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NATIONAL publican Senator. Gallego had replied to Sen. Cruz, whose comments following the May 24 massacre only served to upset many on social media Cruz, who will serve as keynote speaker at a pro-gun event in Texas this week, rebuked calls for changing gun laws. “We know from past experience that the most effective tool for keeping kids safe is armed law enforcement on the campus,” Cruz stated. Later, a video surfaced of former Democratic Congressman Beto O’Rourke crashing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s press conference about the shooting. “Let him speak,” some in the Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer auditorium chanted at Abbot’s security detail, who escorted O’Rourke out of the room. The former As adults grapple with talking to their children about the latest school massacre where 19 elementary school students and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, congressman, running against Abbott, attempted to challenge the governor about his controversial laws that allows just about anyone in Texas to carry a gun without a permit or background check. “This is totally predictable,” O’Rourke stated. “This is after El Paso and you are doing nothing. This is on you until you choose to do something.” After Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin railed against reporters and rebuked questions about getting rid of the filibuster to pass gun legislation, fellow Democrat Nina Turner, who lost her Congressional bid earlier this month, took him to task. “Joe Manchin says he’ll do
Politicians Take off Gloves with Expletive-filled Rants After School Shooting
were shot and killed by a crazed gunman, finger-pointing among members of Congress appear to have reached its zenith. “Just be clear, f— you [Ted Cruz], you f—ing baby killer,” Arizona Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego tweeted at the Re-
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5 Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego. (Official photo)
anything to get gun legislation passed, then clarifies that he won’t eliminate the filibuster to do so,” Turner observed. “Not only is it something he can do but he did also do to pass the military budget in December. Priorities.”
When Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert tweeted that “you can’t legislate evil away,” Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez quickly fired back.
“Why even be in Congress if you don’t believe in doing your
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job? Just quit and let someone who actually gives a damn do it instead of acting like a useless piece of furniture when babies are shot with AR15s. We let teen boys impulse buy before they can legally have a beer,” Ocasio-Cortez replied.
Twitter users littered their timelines with photos of Boebert and the congresswoman’s family, including young children, displaying automatic weapons.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden reflected on the victims.
“I’ve spent my career working to pass common-sense gun laws. We know that mass shootings went down when we passed the assault weapons ban. We know that gun manufacturers have spent two decades marketing assault weapons, making them the largest profit. We must have the courage to stand up to the industry and the lobbies.”
“It’s time to turn this pain into action for every parent and every citizen of this country. We have to make it clear to every elected official in this country that it’s time to act. It’s time for those who obstructed the way, who have blocked the common-sense gun laws, to know we will not forget,” Biden said. WI
Cheh, Norton on Russia’s No-Visitation List
James Wright WI Staff Writer
The Russian government recently released a list of 963 Americans no longer allowed to visit the country with two D.C. residents – one serving on the local legislative body and the other representing the District in the U.S. Congress – among the names.
D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) and D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton have been banned from traveling to Russia by the presidential administration of Vladimir Putin. When Cheh learned she had been blacklisted by the Russians, she expressed surprise.
“Somebody texted me and said, ‘congratulations for being on Putin’s hit list,’” said Cheh, who has represented Ward 3 on the council since 2007, WTOP reported.
The list became public on May 21 and largely had national figures including President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, as well as congressional leaders like Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (D-Calif.).
In addition to Norton, dozens of members of the Congressional Black Caucus count among those listed: House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Kwesi Mfume D-Md.) and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.).
District residents with jobs in the Biden administration such as Susan Rice, director of the Domestic Policy Council of the United States, and Reta Jo Lewis, president and chair of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, are also listed.
Cheh speculated her listing has to do with her advocacy for Boris Nemtsov, a pro-democracy activist in Russia. Nemtsov died of fatal gunshots in Moscow in 2015. The councilmember said Nemtsov protested Russia’s then aggression against Ukraine at an event and “days later he was assassinated.” Cheh led the effort on the council to rename a portion of Wisconsin Avenue NW in front of the Russian embassy after the slain activist. She said when flowers or other mementos would be placed in front of the embassy in Nemtsov’s honor, they quickly disappeared. The council officially renamed that portion of the avenue, Boris Nemtsov Plaza, in January 2018.
Cheh, who will retire from council service in January, said she has no plans to visit Russia.
“I am one of the members of Congress, along with some administration officials, pleased to be on it,” said Norton, a member of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. “It shows the role Congress is playing in helping our friends against Russia’s inhumane interference.” WI @JamesWrightJr10
5 D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton. (WI File Photo/Anthony Tilghman)
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New Grant Promises to Boost Digital Literacy through Intergenerational Relationships
Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer
The COVID pandemic has shed light on a technological divide that has, in part, prevented segments of the U.S. population from accessing opportunities.
That’s why organizations across the country, with the financial backing of Centri Tech Foundation, will take the mantle in addressing this issue over the next few months.
In the District, a group of young people will spend the summer gaining the tools needed to teach elders at Martha’s Table how to navigate the internet and tend to daily tasks on digital platforms. These GenZers, who are affiliates of Urban Alliance, will acquire their knowledge from Byte Back, a well-regarded adult tech education program.
“We’re identifying 15 caretakers and 15 young people between 10 and 18 years old who will participate in the pilot program,” said Joe Paul, CEO of Byte Back as he explained what’s known as the 360 Digital Navigators Program.
Though people over the age of 65 remain less likely to use the internet than their younger counterparts, that gap has been narrowing over the last few years with elders’ embrace of mobile apps. During the pandemic, elders used video conferencing apps to tend to their health needs and maintain contact with loved ones. Some elders even established a social media presence to join online communities centered on their interests.
All the while, nonprofits like Centri Tech Foundation have focused on increasing digital literacy among working-age people and helping elders better access online resources. In carrying out this mission, Centri Tech Foundation spent more than a year cultivating relationships with people and organizations dedicated to helping communities become more digitally advanced.
In its first year, the nonprofit’s Digital Integrators Pilot Program has awarded more than $195,000 in innovation grants to digital equity organizations in the District, Boston, Detroit, New York and Pennsylvania.
“If it’s in your mission to connect people to greater economic opportunities, you can’t do it without ad-
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