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THE NEWS:

It is election day in D.C., the day after police in riot gear enforced a 7 p.m. curfew with pepper spray and sting balls in the middle of a global pandemic.

Despite today’s 7 p.m. curfew, everyone CAN vote. The curfew makes exemptions for individuals who are going to vote or work at the polls, as well as essential employees and media. If the police give you or anyone you know any trouble going to vote, let City Paper know. Loose Lips Mitch Ryals and I will be visiting vote centers throughout the day. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen also wants to hear about it. 

Allen expressed concerns over Twitter about how a curfew an hour before polls close is going to disenfranchise some voters. Mayor Muriel Bowser said during her Tuesday press conference that she was not concerned that the curfew would suppress voters who are scared of police confrontation after last night seeing as they have all day to go to the polls. 

Nervous about voting after curfew? A few ANC commissioners are willing to escort individuals to the polls, including Evan Yeats with ANC 4B and Robb Hudson with ANC 1B. Yeats says to reach out via Twitter. 

Vote centers are open now until 8 p.m. Here are the locations for each one. Remember, you have to wear a mask if you are going to these centers, seeing as the risk of contracting COVID-19 is still very real. If you don’t have a face covering, you should be given one at the polls. 

Voting by mail instead? Make sure that that your absentee ballot is postmarked today, June 2, when you mail it in so your vote counts. If you did not get your mail-in ballot, At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silvermanis helping individuals get them. You can request a PDF ballot by emailing alaso@dcboe.org, and cc-ing esilverman@dccouncil.us. 

There are competitive races in Ward 2, Ward 4, Ward 7, and Ward 8. Curious to read up on the candidates before voting? Read City Paper’s election guide. —Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)

CITY DESK LINKS, by Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • At a press conference, Mayor Muriel Bowser repeatedly said tonight’s 7 p.m. curfew stands despite calls from several councilmembers to call it off. Whether it extends to tomorrow night is TBD. Police ChiefPeter Newsham said over 300 arrests were made last night, a majority of which were for violating the curfew. [Twitter]

  • D.C. reported two deaths related to COVID-19 and 29 new positive cases, bringing the total number of deaths and cases as of June 1 to 470 and 8,886, respectively. DC Health reported a two-day decrease in community spread after the city moved to Phase 1. [EOM] 

  • Federal law enforcement militarizes D.C. Apparently, feds have a lot of control over police in our city. [Post, WAMU]

  • D.C. police in riot gear force protesters to seek refuge in a man’s Dupont Circle home, where they were trapped until the morning and the 7 p.m. curfew was over. [DCist]

  • D.C. ranks in the bottom quintile of a new Save the Children childhood report. [WCP]

 

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • WAMU heard from young black voters casting their ballots for the first time. [WAMU]

  • Cops used teargas and rubber bullets to clear the way for Trump’s photo-op in front of a church. [DCist]

  • Prosecutors dropped most rioting charges. [Post]

  • D.C. elected officials’ reactions to the protests, the curfew, and the president.

  • Mayor Muriel Bowser: “Shameful!” [Twitter]

  • Chairman Phil Mendelson: “The President’s comments are disgusting.” [Twitter] 

  • Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau: “No thanks. DC can handle its own business.” [Twitter]

  • Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd: “At a time when we need unity, healing, and leadership, the Presidents actions are abhorrent.” [Twitter]

  • Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie: “The killing of George Floyd demands justice not a morally bankrupt president who takes pride in inflaming racial tensions…” [Twitter]

  • Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen: “Armed Border Patrol headed to DC Streets. They’re not keeping DC safe; they’re putting DC lives at risk…” [Twitter]

  • Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White: “The racist system that this country has consistently demonstrated to Black People is criminal in itself. [Instagram]

  • At-Large Councilmember Robert White: “This is not leadership. This is racism. This is cruel.” [Twitter]

  • At-Large Councilmember David Grosso: “[The curfew] will violate first amendment rights and result in unnecessary arrest records.” [Twitter]

  • At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds: “Weeding out instigators, bigots, looters & those doing harm requires new world order. Remain calm, take care, be safe.” [Twitter]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Laura Hayes (tips? lhayes@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Critic Tim Carman reviews Open Crumb in Anacostia. [Post]

  • Flying Doglikely won’t reopen its tasting room until 2021. [WBJ]

ARTS LINKS, by Kayla Randall (tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Through virtual galleries and emails, Zenith Gallery is using art to reach people at home. [WCP]

  • Old Town, Alexandria’s Confederate statue has been removed. [Washingtonian]

  • Jason Reynolds, local author and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature at the Library of Congress, speaks about racism and protesting. [Kojo Nnamdi Show] 

SPORTS LINKS, by Kelyn Soong (tips? ksoong@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA champion Wes Unseld, who spent his entire career with the Washington Wizards franchise,has died at age 74 after lengthy health battles, including pneumonia. [AP, Twitter]

  • The Nats reversed course on their proposed pay cut for minor leaguers after public outcry and an announcement from the Nats players, led by Sean Doolittle, that the players would be committing funds for the lost wages. [Yahoo]

  • ESPN will dedicate four hours of TV programming to Maryland basketball legend Len Biastonight starting at 7 p.m. June 19 will mark the 34th anniversary of Bias’ death. [SI]

  • D.C. Lottery’s sports betting app got off to a rocky start. [Post]

  • “Buildings can be rebuilt. Lost lives cannot.” Maddie Watkins, the owner of the fitness gym 202 Strong showed solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protest after the gym’s storefront was broken. [Washingtonian] 

CITY LIGHTS, by Emma Sarappo (Love this section? Get the full newsletter here. Tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

We’re bringing you the best things to watch, read, make, and do from the comfort of your home while social distancing.

  • After another night of protests over police brutality against black people, turn to Loyalty Bookstores’ anti-racist reading list to understand the full context of race and racism in America. 

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