This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareProtesters arriving in the nation’s capital for the ninth consecutive day of demonstrations found the White House encircled by more than a mile of tall metal fencing.The previous day, work crews had erected enough fencing — reinforced by white concrete barriers — to bar entry to Lafayette Square and to outline half of the Ellipse, the sloping green lawn that abuts the executive residence. But between Friday night and Saturday afternoon — on a day expected to draw tens of thousands to protest in the District — they added...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareProtesters arriving in the nation’s capital for the ninth consecutive day of demonstrations found the White House encircled by more than a mile of tall metal fencing.The previous day, work crews had erected enough fencing — reinforced by white concrete barriers — to bar entry to Lafayette Square and to outline half of the Ellipse, the sloping green lawn that abuts the executive residence. But between Friday night and Saturday afternoon — on a day expected to draw tens of thousands to protest in the District — they added...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAcknowledging that their voice had been missing, the Washington region’s faith community stood front and center Sunday as thousands of protesters again converged in the nation’s capital in the 10th straight day of protests against racism and police brutality.After Saturday’s demonstration in the District drew more than 10,000 participants — the biggest crowd since protests in the city began May 29 — Sunday brought still more peaceful mass gatherings, underscored by the presence of Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) marching...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAcknowledging that their voice had been missing, the Washington region’s faith community stood front and center Sunday as thousands of protesters again converged in the nation’s capital in the 10th straight day of protests against racism and police brutality.After Saturday’s demonstration in the District drew more than 10,000 participants — the biggest crowd since protests in the city began May 29 — Sunday brought still more peaceful mass gatherings, underscored by the presence of Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) marching...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareCaesar Junker said he was heading out for a nighttime bite of pizza on Sunday when he saw them: more than 100 people in hoodies looting stores with abandon all along M Street, just around the corner from the Georgetown house where he has lived for 30 years.Junker, a sports medicine doctor and a colonel in the Air Force, spotted police standing nearby, watching but doing nothing. He took out his phone and began filming, not necessarily intending to intervene, but lost his temper when the vandals began targeting Sebago, a...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareCaesar Junker said he was heading out for a nighttime bite of pizza on Sunday when he saw them: more than 100 people in hoodies looting stores with abandon all along M Street, just around the corner from the Georgetown house where he has lived for 30 years.Junker, a sports medicine doctor and a colonel in the Air Force, spotted police standing nearby, watching but doing nothing. He took out his phone and began filming, not necessarily intending to intervene, but lost his temper when the vandals began targeting Sebago, a...WW…

Local As the country moves to reopen, Americans weigh necessity, fear and longing By The Georgetown professor was groggy, still tucked under her comforter when her research began. Robin Dillon-Merrill reached for her phone at 7 a.m., thumbed the screen and refreshed the death toll once again. She checked the Monday morning news, where government officials were debating and protesters were demanding the “reopening” of the country. Her job is to study the choices people make during times of uncertainty, and here was another week in the most uncertain time of all, when everyone, every day, is...…Local As the country moves to reopen, Americans weigh necessity, fear and longing By The Georgetown professor was groggy, still tucked under her comforter when her research began. Robin Dillon-Merrill reached for her phone at 7 a.m., thumbed the screen and refreshed the death toll once again. She checked the Monday morning news, where government officials were debating and protesters were demanding the “reopening” of the country. Her job is to study the choices people make during times of uncertainty, and here was another week in the most uncertain time of all, when everyone, every day, is...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoGift ShareThe politician she revered above all others had lost an election. She’d struggled with crippling amounts of debt. Her home state of California was locking down again because of a virus she believed was fiction.As she walked east along the Mall on Wednesday, wearing a backpack emblazoned with the American flag, Ashli Babbitt was elated.“It was amazing to get to see the president talk,” Babbitt said, beaming in a video she streamed on Facebook early Wednesday afternoon that was later published by . “We are now walking down the...…This article was published more than 2 years agoGift ShareThe politician she revered above all others had lost an election. She’d struggled with crippling amounts of debt. Her home state of California was locking down again because of a virus she believed was fiction.As she walked east along the Mall on Wednesday, wearing a backpack emblazoned with the American flag, Ashli Babbitt was elated.“It was amazing to get to see the president talk,” Babbitt said, beaming in a video she streamed on Facebook early Wednesday afternoon that was later published by . “We are now walking down the...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareNew York City on Friday announced major changes to how thousands of students are assigned to middle schools, replacing a merit-based system that critics say exacerbated segregation with a lottery that is expected to create more diversity at the most sought-after schools.The move was driven by the coronavirus pandemic, because tests typically used for admissions were not administered last spring. Selective high schools in D.C., and have also jettisoned admissions tests for the coming academic year, citing the crisis....…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareNew York City on Friday announced major changes to how thousands of students are assigned to middle schools, replacing a merit-based system that critics say exacerbated segregation with a lottery that is expected to create more diversity at the most sought-after schools.The move was driven by the coronavirus pandemic, because tests typically used for admissions were not administered last spring. Selective high schools in D.C., and have also jettisoned admissions tests for the coming academic year, citing the crisis....WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThis article is free to access.Why?The Washington Post is providing this news free to all readers as a public service.Follow this story and more by State officials and mayors critical of the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic began imposing the most severe emergency measures to date on Sunday, with four governors effectively forcing restaurants, bars or other businesses to shut their doors.As the country braced for its first full week of widespread school and business closures, President Trump and other...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThis article is free to access.Why?The Washington Post is providing this news free to all readers as a public service.Follow this story and more by State officials and mayors critical of the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic began imposing the most severe emergency measures to date on Sunday, with four governors effectively forcing restaurants, bars or other businesses to shut their doors.As the country braced for its first full week of widespread school and business closures, President Trump and other...WW…

This article was published more than 3 years agoCommentGift ShareThe two most ruthless domestic slave traders in America had a secret language for their business.Slave trading was a “game.” The men, Isaac Franklin and John Armfield, were daring “pirates” or “one-eyed men,” a euphemism for their penises. The women they bought and sold were “fancy maids,” a term signifying youth, beauty and potential for sexual exploitation — by buyers or the traders themselves.happened often.“To my certain knowledge she has been used & that smartly by a one eyed man about my size and age, excuse my...…This article was published more than 3 years agoCommentGift ShareThe two most ruthless domestic slave traders in America had a secret language for their business.Slave trading was a “game.” The men, Isaac Franklin and John Armfield, were daring “pirates” or “one-eyed men,” a euphemism for their penises. The women they bought and sold were “fancy maids,” a term signifying youth, beauty and potential for sexual exploitation — by buyers or the traders themselves.happened often.“To my certain knowledge she has been used & that smartly by a one eyed man about my size and age, excuse my...WW…

CommentGift ShareDuring his campaign, Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin (R) , even promising to alter the admissions system at one specific high school: the vaunted Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.Youngkin told The Washington Post this fall that he wants to undo recent revisions to the admissions process at the school, a prestigious magnet STEM institution in Fairfax County known as TJ. The changes, including the elimination of a notoriously difficult admissions test, were meant to boost diversity at the school, which has historically enrolled very few Black and...…CommentGift ShareDuring his campaign, Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin (R) , even promising to alter the admissions system at one specific high school: the vaunted Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.Youngkin told The Washington Post this fall that he wants to undo recent revisions to the admissions process at the school, a prestigious magnet STEM institution in Fairfax County known as TJ. The changes, including the elimination of a notoriously difficult admissions test, were meant to boost diversity at the school, which has historically enrolled very few Black and...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareReligious leaders in Northern Virginia are criticizing the Fairfax County Public School board after some members signaled that they won’t back a task force’s recommendation to add four religious holidays to the school calendar.A board-appointed task force has called for giving students four additional days off to observe Jewish holidays Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Hindu festival Diwali and the Muslim celebration Eid al-Fitr. The school system currently gives its 186,000 students nine days off for holidays each...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareReligious leaders in Northern Virginia are criticizing the Fairfax County Public School board after some members signaled that they won’t back a task force’s recommendation to add four religious holidays to the school calendar.A board-appointed task force has called for giving students four additional days off to observe Jewish holidays Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Hindu festival Diwali and the Muslim celebration Eid al-Fitr. The school system currently gives its 186,000 students nine days off for holidays each...WW…