National Park Service signage vows to clear McPherson Square homeless camp by mid-April
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One Whole Year of the #VelshiBannedBookClub
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Rep. Plaskett: We’ll be a “truth squad” on Congress’ new Weaponization Committee
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One Whole Year of the #VelshiBannedBookClub One year ago, when the concept for the #VelshiBannedBookClub was born, we began to compile our own list of banned literature to feature -- including titles many viewer suggestions, like the modern classic “A Handmaid’s Tale” and the perennially taught “To Kill a Mockingbird” – and noticed an alarming pattern. The books that are most frequently targeted for ban shared the same three topics: sexual identity, racism in America, and women’s bodily autonomy including sexual assault and rape. And throughout the year, the bans have only grown. And it’s the next generation that will pay the price. They are being left without a safe way to understand themselves and the world around them. They won’t have Melinda from “Speak” to lead them through the searing pain of sexual assault, or Dante from “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” to join them with an all-encompassing first love, or Nikole Hannah-Jones “The 1619 Project” to explore Black legacy in America. A year ago, our thesis was “censorship is never okay”. And that still remains. But today, after speaking with so many authors and reading so many of these villainized books, the #VelshiBannedBookClub has become a form of resistance. MSNBC
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Amb. Bill Taylor: “The Russians don’t know why they’re fighting” In his remarks marking the 80th Anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis at the Battle of Stalingrad, Vladimir Putin twisted reality and gave a warped version of events, saying his war of conquest in Ukraine is a continuation of the Soviet defense of Stalingrad. The dark irony being that, in Russia’s present war, Ukraine is making the mighty defense, and Russia is playing the part of the inhumane invaders. “Ukrainians, like the defenders at Stalingrad - the ironies are amazing. The defenders of their own nation, of their own country, of their own city, of their own community - they win. They’re determined. They know why they’re fighting.” MSNBC
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Rep. Plaskett: We’ll be a “truth squad” on Congress’ new Weaponization Committee Rep. Stacey Plaskett has been appointed as the top Democrat on the GOP’s new Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. Republicans have tried to make comparisons to the Church Committee, one of the most well-respected and influential committees in the history of Congress. But critics – including former aides who worked on the Church Committee – say it isn’t so. “What they’re interested in doing is chasing down rainbow conspiracies and far right fearmongering to their base,” Plaskett tells Ali Velshi. Democrats have the responsibility to be “the truth squad,” says Rep. Plaskett. MSNBC
McPherson Square, two blocks northeast of the White House, continues to be a tent city.
"There's a lot of drama that goes on here at nighttime," resident Bernice Norman told 7News.
Norman, an Arkansas native, has lived in the square for around four months. She took us to her tent, one of at least 70 tents that 7News counted Tuesday night.
"It's not a safe place. You're out in the open. You're not in a house or in a facility with doors where you can have a shower with running water and all that," she said.
The National Park Service has previously stated it plans to clear all homeless camps that are on NPS land in D.C. by the end of 2023. Signs indicate the NPS will address McPherson Square by mid-April.
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"I feel, personally, that human beings should have a place to call home," said Dina Kareem, who walks through McPherson Square three times a week on her way to evening classes. The situation, which many people have complained about, does not bother Kareem too much.
"If there is an interaction with a person here, it's been pleasant. 'Have a good day' or 'how are you doing?' I've never had any bad encounters with anyone here," Kareem added.
Dozens of ducks, and no shortage of rats, roam around the square, likely due to the abundance of unsecured food.
"I wouldn't consider myself homeless, I would consider myself stuck," said Norman, who wonders where her dozens of tent neighbors will go should the NPS keep to its word.
"Some of them have friends, some of them have families, some of them don't. Some of them might go to a shelter. Some of them might go to a hospital. Some of them might go to jail."
7News contacted the office of DC Councilwoman Brooke Pinto (D-Ward 2) seeking comment. Pinto's ward covers Downtown D.C. A staffer told 7News the councilwoman was unavailable due to several evening meetings.
