Washington, D.C
George Washington University president seeks support from DC over ‘illegal’ protest – Washington Examiner
The president of George Washington University is seeking assistance from local law enforcement as the university attempts to handle the pro-Palestinian encampment on campus.
Ellen M. Granberg, the president of the university, described the encampment as “an illegal and potentially dangerous occupation of GW property,” in a new statement issued on Sunday.
“When protesters overrun barriers established to protect the community, vandalize a university statue and flag, surround and intimidate GW students with antisemitic images and hateful rhetoric, chase people out of a public yard based on their perceived beliefs, and ignore, degrade, and push GW Police Officers and university maintenance staff, the protest ceases to be peaceful or productive,” Granberg said.
The university has “requested the assistance of the DC Metropolitan Police Department, erected barriers to contain the protest, initiated academic and administrative consequences for trespassing GW students, expanded our security resources and personnel, and conducted regular and sustained dialogues with GW students connected to the camp,” she said.
Granberg explained that the university is “not equipped to single-handedly manage an unprecedented situation such as this.” Granberg also confirmed that the school is in communication with D.C. and the Metropolitan police, who are providing “an increased security presence on and around University Yard.”
“I understand and fully share the deep concern many feel about the status of the protest. Many are frustrated that it is continuing; some are willing for it to proceed indefinitely. At GW, our commitment remains to regain and maintain the safety and security of University Yard, pursue accountability for those who have destroyed university property and harassed our community, and return our university to normal operations,” Granberg said.
She continued, “This includes, of course, allowing and promoting the free exercise of various viewpoints and means of expression by members of our community within the limits of university policies. We continue to ask for the full support of our partners, including the District of Columbia, in pursuing these aims.”
The university is far from the only one struggling with how to respond to these anti-Israel encampments that have popped up at several colleges nationwide. The protesters have sought to get their universities to meet their demands, which largely include divesting from any weapons manufacturers, Israel, and any company that has ties with Israel.
There have been instances at these encampments where pro-Palestinian protesters have espoused anti-semitism. Between that and some instances of violence and confrontations between them and pro-Israel counter-protesters, it has made university administrators wary of letting the encampments continue.
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There have been instances, as well, where university officials have sought law enforcement’s assistance in clearing the encampments, but it has at times resulted in violence as well. At least 25 people were arrested on Saturday at the University of Virginia, according to the New York Times.
Northwestern University announced last week that it reached an agreement with protesters, which, among other things, reestablishes the Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility with student, faculty, and staff representation. Brown University announced on Tuesday that it would hold a vote on whether to divest from Israel in October, in exchange for the end of the protesters’ encampment.
Multiple political and university leaders, including Granberg, have alleged that outsider agitators have gotten involved in the protests.
Washington, D.C
Jeff Landry headed to D.C. for talks on Greenland as his invitation to the island’s dog sledding race is in peril
Washington, D.C
Suspected National Guard shooter due back in court on two new charges
WASHINGTON – A deadly shooting case with ties to the National Guard and the White House is heading back to court, and prosecutors have now expanded the charges.
FOX 5’s Maureen Umeh reports this is one of the District’s highest profile cases, and the man accused in the ambush is expected to appear before a judge on Thursday.
What we know:
Prosecutors have added two new counts, and the hearing could help shape the direction of the case as it moves forward in federal court.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal is accused of opening fire on two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House the day before Thanksgiving. Prosecutors have now added two counts of assault with intent to kill, tied to the National Guard member who tackled and subdued him after the shooting.
READ MORE: Who is Rahmanullah Lakanwal? Afghan national accused of shooting 2 National Guard in DC
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom was killed. Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was critically injured and continues to recover.
Lakanwal now faces first degree murder while armed, multiple assault charges, and several weapons offenses. Federal prosecutors say they are aggressively pursuing the case and note that nothing is off the table, including whether to seek the death penalty, one reason the case is now being handled at the federal level.
The indictment includes nine criminal counts. Lakanwal has pleaded not guilty to the initial charges.
READ MORE: Two new charges for alleged gunman in National Guard shooting
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Associated Press and previous FOX 5 reporting.
Washington, D.C
D.C. set to receive $200M in federal funds
The House and Senate appropriations committees included almost $200 million in the first draft of an upcoming appropriations bill, which, if approved by Congress, would fund D.C. programs including school choice, college tuition, HIV prevention, clean rivers and police overtime.
If approved, $90 million would reimburse the District government for the cost of providing police and other support at events like large protests, state funerals and the upcoming 250 birthday celebration of the country.
While the Bowser administration is happy with the funding, the mayor sent a letter to Congress asking for an additional $10 million to offset the added costs to D.C. taxpayers for the federal surge, writing, “This higher funding level is also essential to support the ongoing federal law enforcement surge and the associated increased costs to the Metropolitan Police Department, including MPD’s work to coordinate with federal agencies, facilitate National Guard deployments, and sustain police overtime required to support the surge.”
There is also $40 million to fund D.C. tuition assistance grants, which help offset the cost of college tuition for D.C. high school grads. If approved, the funds would allow D.C. to increase the amount students could qualify for each year from $10,000 to $15,000 and boost the lifetime cap from $50,000 to $75,000.
“Which is a huge amount of money for families, and that’s going to help us help more of our residents on their pathway to getting degrees,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser’s chief of staff, Tomas Talamante.
Schools would benefit, too.
“We were able to get 17.5 for D.C. Public Schools and 17.5 million for D.C. public charter schools, as well as the 17.5 million that goes to the voucher program,” Talamante said. “We also were able to get money for HIV/AIDS prevention, about $4 million that we were able to secure for HIV/AIDS prevention. We were also able to secure $8 million for DC Water, which their clean rivers project is the huge tunnel-boring system that helps keep the Anacostia and our waterways clean.”
The legislation includes riders placing restrictions on recreational cannabis, and Congress could add other riders, including changes like doing away with cashless bail or photo traffic enforcement in the District.
The legislation still must go through the House Rules Committee before a full House vote.
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