A Virginia man charged with planting pipe bombs near the RNC and DNC headquarters on Jan. 5, 2021 is asking a judge to dismiss his case, arguing he should be covered by the 47th president’s mass pardon of Jan. 6 insurrectionists. His attorneys point to precedent from the commuted sentence of Oath Keepers member Kenneth Harrelson and argue that preparatory acts tied to Jan. 6 fall within the scope of clemency.
Tag: U.S. Capitol
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks joins leaders from the Black Women’s Roundtable to champion voting rights
U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and leaders from the Black Women’s Roundtable convened at the U.S. Capitol to denounce the SAVE America Act, arguing that its strict citizenship documentation requirements would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. The group is pivoting toward a national mobilization effort to counter these restrictive measures while demanding that Congress instead prioritize the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to safeguard ballot access ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Posted inNational News
Nobel Institute says Venezuelan leader Machado can’t give Peace Prize to US president
The Norwegian Nobel Institute said Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado cannot transfer or share her Nobel Peace Prize with the 47th U.S. president, emphasizing that Nobel decisions are final and permanent. The clarification followed Machado’s public gesture of presenting her medal to the U.S. leader as thanks for his role in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, a move the institute said has no legal standing under Nobel rules.
Posted inNational News
Statue of Barbara Rose Johns, Virginia civil rights activist, replaces Robert E. Lee statue in the U.S. Capitol
Virginia officially replaced its statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in the U.S. Capitol with a statue honoring Barbara Rose Johns, the teenage civil rights activist whose 1951 student-led protest against segregated schools helped spark the legal fight that culminated in Brown v. Board of Education. The dedication marked a historic moment, recognizing Johns as one of only four Black women represented by statues in the Capitol and symbolizing a broader shift away from honoring Confederate figures toward celebrating champions of justice and equality.
Posted inUncategorized
Descendants of Harlem Hellfighters reflect on long-overdue honor for Black WWI heroes
The Harlem Hellfighters, an all-Black regiment in World War I, spent nearly 200 days in combat facing both the enemy and systemic racism at home. More than a century later, their descendants accepted a long-overdue Congressional Gold Medal, honoring their courage and resilience.
Posted inPrince George's County News
Glenn Ivey’s balancing act: A congressman, a husband, a father
Rep. Glenn Ivey, a devoted father and husband, has managed to strike a rare balance between life on Capitol Hill and the responsibilities of raising a family. With a home just miles from Congress, Ivey’s proximity allows him to stay present, even as his schedule demands near-constant attention to work. His story is one of adaptation, shared sacrifice and the powerful example of a Black political family living their values both publicly and privately.
Posted inPolitics
Congressional Black Caucus members condemn Republican redistricting as threat to Black representation
Congressional Black Caucus members slammed recent Republican redistricting plans as an attack on Black voters’ power. Lawmakers vowed to challenge the new maps in court and mobilize public opposition to protect their districts.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
DC unemployment rate is the highest in the US for the third straight month
Washington, D.C.’s unemployment rate climbed to 6 percent in July — the highest in the nation for the third consecutive month — fueled by mass federal worker layoffs under President Trump’s workforce cuts and a sharp decline in international tourism. Economists warn the trend could worsen racial disparities in employment and strain the city’s economy.
Posted inWord In Black
Not all insurrections are equal
The debate over what to call the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol continues, with some calling it an insurrection and others a legitimate political discourse, while acknowledging the history of Black rebellions and insurrections in the U.S.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Kamala Harris draws 75,000 at D.C. rally, pledges ‘we won’t go back’
Kamala Harris delivered a historic closing argument to over 75,000 people at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., emphasizing her commitment to uniting the country and fighting for common ground and common-sense solutions.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Members of Congress host forum to strengthen economic ties between the U.S., Africa and Caribbean nations
U.S. lawmakers hosted “Africa Diaspora Day on the Hill” to strengthen ties with African and Caribbean nations, discussing trade agreements, women’s leadership, and innovation.
Posted inNational News
Little Rock Nine activist Daisy Bates to be honored with statue in U.S. Capitol
A statue of civil rights activist Daisy Gatson Bates will be unveiled at the U.S. Capitol on May 8 to honor her legacy of helping desegregate schools in Arkansas as part of the Little Rock Nine.