WINNER OF THREE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS D.C. AWARDS Spelling Superstar Zaila Avant-Garde Page 30 Vol. 56, No. 39 • July 15 - 21, 2021
Rev. William Barber III Debuts ‘Moral Mondays’ Initiative on Steps of Supreme Court Poor People’s Campaign to Engineer Weekly Voting Rights Rallies Through Aug. 6 Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer
5 The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber III, held the first Moral Monday protest on July 12 and announced the schedule of protests for the Poor People`s Campaign being held through August 8 in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. (Roy Lewis/The Washington Informer)
For the next few weeks, a multi-ethnic coalition of activists, labor organizers and religious leaders will engage elected officials and promote the passage of federal legislation which fully protects voting rights, boosts the minimum wage and abolishes a legislative tool used to protect racist policies. The “Season of Nonviolent Moral Direct Action to Save Our
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School Neighborhood Safety Advocates Ready for New School Year
Ward 7 Democrats Play to a Draw in Kickball Against Ward 8 Counterparts
Sam P.K.Collins WI Contributing Writer
James Wright WI Staff Writer
A friendly game of kickball ended in a 6-6 tie, on July 10 between Ward 7 Democrats and their Ward 8 colleagues to strengthen ties between the political clubs and compete for bragging rights, while registering voters. The clubs met at Oxon Run Park in Ward 8. The Ward 7 Democrats wore bright yellow t-shirts with a blue number “7” on the front and back. Members of the Ward 8 Democrats team wore individual athletic wear. D.C. Democratic State Committee Chairman Charles Wilson, a Ward 8 resident, attended the game and expressed satisfaction about the two clubs playing
Democracy,” debuted Monday with a rally on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court under the auspices of The Poor People’s Campaign. Much to the chagrin of The Rev. William J. Barber II and others, the Supreme Court recently upheld voting restrictions passed by the Arizona legislation that allegedly weakened the Voting Rights Act. Barber serves as co-chair for The
5 D.C. Councilmember Trayon White delivers a pep talk to Ward 8
KICKBALL Page 38 Democrats playing kickball. (Photo by James Wright)
In her FY 2022 budget proposal, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) calls for money for an enhanced Safe Passage program to provide a microtransit system for students who live east of the Anacostia River. Under the proposal more than 200 adults associated with more than 40 District schools would help guide students in their daily commutes. With the fiscal year starting in October however, the enhanced program wouldn’t start until next
January – much to the chagrin of student safety advocates. In response, members of a State Board of Education (SBOE) committee have called on District leaders to provide resources that could get the enhanced Safe Passage program started as early as August. “We want students to feel safe on the first day of school. I don’t think it’s intentional [but] our city leaders get stuck into the government timeline that doesn’t align with our school schedule,” said
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