dropped out well before the Iowa caucuses in the 2020 cycle and ultimately endorsed Joe Biden before being selected as his running mate.

BIDEN CALLS VP KAMALA HARRIS A GREAT PRESIDENT IN GAFFE DURING WHITE HOUSE EVENT

Vice President Kamala Harris was the subject of a critical report in the New York Times on Monday. (SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Harris has faced repeated criticism over her mishandling of America's southern border crisis, but the hits from her own arena go deeper.

A Jan. 30 article in The Washington Post concentrated on Democrats' frustrations with her tenure as vice president, with the report stating many are "worried" by the idea of seeing her lead the Democratic Party in the future while others are simply uptight about her being a continued drag on the White House.

SEN. WARREN STOPS SHORT OF SUPPORTING VP HARRIS FOR RE-ELECTION: I REALLY WANT TO DEFER'

"Harriss tenure has been underwhelming, they said, marked by struggles as a communicator and at times near-invisibility, leaving many rank-and-file Democrats unpersuaded that she has the force, charisma and skill to mount a winning presidential campaign," he wrote.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., also appeared uncomfortable with the prospect of seeing Harris return as vice president during a recent interview with Boston Public Radio in which she said she wanted to "defer" the decision to Biden.

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Taylor Penley is a production assistant with Fox News.

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Hillary Clinton privately thinks Kamala Harris lacks 'political ...

Twitter's headquarters in San Francisco. The company's latest change will make it harder to researchers to study the platform. David Odisho/Getty Images hide caption

Twitter's headquarters in San Francisco. The company's latest change will make it harder to researchers to study the platform.

Much of what we know about social media discourse is thanks to Twitter's longtime policy of allowing free access to its data. That has made Twitter data a treasure trove for researchers eager to study online behavior, including how falsehoods and conspiracy theories circulate. Kate Starbird remembers how Twitter research dominated the field between 2010 and 2015.

"You look at some of the conferences we attended, you know, 50% of the social computing papers would be about Twitter and sometimes even more, because that was the data that we had access to," says Starbird, a researcher at the University of Washington who studies online information dynamics during crises, including disinformation.

But in the latest change to the social media service since billionaire Elon Musk bought the company last year, Twitter announced Thursday that it would start charging users at least $100 a month for using its data pipeline starting Feb. 13, with one exception - users that tweet less than 1,500 times a month, an average of twice an hour or less.

Twitter did not say how many tweets users can download or post at the $100 a month level. Those who need additional access will have to have to pay more though the company didn't disclose the pricing.

The move will make it more expensive to run many automated accounts, known as bots. Some bots promote scams and propaganda, while others are useful or fun for many users, such as those that highlight every change the New York Times makes to its story headlines or flag an earthquake.

Musk has long expressed his desire to rid the platform of "bot armies." When Twitter first announced last Thursday that it will start charging for API usage without information of pricing or exceptions, bot watchers on the platform bemoaned the imminent demise of creations they loved. On Saturday, Musk tweeted that "responding to feedback," bots "providing good content" will keep free access.

If some bots were spared, no researchers were. The change will also limit what is possible for researchers such as Starbird who have relied on that pipeline, known as an application programming interface or API, to study user behavior and information operations on the platform for years.

Earlier this week, after Twitter first announced that it will start charging for the API, a group of research institutions, advocacy groups and individual researchers from around the world issued an open letter calling on Twitter to maintain access for researchers so that public-interest research could continue. In a statement, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) said that Twitter should be making data access easier, not harder. As of Wednesday, Twitter did not respond to a request from NPR sent last week for more information about its decision.

While researchers have used Twitter data for all kinds of research, Twitter's platform design gives it a unique role for researchers focusing on information operations and conspiracy theories. Content can go viral in a way that's impossible on other platforms, and provides metrics like retweets and likes that make tracking the impact and spread easy to understand.

Users' timelines are shaped not only by who they follow but also algorithmic recommendation, so players seeking influence can game it to amplify its message.

While the social media landscape has splintered in the past few years, Twitter still serves as a guide post because narratives brewing in smaller platforms could bubble up on Twitter.

"Twitter was a way to kind of at least see, like, what you know, where is that iceberg in the water and what's going on there," says Starbird.

Since taking over Twitter late last year, Musk has reinstated the accounts of thousands of conspiracy theorists and white nationalists while cutting the company's teams that monitored the platform for hate speech and enforced its rules.

Users with access to the Twitter API can upload and download data in bulk to and from the platform using a computer program, bypassing the main user interface.

Currently, many Twitter API users can download up to two million tweets from the past seven days for free every month. Academic institutions can download unlimited amounts from the entire archive for free. With large datasets, researchers can make intricate maps of how clusters of users relate to each other, which is invaluable for understanding online communities, including those that spread falsehoods.

Without access to that wealth of data, researchers will have a less comprehensive picture and less ability to go back and investigate narratives that they've missed in real time, Starbird says.

By giving users well-documented API access, Twitter's data has been more transparent than other major social media platforms. Meta's offering, CrowdTangle, does not provide straightforward ways to download data in real time and in bulk the way Twitter does. Moreover, the company is reportedly winding it down and has not announced whether it will offer a replacement. Meta did not answer questions from NPR about CrowdTangle's future.

TikTok announced last year that it's testing a research API, and is "planning to expand availability in the US in the coming weeks." the company told NPR in an email. The company has come under criticism in the past year for allowing disinformation to spread on its platform. It has also faced bipartisan scrutiny due to its Chinese ownership.

Starbird's team is throwing ideas around what they can do with Twitter if their current level of access ceases. They intend to focus on Telegram, TikTok and Reddit along with Twitter for the 2024 presidential election while collaborating with teams that monitor other platforms.

"We've tended to work within the constraints we've had for so long." Starbird says, and maybe there will be new creative ways to use Twitter data. "Unfortunately, I think a lot of that creativity is going to be better spent on other platforms."

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Twitter's new data access rules will make research harder : NPR

Many small businesses who sell at local farmers markets in Provo feel that social media is a major part of being a successful business.

Data from the Pew Research Center said about 84% of adults aged 18-29 use at least one social media site, which is why many businesses see social media marketing as a now essential part of their business strategy.

According to a 2019 study done by Buffer, it comes as no surprise to find that many businesses use social media as a marketing tool in this era of internet grown and increasing social media popularity.

The Buffer study was on 1,800 marketers from businesses of all sizes, across a range of industries. The data showed 89% of marketers see social media marketing as an important part of their overall strategy. Additionally, 73% of marketers in this study feel that social media marketing has been somewhat effective or very effective for their business.

During the rise of COVID-19, many businesses found that they had to move into online venues such as Instagram or shop sites to keep sales going. This push, along with the general shift towards online entrepreneurship, has created more digital commerce and businesses on social media than ever before, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Some small businesses were just getting started when the pandemic hit. Tayla Chapa, the owner of the Provo-based earring company Feminiscence, found that COVID-19 wasnt all bad for her business.

Starting out, social media was great. It helped me reach people that I wouldnt have reached during a pandemic, Chapa said. Simply put, I dont think my business would be what it is today without the pandemic.

Social media apps like TikTok and Instagram are Feminiscences biggest platforms, with one video in August gaining 12.4 million views on TikTok. The video format of these platforms allows Chapa to give updates to people interested in her products, while also allowing her to make connections and bring in people who want to be involved in her brand.

Ive shipped to Norway, the UK and Australia. My business reaches people throughout the world because of social media, Chapa said.

Chapas sudden spotlight provided many surprises along with monetary benefits. She described how she now gets thousands of people reaching out and wanting to not only support her business, but tell their story and talk about historical women and the issues that modern-day women face.

I knew that social media connects people, but Ive seen it firsthand in my life, Chapa said. Its so touching to see that social media has helped my brand to get out there to people and start conversations, because thats all Ive really ever wanted.

Asher Head, founder of the apparel story Finally At Peace, also found more of a community online than he was expecting. Originally, when starting his business, he was afraid people wouldnt see the point of his business or that he would face backlash but that never ended up happening. Instead, he was able to connect with other people who are in similar situations and are backing similar causes.

The biggest benefit (of social media) is being able to find a community I didnt think existed, Head said.

Hannah Brooks, Brigette Eagar and Rachel Gartz run an eclectic design-based booth together at the Provo Farmers Market called Collect Ave. They too, like Chapa and Head, have found support and community through their business social media, according to Brooks.

(Social media) keeps people aware of us, Brooks said. Weve had a really cool community rise up.

While all three partners have had experience working for social media before, the trio have had to learn how to balance in-person experiences with their online shop and keeping up with both customers and online algorithms, Brooks said.

Its definitely more of a process than we expected. We have to be really intentional about, like: OK we need to start promoting our market right now, Brooks said.

Provo business Terra Therapi sells decor and mental health resources and has been learning how to balance the necessary elements that come with an online presence. Terra Therapi was created by Hailey Nordwald and has been on Instagram since 2019. Since then, Nordwald said she has gained further understanding of the capabilities of social media.

There really isnt any magic to it. Its just knowing all the details that all contribute to being successful with it, Nordwald said. Theres a lot to it.

The work pays off though, and Nordwald said she has been able to use the reception her business has to gauge customer interest and guide future business decisions.

While COVID-19 and the move to more online sales has provided success for some business owners, certain side effects have caused growing pains for other small businesses.

Lin Flores, the founder of lincpoetry, described how isolating and difficult running a small business in the midst of a pandemic can be.

I had to do everything alone. I had to figure out how to make products alone and it was difficult to learn that all by myself, Flores said. That was the hardest part.

While social media has benefited many small business owners, the learning curve for those trying to do it all themselves is a steep one. Flores described that if the pandemic had not struck when it did, she could have easily hired some help or met other entrepreneurs in a similar stage of starting their business.

I just relied on myself a lot, Flores said.

Flores emphasized the importance of in-person contact for businesses, and how that can diminish with the limited contact social media facilitates between entrepreneurs and customers.

I think when you meet someone, you can see what they have to offer. On social media, its just another pretty person with a cool shirt on, Flores said. (Social media) doesnt feel as authentic as when I meet someone in person and pitch them my product.

Authenticity and creating a connection between businesses and customers is a common balance that business owners have to learn how to strike, according to a 2014 study of 12,000 respondents by Cohn & Wolfe.

Christine Leaming, the owner of The Stimmy Store at the Provo Farmers Market, values authenticity so she said she doesnt use social media in the traditional way that other businesses might.

I dont know if (social media) brings in business so much as it gives people a way to communicate with me directly, Leaming said.

The in-person experience is important to Leaming, so much so, that The Stimmy Store does not have an online equivalent. She prefers to provide her products only in-person for the local Provo community, rather than prioritizing her online presence or business social media accounts.

I think thats why I dont really rely a lot on social media, because it doesnt feel authentic to me, Leaming said. You get what you see, and I dont want to do anything thats fake.

While these small business owners described their struggles with beating algorithms, making ads, staying authentic and figuring out the new and ever-growing world of business on social media, each entrepreneur emphasized the importance of the communities they found online and how community is what kept their small business thriving.

With social media, I think its really cool to see people come together, Head said. It really is a tool to build community and safe spaces for people.

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Social media and small businesses: The good, the bad and the authentic ...