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The people will not rest this week. Protests are scheduled for every day in D.C. this week. Many have already taken to the streets for Jacob Blake, a Black man Wisconsin police shot multiple times who is now paralyzed.
Recent days of protests come at heels of months-long demonstrations over police brutality and anti-Black racism. Protesters told DCist last month that they aren’t going anywhere. “It’s important that we stay out there, because they think this generation is just doing it for clout, doing it for the trend,” said 23-year-old activist Heem at the time. DCist also has a helpful rundown of demonstrations scheduled for this week.
A demonstration in Adams Morgan went viral. Video posted on Twitter shows White protesters cornering a White woman who is outdoor dining and shouting “White silence is violence.” The diner, Lauren B. Victor, who refused to raise her fist as other diners had, despite being called to, told the Post “It just felt overwhelming to have all of those people come at you. To have a crowd — with all that energy — demand that you do this thing. In the moment it didn’t feel right.” Just before, a Black woman who was leading the protest explained to the group why it is important to engage White people in the struggle, and that White protesters should take the lead in engaging their own, according to the Post.
This is not necessarily a new phenomenon. It was just filmed. Protesters have called out people before who were sitting comfortably and enjoying a meal while they were marching. City Paper saw this play out in the U Street Corridor on June 6, when tens of thousands gathered for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many other victims of racist violence.
Reactions to Tuesday night’s viral video were mixed, among both conservatives and progressives.
“imho this is not a good tactic,” tweeted Chris Hayes. Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks, tweeted: “It’s not solidarity if you force her to raise her hand. So, this also completely misses the point.”
“Let’s be clear: it did show that a white woman who claims to be progressive refused asks from both Black and white people to affirm that Black Lives Matter,” tweeted Jesse Rabinowitz, with Miriam’s Kitchen. “See the bigger picture. Black people are trying to not get KILLED BY THE POLICE”
At her press conference today, Mayor Muriel Bowser called the protesters’ behavior “highly inappropriate” and “likely against the law.”
Columbia Heights also trended last night, because the reporter who posted the Twitter video mentioned the neighborhood in his original tweet. Our friends at 730DC wrote a helpful thread about how this neighborhood is perfectly situated in the context of gentrification.
—Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)
CITY DESK LINKS, by Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)
Bowser and education officials go over the upcoming school year, and announce D.C. is launching a mental health hotline for struggling parents. The hotline will connect parents to clinicians for free sessions. [Twitter]
As of Aug. 25, D.C. reported one additional death related to COVID-19 and 38 new positive cases. The total number of positive cases is now 13,722. [EOM]
Bowser orders D.C.-regulated insurers to cover the full costs of COVID-19 testing, including for individuals who are asymptomatic and at high risk of infection. [DCist, Post]
A 29-year-old law student’s unforgettable trip into a COVID coma and back. [Washingtonian]
LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com)
A majority of people who passed through the D.C. Jail did not receive consistent drug treatment. [Post, CCE]
D.C. delays RFK demolition. [WBJ]
Virginia Sen. Bryce Reeves tested positive for COVID-19 during the General Assembly’s special session. [Times Dispatch]
YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Laura Hayes (tips? lhayes@washingtoncitypaper.com)
Young & Hungry is away from her desk and will be back next week.
ARTS LINKS, by Kayla Randall (tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)
Meet two local friends in their 60s who will both compete in an Ohio beauty pageant next month. [DCist]
Online directory Districtly Local is allowing customers to filter searches to find businesses that are Black and LGBTQ-owned. [Washingtonian]
The American Shakespeare Center takes a three-ways-to-watch approach to reopening: indoors, outdoors, and online. [DC Metro Theater Arts]
SPORTS LINKS, by Kelyn Soong (tips? ksoong@washingtoncitypaper.com)
The Washington Spirit and NWSL will return to play on Sept. 5. [Black and Red United]
Former Nats prospect Lucas Giolito—now with the Chicago White Sox—threw the first no-hitter of the 2020 season. [NBC Sports Washington]
Logan Thomas appears to be the top tight end for the Washington Football Team. [Hogs Haven]
CITY LIGHTS, by Emma Sarappo (Love this section? Get the full newsletter here. Tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)
D.C. group Thunderpaw have put out four EPs in three months, the latest being Waiting for Salvation.
From Zora Neale Hurston to Elizabeth Bishop, an online database of more than 300 writers and their D.C. homes offers a glittering who’s who of Washington literary history.
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