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.
The U.S. celebrates 250 years since signing the Declaration of Independence July 4. D.C. will be packed with America250 events and celebrations.
This summer many of D.C.’s top museums are showing new exhibits that explore American history. There’s an activity for everyone to enjoy this summer, from a new view of the Lincoln Memorial to new exhibits at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.
Most Smithsonian museums are open daily, including on July 4, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Photo by Smithsonian Institution
Air and Space Museum
The Air and Space Museum is nearing the end of the multi-year renovations that began in 2018 just in time for America 250. On July 1 the museum unveils five new exhibits:
If you’re interested in learning more about the history behind space technology and how the U.S. has used air and space tech in the past, you should check out RTX Living in the Space Age Hall and the Jay I. Kislak World War II In The Air exhibits.
If interactive exhibits are more your speed, the TEXTRON How Things Fly exhibit will feature nearly 50 interactive works. The Flight and the Arts Center is a great choice for art and space lovers alike, and the U.S National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe explores the tools that move what we know on space forward.
Admission is free, but you must get a timed ticket.
Smithsonian Castle: American Aspirations Exhibition
Although “the pursuit of happiness” is among the most well-known cornerstones of the Declaration of Independence, this exhibit at the Smithsonian Castle challenges viewers to consider the other ideals America aspires to, including liberty, new horizons, fairness, democracy and hope. Through a collection of some of America’s most notable objects, from Harriet Tubman’s Hymnal to Thomas Edison’s lightbulb, the exhibit explores how America has sought to live up to its ideals through its history.
This exhibit will be open through Sept. 7 before the castle again closes for renovations. Admission is free.
Lincoln Memorial Undercroft
Images courtesy of the National Park Service
What better way to celebrate America 250 than to explore the hidden foundations of one of its most iconic monuments? The Lincoln Memorial’s undercroft opened June 25, featuring 15,000 sq feet of structural framework and exhibits that trace the history of President Lincoln and the memorial. Viewers can learn about the construction of the building, its place in American history and its impact in the civil rights movement as they walk through the caverns of concrete columns.
It’s free to visit, but every visitor age 2 and up needs a timed-entry ticket. You can reserve tickets in advance on recreation.gov or by calling 877‑444‑6777. Note, there’s a $1 service fee for every reservation. You can also pick up same-day tickets on the National Mall.
The Undercroft exhibit will be closed on July 4, but open the rest of the holiday weekend.
Arts and Industries Building: Voices and Votes
The Arts and Industries Building houses an exhibit based off an exhibition currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. This new exhibit explores American democracy and asks visitors to engage in deeper questions about what democracy in America means. It includes photos, videos, items and interactive displays. Admission is free.
MLK Library: District Vibes/American Pride: How DC Changed American Culture
If you’re looking for a D.C. twist to America 250, look no further than D.C. Public Libraries! With art, artifacts and programming throughout the summer, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library will show how D.C. and American history are intertwined. Admission is free.
Other DCPL libraries will offer events on this theme and other America 250 events, too.
D.C. libraries will be closed on July 3 and 4.
Building Museum: THE PLAYGROUND
Daybreaker FUN HOUSE at the National Building Museum (Joy Asico/Asico Photo)
The National Building Museum’s historic Great Hall will see a fun-filled transformation this summer as they collaborate with New York-based design firm, Snarkitecture, for the third time. This collab will transform the Great Hall into an interactive playground. The playground aims to show America’s story through relationships and memories made by community.
“The Playground” brings outdoor activities indoors, giving museumgoers the rare opportunity to be a part of the art. The exhibit will open July 3 and run through Aug. 30. The events schedule includes evening hours for adults to enjoy, and special activities for kids.
To visit The Playground, book museum admission between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15.95-$18.95 (infants under 2 can visit for free).
National Gallery of Art: Dear America
The National Gallery of Art’s latest exhibit is a love letter to America, exploring what it means to be an American through 100 different works. The multimedia exhibit features drawings, photographs and prints in which artists asked, “What does it mean to be American?” It includes works by Roy Lichtenstein, Carrie Mae Weems and Tonita Peña. Admission is free, and the museum is set to be open on July 4.
National Museum of Women in the Arts: Celebrate Women Artists Throughout America 250
The National Museum of Women in the Arts is celebrating women who shaped American history and art.
Exhibits include “Ms. Americana,” which features 10 paintings from American women artists. They also will feature an exhibit on Pueblo pottery from the North American Southwest called “Burnished: Pueblo Pottery at NMWA” and another on quilts in the Second Great Migration called “Routed West: Twentieth Century African American Quilts in California.”
Tickets are $16 for adults or $13 for D.C. residents and those 65+. People under 21, visitors with disabilities and SNAP/EBY holders can go for free. There are also free community days, including on Sunday, July 5. Make sure to book those tickets in advance.
From These Lands: Sharing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage
This summer, the National Museum of Natural History unveils its new exhibit focused on connections between people, places and the natural world. The exhibit will feature items from all 50 states, D.C. and the five inhabited U.S. territories. This exhibit opens on June 18, but patrons can visit until 2029. Admission is free.
American History Museum: In Pursuit
The National Museum of American History is displaying a new exhibit, highlighting 250 items spanning from the 1700s to the present day that reflect the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. The exhibit is on all three floors of the museum with pieces that aim to highlight how Americans have pursued the promise signed in 1776. The exhibit will last until the end of the year. Admission is free.
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D.C. released draft plans for the community surrounding a new Washington Commanders stadium at the former site of RFK Stadium.
Renderings included with the draft plan show the idea is to have a community with open spaces, parks, retail and housing. Walkability and access to the Anacostia River were essential for many who weighed in.
“We’ve been working throughout the development of this master plan with WMATA and the District Department of Transportation, and in this project, as all projects, having lots of ways for people to get to one place is really important, whether on foot, on bike, you’re in a vehicle, you’re taking transit, you’re taking Metrorail or the bus – all of those are provided for,” Office of Planning Director Anita Cozart said. “So, the big part of the master plan is making sure that there is space for those.”
The master plan includes space for a grocery store and as many as 6,500 new houses with 30% of those houses dedicated as affordable.
The community will develop around the stadium after it’s built, Cozart said.
The plan includes the visions and desires of thousands of people and agencies who weighed in on it, but it’s not final. The public is invited to inspect the plan and comment until Aug. 14.
“What did we get right about this master plan; what are some things that we might need to tweak,” Cozart said. “The next step after that is the master plan goes to the City Council.”
Club exercises Tamara Bolt’s 2027 option, extends Madison Haugen through end of season
Washington, D.C. (06/30/2026) – The Washington Spirit has made two midseason roster moves ahead of the resumption of the regular season early next month, the club announced today. The club has exercised its 2027 option on forward Tamara Bolt’s contract and extended short-term injury replacement (STR) player Madison Haugen through the end of the 2026 season.
“As we look ahead to kicking off the second half of the season, we’re confident in the group of players we have together and our midseason roster moves reflect that,” said Sporting Director James Hocken. “Our roster is constantly evolving to best serve the club’s aim of bringing trophies home to DC.”
Bolt signed with the Spirit in January 2025 before spending the calendar year on loan with Dallas Trinity FC of the USL Super League. Since returning to DC prior to this season, the Salvador, Brazil native has appeared in five matches for the Spirit. Bolt played three seasons with top-flight Brazilian side SC Internacional before joining the Spirit, appearing in 36 matches and tallying six goals in the process.
Haugen joined the Spirit as a short-term injury replacement player this past preseason, adding depth to the team’s roster in the absence of its players out on maternity leave. The defender has yet to appear in a match for the Spirit this season. Haugen most recently competed for Portugal’s Sporting CP, scoring five goals across 21 appearances.
The Spirit maintains ongoing conversations with all players that will be free agents following the 2026 season. Updates will be provided as they occur.
The Spirit will next take the pitch at Audi Field on Friday, July 3 when the side returns from the NWSL-wide June break to host the Houston Dash. Kicking off the holiday weekend at 8 p.m. EDT, tickets are available at WashingtonSpirit.com/tickets.
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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