THE NEWS:
Thousands, if not tens of thousands, are gathering at the National Mall for a civil rights rally and march timed to the 57th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington, where he delivered his groundbreaking “I Have A Dream” speech.
Led by Rev. Al Sharpton, who was joined by families of Black people killed by police along with King’s eldest son, Martin Luther King III, the Friday demonstration began at 11 a.m., with various speakers expected to address the crowd at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The march to Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Looking for a bathroom while you are in downtown? You can find a handy map HERE. Can’t be there in person? Watch the livestream HERE.
The march follows the end of the Republican National Convention, where President Donald Trump delivered his acceptance speech on the South Lawn of the White House and convened a fireworks show at the Mall. The sounds of protests at Black Lives Matter Plaza could be heard as Trump delivered his speech. It was an extraordinary scene. There was dancing and even basketball.
As it got later, there were confrontations between protesters and police. At one point, a video captured by a Boston Globe writer shows a White police officer aggressively chasing a Black protester so he could detain him. Moments earlier, the protester is seen slapping a counter protester in blackface. The officer looked to be trying to protect the counter protester, who was clearly there trying to provoke protesters. Protesters also crowded Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), shouting “No Justice, No Peace,” so Metropolitan Police Department officers had to escort him and his family away from the scene. He thanked MPD on Twitter, and its union returned the favor.
Here are a few photos of last night:
—Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)
CITY DESK LINKS, by Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)
As of Aug. 28, D.C. reported no new deaths related to COVID-19 but 57 new positive cases. The total number of infections is 13,851. D.C. has seen an average of 55 cases per day over the past week, a decrease of 24 percent from the average two weeks earlier. [EOM]
Here is why Black men in D.C. are expected to die 17 years earlier than White men. [Post]
Affordable housing landlords say more of their tenants are struggling to pay rent and requested a break, as coronavirus pandemic drags on. [WBJ]
LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com)
D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine is suing Instacart over sales taxes and deceptive fees. [WAMU]
ICYMI: Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration is looking to cut costs in a reshuffling of Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands of D.C. residents. [Post]
Gov. Larry Hogan OK’d at least partial in-person classes for all school systems in Maryland. [DCist]
Bowser is on the Politics Hour today talking about the DNC, schools, and police reform. [Kojo]
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)
Despites its many flaws, Bill & Ted Face the Music is a blast from the past, says our critic. [WCP]
U Street’s Twins Jazz is closing permanently. [DCist]
A new book details the interior design and decor of the Obama White House. [Washingtonian]
SPORTS LINKS, by Kelyn Soong (tips? ksoong@washingtoncitypaper.com)
Nationals manager Dave Martinez and infielder Josh Harrison expressed a need for change in society as a reason why the team decided to sit out yesterday’s game against the Phillies, joining other teams and leagues around the country that have done the same to protest racial injustice. “We’ve got to speak up,” Martinez said. “We’ve got to change, and we’ve got to change now. [Federal Baseball]
The Mystics return to the court tonight after becoming one of the first teams on Wednesday to go on strike. [Bullets Forever]
Lawyers representing former employees of the Washington Football Team believe that the NFL should suspend Dan Snyder after the Post reported more allegations of abuse and mistreatment during the ex-employees’ time with the organization. [ESPN]
ICYMI: A look inside the world of trick shot tennis, which local high school coach Logan West has dived into recently. [WCP]
CITY LIGHTS, by Emma Sarappo (Love this section? Get the full newsletter here. Tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)
Tonight and tomorrow, the National Museum of the American Indian is screening a documentary on the Washington NFL team’s name, More Than a Word.
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