Sept. 14 (UPI) — Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris spoke to donors in Washington, D.C., her running mate Tim Walz held a rally in Wisconsin and GOP nominee Donald Trump was set to fundraise in Utah on Saturday.
Harris appeared Saturday afternoon at a private fundraising event in Washington and was set to follow that with a keynote speech later in the evening at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Awards Dinner at the Washington Convention Center.
During her talk with donors at the Washington Hilton, she touted her performance during Tuesday’s debate with Republican nominee Donald Trump and warned of the possible consequences of a second Trump term in the wake of July’s Supreme Court decision ruling presidents to be immune from criminal prosecution.
“On Tuesday, I talked about my plans on how we will bring down costs, how we will build our economy, how we protect reproductive freedom and keep our nation safe,” Harris said, according to a pool report. “But that is not what we hear from Donald Trump. Instead, it was the same old tired show. He was running from that same tired playbook that we’ve heard for years.”
Later, she warned of the high court’s ruling, “Imagine the meaning of that court ruling on this individual and what he is prepared to do and what he has already done. Imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails.”
President Joe Biden and Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, are also scheduled to speak at the Phoenix Awards Dinner, which serves as the flagship event of the CBCF’s annual legislative conference. Phoenix Awards are given to people who “are serving as leaders and trailblazers for the Black community, creating more opportunities for the next generation in the process.”
At last year’s event — also attended by Harris and Biden — the winners included White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Tennessee State Rep. Justin Jones, and rappers MC Lyte and LL Cool J.
Harris spent Friday campaigning in the key swing state of Pennsylvania, talking to voters in Johnstown, Pa., and sitting down for her first solo television interview since becoming the Democratic nominee.
In her interview with Philadelphia’s WPVI-TV, she was asked about Trump’s enduring appeal to the state’s voters despite his divisive persona and appeals to racism, and how she’s expecting to counter it.
“I, based on experience, and a lived experience, know in my heart, I know in my soul, I know, that the vast majority of us as Americans have so much more in common than what separates us,” Harris said.
“And I also believe that I am accurate in knowing that most Americans want a leader that brings us together as Americans and not someone who professes to be a leader who is trying to have us point our fingers at each other,” she added.
Walz. who is Minnesota’s governor, continued to campaign in northern Wisconsin, also seen as a crucial swing state in November’s election. His campaigned in Superior, Wis., following a stop Friday in Wausau.
In Superior, located in the northwestern tip of the state across the St. Louis River from Duluth, Minn., Walz similarly praised the outcome of Tuesday’s debate and took aim at Trump’s efforts during his first term to scuttle the Affordable Care Act.
“Not once did he ever worry that he would have to pay a medical bill,” he told attendees at the University of Wisconsin’s branch campus.
On Friday at Wausau’s Whitewater Music Hall, Walz warned that the United States’ foreign allies “have no respect for [Trump]. They know where he’s at. He continues to brag about being friends with the dictators.”
The former president, meanwhile, is expected to attend a private fundraiser Saturday in Utah after spending Friday at a rally in Las Vegas.
Attendees at the Salt Lake City event are expected to include controversial Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, right-wing radio personality Glenn Beck, former acting U.S. Attorney General Matt Whitaker and Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, KSL-TV reported.
At his rally in Las Vegas, Trump repeated false claims about Venezuelan criminal gangs taking over parts of Aurora, Colo., and Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, declaring that immigration to the United States constitutes an “invasion.”
“Our country is under invasion just like an army,” he said, although refraining from repeating debunked rumors alleging Haitian immigrants in Springfield are killing and eating household pets. After Trump issued those slurs earlier this week, they were linked to a series of bomb threats delivered to the city’s schools and public agencies, forcing children to miss classes.
WASHINGTON (7News) — After years of debate, false starts, and controversy, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act was passed in the Senate with unanimous consent, paving the way for the Washington Commanders to return to D.C.
Now, local leaders are speaking about the benefits, and potential drawbacks, of a new football stadium in the city.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
D.C. has scored a victory in its fight for self-determination just in time for the holidays. When the bill is signed into law by President Biden, D.C. will get to decide for itself what to do with the largest unused tract of land remaining in the District. I look forward to seeing the site transformed from crumbling blight to a productive and bustling complex that will generate significant revenue for the nation’s capital.
Throughout my career in Congress, I’ve prioritized transferring unused federal land to D.C. or the private sector, enabling the redevelopment of neighborhoods, generating tax revenue and bringing much-needed space to the District.
Maryland U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen
Maryland has been the proud home of the Commanders for over two decades and we continue to believe that this partnership should continue long into the future. After working to level the financial playing field, and receiving assurances that should the team move they will redevelop the existing site in a manner that meets the needs of the community, tonight we supported the proposed land transfer legislation. We have always supported the District’s effort to control its own land, and through regional discussions and cooperation, our concerns with this proposal have been addressed.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser
Josh Harris, Managing Partner of the Washington Commanders
We are extremely grateful that our elected officials have come together on a bipartisan basis to give Washington D.C. the opportunity to decide on the future of the RFK stadium site. This bill will create an equal playing field so that all potential future locations for the home of the Washington Commanders can be fairly considered and give our franchise the opportunity to provide the best experience for all of our fans.
Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md)
Maryland should have the chance to compete to keep the Commanders here.
I opposed this bill in the House, and I oppose it today, because federal taxpayers should not be required to subsidize an NFL stadium by offering a 99-year lease of the RFK campus for free. That’s not fair to the taxpayers, and it’s not fair to Maryland because it undermines Maryland’s chance to compete on a level playing field.
But we can still win. Our site offers two nearby Metro stations, superior highway access, and a larger campus for parking. Now that the Dan Snyder era is over and the Harris team has brought winning football back to the DMV, a state-of-the-art indoor stadium would jumpstart redevelopment in the area and trigger property appreciation in short order. In addition to the ten games or so the Commanders play, the stadium could be used year-round for events like the Final Four and music concerts. Working closely with the Harris team–which owns much of the land around the stadium–we could create an economic win-win that would benefit the community, the region, the team, and the fans.
Maryland looks forward to working with the Harris team to make that vision a reality.
DC Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie
DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson
We are grateful the legislation passed and that this large tract will not continue to deteriorate with a crumbling stadium on it.
At the same time, it is unfortunate that the Senate found unanimous consent to move the legislation concerning RFK, but is leaving untouched ten judicial vacancies. This continues to be a setback to the District’s public safety ecosystem. I would also be remiss to not emphasize that the continuing resolution underfunds, our police by $10 million.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (7News) — Mayor Muriel Bowser, along with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), is offering dozens of activities for kids and families during the 2024-2025 Winter break.
“These initiatives provide young people with safe and engaging activities from Dec. 21 through Dec. 31. While many events are designed for all age groups, DPR is also hosting specialized programming for teenagers, creating dedicated spaces for them to connect, socialize, and have fun,” the Mayor said in a press release.
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Here are a list of the activities:
Community Toy Giveaway: Toy distribution and cocoa for children in the community
Movie Field Trip: Sonic 3: Young people can enjoy a field trip to see Sonic 3, with multiple pickup locations
Grinchmas at Kenilworth: Join us for a community holiday Grinch-themed party
Community Christmas Extravaganza: An event for the distribution of toys, hygiene products, coats, and used clothing to those in need
Holiday Hype: A festive gathering at the MLK Library for all ages
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Just Cares Toys for Tots Youth Basketball Tournament: This holiday basketball tournament and charity event will include Santa picture booth, entertainment, toy giveaways, and adult and kids basketball games!
Water Cycle and Aqua Fitness: Water-based activities and fitness sessions
eSports and Gaming Tournaments
Holiday Drip: Celebrate the season with music and water-based fun
Holiday Sing-Along: Come out to sing your favorite holiday carols
Holiday Movie Night: Come out to the Joseph Cole Recreation Center for a holiday movie
Teen Time: Teens will have the chance to play minute-to-win-it games, board games, art activities, and basketball!
Teen Time: Teens will have the chance to play minute-to-win games, board games, art activities, and basketball!
High School Lifeguard Training: Comprehensive lifeguard training for high school students at multiple locations
Junior Lifeguard Academy: A training program for youth ages 9 to 15 interested in lifeguarding, with sessions offered at various aquatic centers
If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much would it amount to when fused with original poetry, vibrant artwork, and themed cuisine?
California natives Xavier Renard Cunningham and Taylor Smalls offer insight to this question in Northwest D.C., with “THROUGHLINE: VOLUME II (VOL. II),” an exclusive multisensory art exhibition that leverages photography, painting, performance art, and culinary craft to champion 16 of the District’s Black unsung heroines.
“[‘THROUGHLINE’] was always about, how do we celebrate something, and how do you do that through art,” said Cunningham, creative producer of “THROUGHLINE.” “The cheeky answer is, why not Black women, who are – for us – the foundation, not only of what runs our [cities], but we think the world.”
Through Dec. 22, art connoisseurs can indulge in an immersive experience of culture and ambiguity, as Autoshop at Union Market hosts “THROUGHLINE’S” second iteration and first-ever in D.C.
The interdisciplinary exhibit combines poetry, music, and visual and culinary art to honor the breadth of women trailblazers across various platforms, from education and activism to entrepreneurship and wellness.
“[This] was created deeply starting with that fundamental purpose of unearthing those change makers, those change agents who are sometimes and more often than not, uncelebrated … even though they are shifting and shaping culture as we know in every city,” Cunningham explained.
District honorees such as Ashley Etienne and Alencia Johnson have fearlessly shaped the local political landscape, while other heavy-hitters like Kelsye Adams, Sister Mary Brown and Chloe Dulce Louvouezo — the latter two present for a “VOL. II” display on Dec. 15 — redefine social narratives and advocate for underserved groups locally and nationally.
Other celebrated recipients include: Ayo Tometi; Dionna Dorsey; Christine Platt; Rhea Combs; and Carla L. Sims, to name a few.
“Too often, we walk through this life doing extraordinary things, but going unseen,” Etienne, who was also in attendance on Sunday, told The Informer. “So to be seen and then to have it … for people like my daughter and others to see it and to admire the beauty, the essence and the work of Black women is just incredible.”
Dozens of spectators gathered on Dec. 15 to witness the virtuosity and impact of “THROUGHLINE VOL. II,” which features breakout artists: Adedayo Kosoko (photographer); Gabrielle Hights (musician); Smalls (painter); as well as Chef Keem Hughley of Bronze DC, and award-winning poet Michael Wayne Turner III.
The collaborative exhibit is a powerful demonstration of nesting beauty in the eye of the beholder, with two levels of subject-based illustrations and individualized food dishes contingent on artistic ambiguity and perception.
As the lamented poetry explores themes of introspection and endurance, the visuals emulate the honorees’ pride and potency; Meanwhile, Chef Hughley’s paired custom entrees provide flavor to the textures and colors of the distinct images, culminating in a celebration for all the senses.
“Sitting with each of these women, taking time to really respect who they are, what they have come to be and how they stand in this exact moment … this is an ode. It’s a love letter to the women in D.C.,” said Smalls.
Turner brought the stilled images and deep-colored portraits to life as the classically trained thespian led guests on a theatrical tour through Autoshop — his voice commanding the room with a spiritual cadence as he recited each of his poems to the soulful refrain:“Maybe, you’ll join me down by the river, so I may wash away all of my pride.”
Darlene Brown, CEO of Divine Empowerment, appreciated the reflective aspect of the interdisciplinary exhibition, which she described as: “cathartic,” “inspirational,” and “a catapult” to empowerment.
“As I walked through, reading the poetry, examining the photos, the entire experience, I felt seen as a Black woman in America,” Brown told The Informer. “I felt validated, I felt heard, I felt valued … in a way that I can’t say that I’ve ever experienced coming to [an] exhibit [for] art and poetry.”
According to Smalls, who crafted all 18 paintings in the exhibit, the collaborative approach of artistic practices serves as what she calls a throughline to creatively “pass the baton” of culture preservation and diasporic solidarity.
The Oakland-based painter boasted one particular example: “Young Saffron,” a canvas painting of local entrepreneur and honoree Angel Gregorio with a saffron-colored base.
Since Gregorio travels internationally, particularly to Africa, to collect unique spices, Hughley made her personal dish a wagyu hot dog topped with Mambo Sauce — a D.C. speciality — and infused it with saffron spices from her spice boutique, The Spice Suite, located in the city’s Langdon Park community.
“It’s this really beautiful storytelling working together on so many different levels of artistry, but also across the diaspora … to hold what we know culturally, and specifically, in this city,” Smalls told The Informer.
But, the power of artistic exploration shone beyond connections to D.C. culture.
For Felicia Allen, a Florida-based grief counselor who flew to D.C. for the Dec. 15 showcase, the artists proved to encapsulate not only the spirit of the champions on the walls, but the resilience of Black women throughout African American history.
“This show is a culmination of who [Black women] are as people. Our strength, our intellect, our creativity, our innovation,” Allen told The Informer. “There is truth in these writings, in these pictures. We know who we are and what we’ve done, and this is a space of empowerment.”
The shared project upholds a deeper purpose of centering what Cunningham considers “the core and foundation” of the Black community: mutual support and collaboration.
“[‘THROUGHLINE’] is about fighting against that notion that everything we do must be in silence, that we must pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps,” said Cunningham. “We truly believe it’s through community that you get ahead, that each person in this room has their own throughlines and connective tissue that can unlock their deepest dream.”
In addition to championing local changemaking, creative spaces like “THROUGHLINE” act to preserve the future of cultural arts–an industry where Black people are disproportionately outnumbered.
Data from a Burns Halperin Report shows that between 2008 and 2020, Black American artists only represented approximately 2% of museum acquisitions and 6% of exhibits, despite Black Americans making up 13.6% of the entire United States population.
With the methodic integration of various modalities, Allen said “THROUGHLINE” underscores the value of diversity in the arts and opens doors that could catapult creativity and innovation.
“We speak through the arts. [It’s] deeply rooted in our culture…[and] opens up that venue for us to be demonstrative, to have exploration and teach at the same time,” she explained. “I think now more than ever, that’s what we need.”
As “THROUGHLINE VOL. III” prepares to host its third installation in Detroit, Michigan, honoree Etienne commends the institute’s commitment to Black women inclusion, emphasizing the gravity of uplifting vulnerable communities–especially given recent political cycles.
“There are a lot of Black women that are feeling dejected, betrayed and undervalued after the election,” said the CBS News political contributor. “An exhibit like this that puts on display the finest of Black women and the humanity of Black women, I think, is not only timely, but it is priceless, and it is invaluable to our spirits right now.”
This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship Lab. The Lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.
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