Capitol fences highlight delicate dance over safety, access
In this Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021 photo, riot fencing and razor wire reinforce the security zone on Capitol Hill in Washington. “DC does not support it,” said Councilmember Charles Allen, whose district includes the Capitol Hill neighborhood. AdRep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., said on Twitter, “I believe we can keep Members, press, staff, my constituents, and all those who work here safe without walling off the symbol of our democracy. The grounds of the Capitol attract crowds for public events, daily exercise, even intimate moments. Of course, the plaza and the adjacent Lafayette Park also have been closed since the summer, blocked by fences similar to those at the Capitol.
DC mayor caught between activists, police in funding battle
FILE - In this June 16, 2020, file photo District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser wears a mask with the number 51 over a map of the District of Columbia during a news conference on D.C. statehood on Capitol Hill in Washington. Bowser must pull off a public juggling act as the city budget becomes a battleground for the country's debate on overhauling law enforcement. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
DC mayor caught between activists, police in funding battle
An activist collective led by Black Lives Matter is trying to capitalize on shifting public opinion, and the demands include major cuts in funding for the Metropolitan Police Department. Would you trust Mayor Bowser to keep Washington safe if she were given the powers of a governor? Bowser responded by renaming the protest epicenter, within sight of the White House, as Black Lives Matter Plaza. Were here in the streets because we already know we matter.April Goggans, a core organizer with Black Lives Matter DC, rejected Bowser's moves as taking advantage of national attention, and added, She would never even say the words Black Lives Matter until recently." Black Lives Matter is very critical of police.