<div class="teaser-content grid-center">
<div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body">
Will America see <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/washington-d-c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">professional football</a> actually played in the nation&#8217;s capital again anytime soon? A bipartisan Congressional bill might make that happen and bring Washington&#8217;s team back to the District.
On Wednesday, Congressman James Comer (R-KY) introduced a co-sponsored bill titled, &#8220;The D.C. Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act.&#8221;
&#8220;This legislation is set to pave the way for local officials to create meaningful new jobs, add millions in city revenue, and transform the Anacostia River waterfront into a lively destination for all,” Comer said in a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/07/27/comer-republican-dc-bill-rfk-stadium-commanders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> given to The Washington Post.
Comer, who is chairman of House Oversight, also emphasized that the &#8220;committee remains committed to working with Washington, D.C. officials to ensure a capital that is prosperous for residents and visitors for generations to come.&#8221;
The bill would transfer the existing RFK property from the Secretary of Interior to the GSA. The GSA would then lease it to the city of D.C. for 99 years with an option review.
</div>
</div>
<div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body">
D.C. non-voting delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) also <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/release/comer-norton-introduce-the-d-c-robert-f-kennedy-memorial-stadium-campus-revitalization-act/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosponsored</a> the bill and supported its speedy passage.
“The RFK site sits on underused federal land in D.C. that could be redeveloped, generating tax revenue for D.C.,” Norton said. “Neither the Mayor nor the Council Chair opposes this bill, which would allow D.C. to put the site to productive use — a vast improvement on the current state of affairs. I look forward to working with Chairman Comer to pass this bill as quickly as possible.&#8221;
RFK Stadium was first built in 1961, originally called Washington, D.C., Stadium. It held its last event in 2017, but the Washington Redskins played their last game at RFK in 1996.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
Now, with the Washington Commanders sold to a new ownership group, federal officials hope that the team will come back to the district. While D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser suggested that the existing stadium would be torn down, she remained confident a new one would be built in hopes of attracting D.C.&#8217;s NFL team.
New owner Josh Harris, who grew up in the area, had previously expressed his appreciation for what RFK had to offer.
&#8220;We would love to have a stadium where the opposing players fear to come, and our fans love to come, and our players love to come and feel welcomed,” he <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/07/27/comer-republican-dc-bill-rfk-stadium-commanders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> after buying the team. “That’s what I experienced at RFK — and whatever happens with the stadium, that’s the kind of stadium experience I want to create.”
</div>

House Oversight Committee Holds Hearing On Washington Commanders Football Team

An NFL Stadium Back In D.C.? Bipartisan Bill May Get It Done.

Football

General

James Comer

Muriel Bowser

Sports

U.S.

Washington D.C.

Democrat <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/washington-d-c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington, D.C.</a> Mayor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/muriel-bowser" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Muriel Bowser</a> has declared the nation’s capital as the “gayest city in the world,” even as critics implored her to focus on the city’s rising crime rates. 
Bowser made the announcement on Thursday, as corporations and government entities begin to focus on gender and sexual identity in recognition of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pride-month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pride Month</a>. 
“I am proud to be the Mayor of the best city in the world, and the gayest city in the world,” Bowser said in a tweet that was accompanied by a video of her in a crowd waving a rainbow flag. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I am proud to be the Mayor of the best city in the world, and the gayest city in the world.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DistrictPride2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DistrictPride2023</a> <a href="https://t.co/mXLPI57UJn">pic.twitter.com/mXLPI57UJn</a>
&mdash; Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorBowser/status/1664386344062205959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Some criticized her announcement, asking her to focus on countering rising crime rather than on celebrations of sexual identity. According to <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2023/05/16/crime-gun-violence-homicide-statistics">recent statistics</a> in the city, violent crime, including robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, homicide, and sex abuse, has increased by 13% and carjackings have increased by 49% so far in 2023. 
“We literally just want you to do something about all the violent crime,” <a href="https://twitter.com/abigailmarone/status/1664396337775800321" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Abigail Marone, communications director for Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). 
Bowser has been vocal about LGBTQ issues in the past, <a href="https://www.thepinknews.com/2022/11/27/washington-dc-signs-trans-and-abortion-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signing a bill</a> that makes the state a sanctuary for women looking to abort an unborn child or individuals undergoing transgender procedures. 
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1685202016677000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3BHv9qMQC3OwHMBCkGZXpF">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
Her tweet comes as the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/washington-d-c-library-holding-childrens-pride-parade-for-those-0-18" target="_blank" rel="noopener">D.C. Public Library system will hold</a> a “Children’s Pride Parade” on Saturday that will be open to ages “0-18,” according to a flier from the event. 
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pride" target="_blank" rel="noopener">parade</a> will be a “celebration of diversity and inclusion, particularly the diversity of gender and sexuality,” according to a flier from the library first obtained <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/06/01/dc-library-to-host-childrens-pride-parade/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">by The Daily Signal</a>. The event is being hosted by the Georgetown, Palisades, and Tenley branches of the D.C. Public Library. 
“The parade is for LGBTQ kids and families, signaling that their community supports them,” said media relations manager George Williams. “The event does not require registration, so we do not have an estimate of how many people will attend. The program will not include any speakers.”
According to the flier, many kids are “coming out” at younger ages. “A Pride event especially for kids, many of whom are coming out at younger ages,” a section of the flier under “goals” reads. 
It is also described as “an opportunity for local schools and community groups to show they support LGBTQ youth and families.”

Capital Pride Festival & Concert

Democrat Mayor Says She’s Proud To Lead The ‘Gayest City In The World’

Politics

Pride Month

Social Issues

Violent Crime

Way back in 1998, internet media pioneer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/matt-drudge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Drudge</a> told a room full of reporters, &#8220;You would be amazed what the ordinary guy knows.&#8221;
It was probably the truest statement ever made in U.S. politics. Americans were reminded of its wisdom yet again after clips from the new PBS documentary &#8220;American Masters: Dr. Tony Fauci&#8221; showed the face of the pandemic, Fauci, getting blasted by &#8220;ordinary&#8221; citizens in one of the roughest, toughest parts of the nation&#8217;s capital over his claims about the COVID vaccine and the pandemic itself.
In the summer of 2021, Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser and Fauci went door-to-door in Southeast D.C. trying to evangelize the residents into becoming true believers in the COVID vaccine. The evidence indicates that the pair got more than they bargained for.
A man and woman speaking in the documentary clips getting the most attention have been retroactively proven right on just about every point that they raised to the two &#8220;experts.&#8221;
&#8220;People in America are not settled with the information given, so I&#8217;m not going to be lining up taking a shot on a vaccination for something that wasn&#8217;t clear in the first place,&#8221; the unidentified man said.
He even questioned how a vaccine could be trusted when it was created at such blazing speed.
&#8220;And then you all take a shot in miraculous time. It takes years to create a vaccine,&#8221; he continued.
&#8220;Nine months is definitely not enough for nobody to be taking no vaccination that you all came up with,&#8221; he argued.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
Bowser meekly defended the vaccination by saying, &#8220;The only reason I&#8217;m talking to you right now, as close as we are, is that I&#8217;ve been vaccinated. But if thousands of people like you don&#8217;t get vaccinated, you&#8217;re going to let this virus continue to percolate in this country and in this world.&#8221;
The man would not budge.
&#8220;Something like the common flu then, right?&#8221; the man interjected.
After some back and forth, with Fauci arguing that COVID is way more dangerous than the flu, Bowser appeared to understand that she had been defeated.
&#8220;You gonna pass?&#8221; she asked.
&#8220;When you start talking about paying people to get vaccinated, when you start trying to incentivize people with other things, then something else is going on,&#8221; he added.
As the public health team walked away, he shouted after them that their &#8220;campaign is about fear. It&#8217;s about inciting fear in people. You all attack people with fear.&#8221; That&#8217;s what this pandemic is. It&#8217;s a fear, it&#8217;s fear, this pandemic. That&#8217;s all it is.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This guy speaks with more clarity and conviction on COVID and the jab than 99% of Republicans. <a href="https://t.co/VQQ5OL3rEw">pic.twitter.com/VQQ5OL3rEw</a>
&mdash; Tim Meads (@TimMeadsUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimMeadsUSA/status/1637831514514702341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
That same man disagreed with the official COVID death toll count.
Well, we know the gentleman is correct. Now, folks like Fauci are saying Americans will &#8220;likely&#8221; learn to live with COVID as we do the flu. It&#8217;s seasonal and here to stay. Fauci himself <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fauci-now-says-hospitals-are-overcounting-covid-19-cases-in-children-because-they-automatically-get-tested-sound-familiar?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=dwbrand&amp;fbclid=IwAR1tALbb_xfpaC9N_-pYA0-GMod7Y3k7Y_NIbr3ykviFGK4e3d25rAOlXg0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">admitted that COVID deaths</a> were being overcounted in some instances in 2021.
Then there was another woman in Anacostia who also wasn&#8217;t picking up what Fauci was putting down.
&#8220;Well, I heard that [the vaccine] doesn&#8217;t cure it and doesn&#8217;t stop you from getting it &#8230; sooo,&#8221; she said, perhaps wondering what the point was.
&#8220;On the very, very, very very rare chance that you do get it even if you&#8217;re vaccinated, you don&#8217;t even feel sick. It&#8217;s like you don&#8217;t even know you got infected. It&#8217;s very, very good at protecting you.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Anacostia resident: &quot;I head the [vaccine] doesn&#39;t cure it and doesn&#39;t stop you from getting it.&quot;
Fauci: &quot;On the rare chance that you do get it even when you&#39;re vaccinated, you don&#39;t even feel sick. It&#39;s like you don&#39;t even know you got infected. It&#39;s very good at protecting you&quot; <a href="https://t.co/QueSljq3kk">pic.twitter.com/QueSljq3kk</a>
&mdash; Greg Price (@greg_price11) <a href="https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1637859065761079301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Contrary to Fauci&#8217;s insistence that the vaccines work as advertised except in &#8220;very, very, very rare&#8221; occasions, we know that &#8220;breakthrough&#8221; infections occur and that the vax touted by Fauci at that time became less effective over time. Five shots later, and now health officials say Americans should get a yearly shot — again, like the flu. Other data show that natural immunity is <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/natural-immunity-protective-covid-vaccine-severe-illness-rcna71027" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as protective</a> against severe illness and death from COVID.
In other words, the &#8220;ordinary&#8221; guys appear to be right and the self-proclaimed experts were wrong on COVID. It is nothing new, but it sure is nice seeing it on camera.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 11: Washington DC Mayor Murial Bowser participates in a virtual meeting with Director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci at the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus on June 11, 2021 in Washington, DC. Fauci spoke on the urgency to get all eligible individuals vaccinated against COVID-19. design – 2023-03-20T155936.486

WATCH: D.C. Residents Shred Fauci, The Door-To-Door COVID Vax Salesman, In 2021

Anthony Fauci

COVID-19

Wuhan

A top Washington, D.C., official moved to withdraw a controversial overhaul of the capital city&#8217;s crime code after President Joe Biden sided with Republicans in Congress who opposed it.
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson <a href="https://twitter.com/MissBeaE/status/1632776992289435650" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sent a letter</a> on Monday to Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the president of the Senate, announcing that he was withdrawing the Revised Criminal Code Act from congressional consideration.
&#8220;Withdrawal enables the Council to work on the measure in light of Congressional comments, and to re-transmit it later,&#8221; he wrote.
Despite Mendelson&#8217;s letter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told reporters the upper chamber still plans to have a vote. &#8220;They have a right to bring it up but there&#8217;ll be a vote on Wednesday,&#8221; he said, <a href="https://twitter.com/frankthorp/status/1632846615995097088" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to NBC News</a>.
Proponents argued that the overhaul improves an outdated system, while critics warned it would embolden wrongdoers by reducing the penalties for certain crimes.
Members of the D.C. Council voted to overhaul the century-old criminal code last year. D.C. Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser vetoed the criminal code changes, but councilmembers voted to override the veto.
Still, the issue wasn&#8217;t settled as Congress has the authority to review any legislation passed by the D.C. Council before it becomes law under the Home Rule.
After the Republican majority in the House <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023119" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted in February to disapprove</a> of the Revised Criminal Code Act with the support of 31 Democrats, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-says-he-will-sign-bills-blocking-d-c-s-radical-overhaul-of-voting-rights-criminal-code" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden announced his opposition</a> to the overhaul last week as the Democrat-led Senate took it under consideration.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-211076">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
&#8220;I support D.C. Statehood and home-rule – but I don’t support some of the changes D.C. Council put forward over the Mayor’s objections – such as lowering penalties for carjackings,&#8221; Biden tweeted. &#8220;If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did – I’ll sign it.&#8221;
Bowser has <a href="https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-announces-revised-criminal-code-amendment-act-2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed targeted alterations</a> to the revised code, including restoring maximum penalties for gun crimes and carjackings, as well as delaying its implementation to 2027.

Joe Biden

D.C. Moves To Withdraw Overhaul Of Criminal Code After Biden Rebuke

Crime

Executive

Credit where credit is due, President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-says-he-will-sign-bills-blocking-d-c-s-radical-overhaul-of-voting-rights-criminal-code" target="_blank" rel="noopener">just handled</a> Washington, D.C.&#8217;s soft-on-crime bill in a politically shrewd manner that both neutralizes the far-left in his party and somewhat blocks future GOP criticism.
On Thursday, Biden tweeted that he would support the U.S. Senate if they voted to overturn the D.C. city council&#8217;s bill to lower punishments for things such as carjackings and other lawlessness in the district. Democratic D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser had already vetoed that legislation, but the city council overruled her decision. The House of Representatives, however, voted to strike it down — as is their right under the U.S. Constitution — and now it moves to the Senate.
&#8220;I support D.C. Statehood and home-rule – but I don’t support some of the changes D.C. Council put forward over the Mayor’s objections – such as lowering penalties for carjackings,&#8221; he tweeted. &#8220;If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did – I’ll sign it.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I support D.C. Statehood and home-rule – but I don’t support some of the changes D.C. Council put forward over the Mayor’s objections – such as lowering penalties for carjackings.
If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did – I’ll sign it.
&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1631392285182009376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The move outraged the most extreme parts of his party. An anonymous House member <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3881888-house-democrats-blindsided-as-biden-changes-tune-on-dc-crime-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vented to The Hill</a> that Democrats were betrayed by Biden.
“So a lot of us who are allies voted no in order to support what the White House wanted,&#8221; the lawmaker said via text. &#8220;And now we are being hung out to dry &#8230; F****** AMATEUR HOUR. HEADS SHOULD ROLL OVER AT THE WHITE HOUSE OVER THIS.&#8221;
Indeed, that same person added, &#8220;The White House f***** this up royally.&#8221;
Well, the move might have screwed over the anti-police members of his party, but it bolsters Biden&#8217;s resume and talking points heading into the 2024 campaign,
Republicans have long claimed that the Democratic Party — and therefore Biden — is responsible for the crime wave facing America&#8217;s cities. In the wake of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/defund-the-police-is-over" target="_blank" rel="noopener">George Floyd riots and BLM movement</a> in 2020, numerous liberal cities moved to effectively defund their police departments. Rogue prosecutors, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rogue-progressive-prosecutors-promote-lawlessness-not-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener">often backed by George Soros</a>, won elections across the country while ushering in lenient policies that allow repeat offenders to plague the streets.
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-12955">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
Biden, who essentially renounced his tough-on-crime policies of the 90s during his 2020 presidential campaign, has spent the last two years trying to separate himself from those who want to continue defunding police and instituting weak punishments in the name of social justice.
In turn, the GOP has been eager to label the chaos as the &#8220;Biden crime wave.&#8221;
Now, Biden has a tangible example he can point to as evidence that he supports the police, wants to crack down on thugs, and isn&#8217;t afraid to buck his political party in the name of public safety.
His team is already running with that message.
&#8220;One thing that the president believes in is making sure that the streets in America and communities across the country are safe, that includes in D.C. That does not change,&#8221; White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday.
&#8220;When it comes to what this proposal brings forth, which is really lowering penalties for car-jacking, he doesn’t believe that’s going to keep our communities safe,&#8221; she added.
Whether or not you actually buy KJP&#8217;s claims and the president&#8217;s sincerity on the issue is a different story. There are plenty of other examples the GOP can point to as evidence that Biden is making our nation more dangerous — his porous open border allowing fentanyl and potential criminals in, for example — but, assuming he actually does sign the override if it is passed, he can negate the rhetoric with evidence.
As Biden&#8217;s good friend Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/03/03/biden-sides-with-republicans-on-a-bill-to-reverse-dc-criminal-justice-reforms-heres-why/?utm_campaign=forbes&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_term=Gordie&amp;sh=7d0acb08654d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Forbes, &#8220;It’s smart politics. He was running into a buzzsaw. You don’t want to get left of the D.C. mayor.&#8221;
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

US President Joe Biden speaks during the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 1, 2023.

Biden’s Politically Shrewd Handling Of D.C. Soft-On-Crime Bill

Biden's Politically Shrewd Handling Of D.C. Soft-On-Crime Bill

Non-citizens who have resided in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/washington-d-c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington, D.C.</a>, for at least 30 days can now vote in local city elections after the review period for a newly passed bill allowing such votes to occur ended last week, according to local media.
D.C. city officials passed the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act on its first reading last year, which Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser allowed to pass without her signature, as she refused to veto the legislation. However, acts of the city council are subject to congressional review due to the district residing in the federal territory.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill had 30 session days to object to the legislation, with the House voting to stop the bill from taking effect, WAMU reported. However, the Senate ran out of time before the review period ended.
The new law still has to secure approximately $1.6 million in funding to create the new voter registry for non-citizens, WAMU reported, adding that Congress still has options to block the measure, specifically by prohibiting D.C. officials from spending money on it taking effect.
Washington, D.C., city council member Charles Allen introduced the bill in October 2020, arguing that it aligns with the chamber&#8217;s values and history of expanding voting rights.
&#8220;Our immigrant neighbors of all statuses participate, contribute, and care about our community in our city,&#8221; Allen said at the time of the vote.
During the passing last year, the bill&#8217;s lead sponsor, Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, bragged how she &#8220;championed expanding voting rights so that those who have made the District their home have the right for their voices to be heard in our local issues, no matter their immigration status.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/d-c-s-new-voters-aliens-and-diplomats-muriel-bowser-mayoral-elections-11669237497" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a> editorial board argued in a November 23 piece that the bill extends local voting rights to illegal immigrants and foreign diplomats:
<blockquote>It reads like a bad parody of progressive decadence. Try to imagine American diplomatic personnel showing up to cast ballots for the mayor of Beijing or Moscow. Beyond that, the standard objections to noncitizen voting apply. It weakens the incentive to naturalize. Only U.S. citizens can vote in federal races, so including noncitizens in local races would force election officials to manage two voter lists and two sets of ballots. It’s begging for a fiasco.</blockquote>
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-4883">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
The move comes after Biden administration officials have claimed they are working to make Washington, D.C., the 51st state of the Union and give the city autonomy to govern its local affairs.
House Republicans passed a resolution to block the law from taking effect with the support of 42 Democrats.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republican-led-house-moves-to-stop-d-c-s-illegal-immigrant-voting-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduced</a> the D.C. voting resolution and previously warned that such &#8220;misguided efforts would allow crime to run rampant and disenfranchise American citizens in our nation&#8217;s capital.&#8221;
&#8220;Voting is a pillar of American democracy and a constitutional right that undeniably needs to be protected and preserved for citizens of this country,&#8221; Comer said in a statement to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/washington-dc-city-council-bill-allowing-noncitizens-vote-law?intcmp=tw_fnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a>. &#8220;The D.C. Council&#8217;s reckless decision to allow non-U.S. citizens and illegal immigrants the right to vote in local elections is an attack on the foundation of this republic.&#8221;
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) assailed Republicans in Congress for introducing &#8220;undemocratic&#8221; and &#8220;paternalistic&#8221; resolutions to overrule the D.C. Council.
&#8220;Instead of abusing its power over D.C. by nullifying legislation enacted by the D.C. Council, the House should adhere to democratic principles and pass my D.C. statehood bill, which would give D.C. residents voting representation in Congress and full control over their local affairs,&#8221; Norton said in prepared remarks.
During a speech, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) accused her GOP colleagues of &#8220;expanding&#8221; their support of disenfranchisement in the &#8220;overwhelmingly black city,&#8221; pointing out how Republicans already oppose D.C. statehood.
&#8220;The D.C. City Council has the right to determine its policies for D.C. residents,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And if any member of this body does not like that, they can feel free to change their registration, resign their post and run for D.C. City Council.&#8221;
In January, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced a bill to stop non-citizens from voting in local elections in Washington, D.C., saying that allowing non-citizens and illegal immigrants to exercise voting rights reserved for American citizens violates the nation&#8217;s constitutional principles, &#8220;but also naively invites foreign meddling in our elections.&#8221;
&#8220;Voting is a privilege and the tool by which American citizens exercise their say in who leads our country, how we spend our tax dollars, and what policies should be instituted,&#8221; Cruz <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ted-cruz-introduces-bill-to-block-non-citizens-from-voting-in-washington-d-c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;I am vehemently against unconstitutionally cheapening the votes of American citizens and ignoring the rule of law in this nation.&#8221;
Fellow GOP Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) also introduced a resolution in Congress in December to block the non-citizen voting law from taking effect, calling it an &#8220;insane policy.&#8221;

CORONAVIRUS ELECTIONS

Non-Citizens Allowed To Vote In Local Washington D.C. Elections: Report

House Republicans

Immigration

U.S. Senate

Voting Rights

&#8220;I went to the nation&#8217;s capital and all I got was this lousy steering wheel lock.&#8221;
Washington, D.C.&#8217;s had a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-teen-tries-carjacking-grandma-on-way-to-chemo-neighbors-beat-him-up" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bit of a problem with carjackings</a> over the last five years, and that trend has continued into 2023. To help prevent the problem, Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that Hyundai and Kia have donated 1,000 steering wheel locks that are free on a first come, first serve basis for any D.C. resident who drives a 2011-2021 model car made by those two companies.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Beginning Friday, February 24, DC residents who own a 2011-2021 Kia or Hyundai can pick up a free steering wheel lock from a <a href="https://twitter.com/DCPoliceDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DCPoliceDept</a> station.
&mdash; Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorBowser/status/1628834419300499459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
According to Axios, car thefts in D.C. have increased every year since 2017. In 2022, the city experienced 485 incidents of vehicle theft.
The outlet noted that in October 2022, Police Chief Robert Contee <a class="gtmContentClick" href="https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/washington-dc-talks-crime-updates-with-police-chief-robert-contee/65-39ce795c-d02c-4e57-9e06-8a4e52c087a7" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-vars-link-text="told WUSA9" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/washington-dc-talks-crime-updates-with-police-chief-robert-contee/65-39ce795c-d02c-4e57-9e06-8a4e52c087a7" data-vars-content-id="560be0f8-6502-4fd1-ab53-4ff229ff37fd" data-vars-headline="D.C. carjackings rise for fifth straight year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link">told WUSA9</a> “our young people are showing up in crimes involving shootings, crimes involving carjackings at a pace that I have not seen in my 30-plus year career here with the Metropolitan Police Department.&#8221;
According to Contee, lockdowns during COVID can explain some of the increased violence among teenagers.
&#8220;As we kind of transition away from some of the restrictions that we saw during the pandemic, some of those social connections that our young people may have been lacking, I think it&#8217;s really starting to show up now,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/washington-dc-talks-crime-updates-with-police-chief-robert-contee/65-39ce795c-d02c-4e57-9e06-8a4e52c087a7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a> at the time.
Now, according to Bowser, trends on social media are also encouraging crime. Hyundais and Kias were particularly susceptible to thefts after &#8220;a social media challenge that encourages using a USB cable to steal these types of cars&#8221; went viral and caused an increase in carjackings.
&#8220;Car theft is a serious problem – it is incredibly stressful and often costly and time-consuming for the victims, and it is dangerous to have these stolen cars on the road,” Bowser said in a press release. “I encourage all DC residents who own a 2011-2021 Kia or Hyundai to pick up their free steering wheel locks as soon as possible from a District station to prevent theft.&#8221;
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
The latest freebie for D.C. comes just weeks after the city council revamped its criminal code with soft-on-crime policies.
In reaction to Bowser&#8217;s tweet, concerned Twitter users gave the Democratic mayor a piece of their minds:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Wtf&#8230; This is how D.C. has decided to solve its crime/car theft problem? <a href="https://t.co/PGUT5JPoLc">https://t.co/PGUT5JPoLc</a>
&mdash; Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) <a href="https://twitter.com/henryrodgersdc/status/1629173896019644418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Beyond parody. <a href="https://t.co/fFsOLBVf8L">https://t.co/fFsOLBVf8L</a>
&mdash; Madeline Huffman (@madshuffman) <a href="https://twitter.com/madshuffman/status/1629166184946860034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Context: the D.C. City Council recently voted to *reduce* criminal penalties for carjackings <a href="https://t.co/oM9bCjhLXr">https://t.co/oM9bCjhLXr</a>
&mdash; Chad Gilmartin (@ChadGilmartinCA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChadGilmartinCA/status/1629163746567364609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
How about we lock up the people committing these crimes instead? <a href="https://t.co/tEx4v8Sb5V">https://t.co/tEx4v8Sb5V</a>
&mdash; Dave Martinez (@_dmart_) <a href="https://twitter.com/_dmart_/status/1629158684843548674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Isn&#39;t it easier to resign?
&mdash; The Gambling Tailor (@KingTailorGang) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingTailorGang/status/1628835175504265218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Of course, Bowser won&#8217;t be resigning anytime soon, and the problems in D.C. won&#8217;t be resolved in short order either. In the meantime, it would appear that the city&#8217;s motto &#8220;Justitia Omnibus&#8221; which means &#8220;Justice For All&#8221; — has been replaced by &#8220;Free Steering Wheel Locks For All.*&#8221;
*Hyundai and Kia 2011- 21 owners only. 
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 11: DC Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks to reporters near the scene of a shooting on a metro bus at the corner of 14th and Sheridan St NW in the Brightwood neighborhood in Washington, DC on January 11, 2023. The shooting followed an altercation that occurred after several individuals boarded a bus and assaulted one individual. A gun was brandished and three people were shot; one adult male and one boy and one girl both under the age of 10. The individuals shot are reported to have serious but non life threatening injuries.

‘Free Steering Wheel Locks’: D.C.’s Latest Handout

‘Free Steering Wheel Locks’: D.C.’S Latest Handout

Washington D.C. Democrat Mayor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/d-c-mayor-muriel-bowser-caught-violating-own-rules-on-first-day-of-new-mask-mandate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Muriel Bowser</a> complained Friday that the nation’s capital is not equipped for the influx of migrants being sent by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brilliant-political-strategy-former-ny-dem-governor-praises-greg-abbott-sending-illegals-to-nyc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">red-state governors</a> fed up with the porous Mexican border.
The Democrat mayor spoke days after two buses Texas GOP Governor Greg Abbott sent from Del Rio <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-two-buses-sent-by-texas-drop-migrants-off-in-front-of-vp-kamala-harris-residence">dropped off 100 migrants</a> in front of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-two-buses-sent-by-texas-drop-migrants-off-in-front-of-vp-kamala-harris-residence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vice President Kamala Harris&#8217;s</a> official residence at the Naval Observatory. Abbott and fellow GOP chief executives Ron DeSantis, of Florida, and Doug Ducey, of Arizona, have stepped up their efforts to bring the border crisis to blue states and cities.
&#8220;We&#8217;re not a border town,” Bowser told reporters Friday. “We don&#8217;t have an infrastructure to handle this type of and level of immigration to our city &#8230; We&#8217;re not Texas.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser: &quot;We&#39;re not a border town. We don&#39;t have an infrastructure to handle this type of and level of immigration to our city &#8230; We&#39;re not Texas.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/n8NgZLwj16">pic.twitter.com/n8NgZLwj16</a>
&mdash; Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1570903928774225921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bowser did vow to build an &#8220;infrastructure&#8221; to help her city absorb migrants, but in the meantime, said D.C. can&#8217;t handle the newcomers. Twitter users roasted Bowser, who in 2018 <a href="https://twitter.com/SatcomGod13/status/1571118389971783680?s=20&amp;t=sjQQ17l3fIIcyjNWuKpBgw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared Washington, D.C., a sanctuary city</a> for illegal immigrants.
&#8220;You&#8217;ve claimed to be a sanctuary city for years, and you&#8217;re just NOW planning on infrastructure to support that effort?&#8221; wrote one Twitter commenter. &#8220;And you think immigration is a Texas problem? SMH&#8221;
&#8220;What kind of “infrastructure“ does she think exists in Texas?&#8221; asked another person on Twitter.
&#8220;Funny how it&#8217;s not a problem till it comes knocking on her door, then suddenly her city is all kind of excuses why not to deal with that problem,&#8221; wrote another. &#8220;Lame excuses, really. Hypocrite much?&#8221;
More than 2 million migrants have crossed the border into the U.S. since President Joe Biden took office and rescinded many of the Trump administration’s border security measures. The Texas governor says his state’s border towns have been flooded with migrants, and sending them to jurisdictions that support the Biden administration’s lax border policies is only sensible.
According to Abbott’s office, more than 7,700 migrants have been dropped off in Washington and more than 2,100 in New York since April. The state has spent an estimated $12 million chartering the buses.
“President Biden’s inaction at our southern border continues putting the lives of Texans — and Americans — at risk and is overwhelming our communities,” Abbott said last month. “To continue providing much-needed relief to our small, overrun border towns, Chicago will join fellow sanctuary cities Washington, D.C., and New York City as an additional drop-off location.”
In addition to Bowser, other Democrat leaders, including Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and New York Mayor Eric Adams, who have all supported the administration’s border policies, have decried the busing tactic and said their cities and states cannot absorb the influx of migrants.
The red-state tactic exploded into the national spotlight early Thursday, when planes sent by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whose state has seen thousands of migrants dropped off by the Biden administration, brought 50 illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard. The island, mostly populated by wealthy liberals, was unwilling to absorb the migrants and sent them off to a military base the next day.
Bowser last week declared a public emergency over the previous arrival of buses from Texas and Arizona. She has sought help from the National Guard in dealing with the problem but has been denied twice by the Department of Defense.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser And Law Enforcement Officials Brief Media On Security Plan For State Of The Union

Keep Them In Texas? DC Mayor Roasted For Tone-Deaf Migrant Gripe

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser Complains City Can't Handle Migrant Influx

Greg Abbott

Illegal Immigration

Martha's Vineyard

Texas

Washington, D.C., Mayor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/muriel-bowser" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Muriel Bowser</a> said Thursday that students 12 and older must show proof of vaccination against <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/covid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID</a> within the first 20 days of the new school year to continue learning in-person at public and private schools.
The Daily Signal <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/08/25/dc-mayor-says-no-virtual-learning-giving-unvaccinated-black-teens-zero-alternative-options/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> that Bowser admitted during a press conference that an alternative plan for students who cannot attend class had not been provided yet.
When the publication asked Bowser what the plan was for unvaccinated students before school begins on Monday, Bowser responded, &#8220;They can go to school on Monday, but they need to get their vaccinations … and their families will be alerted as to the dates.&#8221;
&#8220;We&#8217;re not offering remote learning for children, and families will need to comply with what is necessary to come to school,&#8221; Bowser said.
Students and faculty must also show proof of a negative COVID test before the first day of class.
The District of Columbia Public Schools issued a <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://dcps.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-and-dcps-remind-families-take-and-submit-covid-19-tests-returning-school" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a> Thursday in which Bowser said that she and the districts are &#8220;excited to welcome our students, families, and staff back to school&#8221; while excluding those who refused to comply with the vaccine.
&#8220;The Coronavirus Immunization of School Students and Early Childhood Workers Amendment Act of 2021, which the Council passed in 2021, requires students ages 12 and older to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend school,&#8221; the statement reads.
Earlier this month, Senate Democrats <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://twitter.com/SenateCloakroom/status/1556296962940583937?s=20&amp;t=iKT19ft6G3gnHU5-GO4rjw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blocked</a> a motion filed by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) that would have protected Washington, D.C., students from the city&#8217;s vaccine mandate, which primarily blocks minority school kids 12 to 15 years of age from attending school.
Cruz said in a <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-democrats-block-cruz-motion-insist-unvaccinated-african-american-kids-in-dc-shouldnt-go-to-school" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that the effects would have a further detrimental impact on students.
&#8220;In D.C., the rate of vaccination for students 12 to 15 is 85 percent,&#8221; Cruz said. &#8220;For African American students, the rate drops to 60 percent.&#8221;
D.C. Department of Health spokeswoman Kelsey Felton also confirmed to The Daily Wire that while approximately 85% of children aged 12-17 are vaccinated, 60% of African American children aged 12-17 are known to have already received two doses of the COVID vaccine.
&#8220;The actual percentages are likely higher because not all vaccines administered outside of the District are known to D.C. Health,&#8221; she explained. &#8220;The race-specific coverage number is particularly likely to be an underestimate because the COVID-19 vaccination records D.C. Health does receive from outside of the District often do not include both age and race.&#8221;
Paige Veliz-Gilbert, a teacher for DCPS, supports the mandate while acknowledging that it would affect her students in different ways.
&#8220;When I hear a hard-and-fast rule like &#8216;no vaccines, no schools,&#8217; I think it favors families who are able to drop everything and get to the doctor and puts families with less resources or flexibility in a more precarious situation,&#8221; Veliz-Gilbert said, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/08/25/just-few-school-districts-are-imposing-coronavirus-vaccine-mandates/">The Washington Post</a>.
President Joe Biden last week issued a statement ahead of the upcoming 2022-2023 school year with back-to-school safety measures.
&#8220;Every American age 6 months and over is eligible to get vaccinated, and everyone age 5 and over is eligible for a booster shot after completing their primary series,&#8221; the Biden administration wrote in an August 16 <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/16/fact-sheet-back-to-school-2022-giving-every-school-the-tools-to-prevent-covid-19-spread-and-stay-safely-open-all-year-long/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. &#8220;Getting vaccinated and staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations are the most important ways that we can minimize the most serious impacts that COVID-19 can have on our children, their teachers, and their school communities.&#8221;
Mary Margaret Olohan contributed to this report.

D.C. Mayor Says Unvaccinated Students Are Banned From In-Person Learning Ahead Of School Year, No Alternative Provided

COVID-19 Vaccine

Private Schools

Public Schools

Vaccine Mandate

Washington, D.C. Democrat Mayor <a href="http://www.dailywire.com/topic/muriel-bowser/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Muriel Bowser</a> has requested help from the National Guard to handle the influx of illegal migrants — and so far, the <a href="http://www.dailywire.com/topic/pentagon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pentagon</a> has refused her request twice.
The Department of Defense issued a letter to Bowser on Monday, saying that the National Guard was not equipped to care for migrants and that the armory located in the nation&#8217;s capital was not an acceptable housing option due to the fact that it was not air-conditioned.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The Pentagon has rejected a second request from District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser for the deployment of the D.C. National Guard to help receive and shelter migrants bused into the city from states like Texas and Arizona. <a href="https://t.co/Gry56JFS2e">https://t.co/Gry56JFS2e</a>
&mdash; CBS News (@CBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1562096072033505284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“The DC National Guard has no specific experience in or training for this kind of mission or unique skills for providing facility management, feeding, sanitation, or ground support,” the letter stated.
Bowser&#8217;s requests come on the heels of a new policy adopted by Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott, which involves busing illegal migrants from border states like Texas and Arizona to self-proclaimed “sanctuary” cities like New York City and Washington, D.C.
“The Biden administration and a lot of leaders in Congress have no idea about the chaos they have caused by their open border policies,” <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/governor-abbott-blasts-mayor-bowser-for-whining-about-illegal-alien-crisis-coming-to-d-c-from-texas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abbott said</a> in April. “And if they&#8217;re not going to come to the border, I&#8217;m going to take the border to them in Washington, D.C.”
Her <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/migrants-bused-from-texas-defense-secretary-rejects-d-c-mayors-request-for-national-guard/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first request</a> for aid was rebuffed by the Defense Department, based on the claim that sending National Guard members to manage the influx of migrants would have a negative impact on overall troop readiness.
Bowser also asked that the National Guard be made available to assist the non-governmental organization SAMU First Response “with transportation and reception of migrants arriving in the DC area” — but the Pentagon determined that the assistance coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should be sufficient.
Bowser sent a second request, asking for limited aid from the National Guard for a period of 90 days — but the Pentagon rejected that request as well.
“In contrast to the civilian-led approaches to migrant reception mentioned above, use of DCNG personnel would be inappropriate to the task, regardless of the duration or number of personnel involved,” the letter stated, noting that even a limited 90-day mission could disrupt or even cancel plans for training exercises that were already scheduled in the coming months.
Abbott responded to the news, <a href="https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1562231588569681922" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a>, “The federal government denied Mayor Bowser&#8217;s second request for help because they deny the reality of Biden&#8217;s border crisis. DC is experiencing a fraction of what Texas faces every day. Texas will continue securing the border until Biden does his job.”
Congressman Pat Fallon (R-TX) added, “You can&#8217;t have your cake and eat it too. Mayor Bowser is getting a taste of what every border community in Texas is experiencing. Her hypocrisy is laughable.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
You can&#39;t have your cake and eat it too. Mayor Bowser is getting a taste of what every border community in Texas is experiencing.
Her hypocrisy is laughable.<a href="https://t.co/Yp74xMPm9k">https://t.co/Yp74xMPm9k</a>
&mdash; Rep. Pat Fallon (@RepPatFallon) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepPatFallon/status/1562077813246758912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;

March for Our Lives 2022

Pentagon Nixes D.C. Mayor’s Request To Have National Guard Help With Migrants — Twice

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser Requested National Guard Help With Migrants, But Pentagon Said No — Twice

Migrants

National Guard

Washington, D.C., Mayor Democrat <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/muriel-bowser">Muriel Bowser</a> appeared to avoid addressing a question on why she will not allow unvaccinated black school children back in the classroom this fall by claiming that the statistics she was provided with were inaccurate.
Though many school districts have moved away from such restrictive measures, Washington, D.C., <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/d-c-s-vaccine-mandate-might-disproportionately-affect-black-students-exacerbate-racial-inequity">mandates</a> that children 12 and older be “up-to-date on required vaccinations before returning this August.”
A significant portion of D.C.&#8217;s black students is not vaccinated, sparking concerns that the mandate disproportionately impacts these children. And on Monday, The Daily Signal&#8217;s Douglas Blair questioned the D.C. mayor about &#8220;how she could justify forcing 40% of unvaccinated black students to stay home from school.&#8221;
&#8220;Why is the District continuing with this policy when it seems to disproportionately impact black students?&#8221; he asked.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t think that number is correct,&#8221; Bowser responded, though the numbers Blair cited appear to coincide with those put forth by the D.C. Department of Health. &#8220;We have substantially fewer number of kids that we have to engage with vaccination. And I explained why it&#8217;s important. It&#8217;s important for the public health of our students and that we can maintain safe environments.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I asked D.C. <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorBowser?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MayorBowser</a> how she could justify forcing 40% of unvaccinated black students to stay home from school. She said my numbers were wrong. They&#39;re her numbers. <a href="https://t.co/Gmoidu1YuU">pic.twitter.com/Gmoidu1YuU</a>
&mdash; Douglas Blair (@DouglasKBlair) <a href="https://twitter.com/DouglasKBlair/status/1559226039670284289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
On Monday, the office of the deputy mayor for education told The Daily Wire  that approximately 85% of students 12 and older have completed their primary series of COVID vaccination, noting that 95% of students have received at least one shot. The office of the deputy mayor for education believes actual coverage is higher than this due to incomplete data.
D.C. Department of Health spokeswoman Kelsey Felton also confirmed to The Daily Wire on Monday that while approximately 85% of children age 12-17 are vaccinated, 60% of African-American children age 12-17 are known to have already received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
&#8220;The actual percentages are likely higher because not all vaccines administered outside of the District are known to DC Health,&#8221; she explained. &#8220;The race-specific coverage number is particularly likely to be an underestimate because the COVID-19 vaccination records DC Health does receive from outside of the District often do not include both age and race.&#8221;
&#8220;In the District of Columbia, as in every state in the U.S., children are required to be vaccinated against many diseases to attend school, with exemptions granted for medical or religious reasons,&#8221; Felton continued. &#8220;For the upcoming 2022-23 school year, vaccination against COVID-19 is included among these requirements for children over the age of 12.   DC Health believes that vaccinating children against COVID-19 is an important action to protect them and their families from this virus.&#8221;
D.C.’s Council, rather than a school board, <a href="https://wtop.com/dc/2021/12/dc-council-approves-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-for-students/">made</a> the decision to mandate the vaccine despite a Council Office of Racial Equity (CORE) <a href="https://wtop.com/dc/2021/12/report-warns-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-for-dc-students-could-increase-racial-inequity/">report</a> on the legislation that found “enforcement of the bill will exacerbate racial inequity by disproportionately removing Black students from school.”
“This may result in increased learning loss, additional negative social and educational outcomes and in blocking students from vital school resources,” the report found.
A Kaiser Family Foundation survey <a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/kff-covid-19-vaccine-monitor-july-2022/">released in late July</a> found that many parents don’t plan to get their child vaccinated against COVID, citing “concerns about the newness of the vaccine and not enough testing or research, concerns over side effects, and worries over the overall safety of the vaccines.”
The survey also found that “about one in ten parents say they do not think their child needs the vaccine or say they are not worried about COVID-19.”
Additionally, the survey reported that 44% of black parents with unvaccinated kids between six months and four years old are concerned that getting their child vaccinated would mean that they take time off work (or that the vaccine would give the child side effects that would require the parent to take time off work).
Similarly, 45% of Hispanic parents expressed fears that they would not be able to get their children vaccinated at a trustworthy place.
Some parents (53%) even view the vaccine as a greater danger to their child’s health than COVID itself. The survey found that 67% of those whose children have previously tested positive for COVID believe this.

Screen Shot 2022-08-15 at 2.33.25 PM

D.C. Mayor Dodges Question On Why She Won’t Allow Unvaccinated Black Students In Schools This Fall

D.C. Mayor Dodges Addressing Why She Won't Let Unvaccinated Black Kids In Schools

COVID

Students

Unvaccinated

The nation&#8217;s capital is requiring all children 12 and older to be vaccinated before they begin schooling this fall — a move that could negatively affect black children already disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Though many school districts have moved away from such restrictive measures, Washington, D.C. mandates that children 12 and older be &#8220;up-to-date on required vaccinations before returning this August.&#8221;
But D.C.&#8217;s city council, rather than a school board, <a href="https://wtop.com/dc/2021/12/dc-council-approves-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-for-students/">made</a> the decision to mandate the vaccine despite a Council Office of Racial Equity (CORE) <a href="https://wtop.com/dc/2021/12/report-warns-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-for-dc-students-could-increase-racial-inequity/">report</a> on the legislation that found “enforcement of the bill will exacerbate racial inequity by disproportionately removing Black students from school.&#8221;
&#8220;This may result in increased learning loss, additional negative social and educational outcomes and in blocking students from vital school resources,&#8221; the report found.
Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser has not responded to requests for comment from The Daily Wire on this point.
&#8220;Put vaccines on your-back-to-school list,&#8221; D.C. Public Schools <a href="https://twitter.com/dcpublicschools/status/1554486614612664321">tweeted</a> on Monday.
“Our goal is that no child should miss a single day of school,” chief of D.C. Department of Health’s Health Care Access Bureau, Asad Bandealy, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/07/31/dc-schools-covid-vaccine-mandate/">said at a recent news conference</a>. “And that means we need to get started now.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Parents and guardians, a new school year is right around the corner!
To help keep kids safe in the classroom, all DC students must be up-to-date on required vaccinations before returning this August.
To find a vaccine location in your ward, visit: <a href="https://t.co/83Edr5v59B">https://t.co/83Edr5v59B</a>. <a href="https://t.co/fu0r5xS18v">pic.twitter.com/fu0r5xS18v</a>
&mdash; Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorBowser/status/1552337127337246721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
About 85% of D.C. students between 12 and 15 are vaccinated against the coronavirus, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/dc-schools-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-hit-black-students-hardest">according to a report from Fox News</a>.
Only about 60% of black students in that age range are vaccinated, the publication noted, emphasizing that strictly enforcing the requirement could cause even more distress to minority communities.
And many high-poverty students already suffered significant achievement losses during the pandemic, a Harvard University study <a href="https://cepr.harvard.edu/news/new-study-highlights-impact-remote-learning-and-offers-insights-targeting-recovery-efforts">found</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Put vaccines on your back-to-school list. Childhood vaccines, including the COVID vaccine for ages 12+, are required for school. Visit your health care provider, a DC Health mobile clinic, or a school-based health center today! <a href="https://t.co/0RS3mHTAJD">pic.twitter.com/0RS3mHTAJD</a>
&mdash; DC Public Schools (@dcpublicschools) <a href="https://twitter.com/dcpublicschools/status/1554486614612664321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;When districts shifted to remote instruction, students in high-poverty schools were most negatively impacted,” said Thomas J. Kane, faculty director for the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University (CEPR).
“School districts urgently need to reassess their plans and ensure that the scale of their catch-up efforts matches the magnitude of their students’ losses,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;If they don’t, we will see the largest widening in educational inequity in a generation.”
The D.C. Department of Health did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Daily Wire.
A Kaiser Family Foundation survey <a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/poll-finding/kff-covid-19-vaccine-monitor-july-2022/">released in late July</a> found that many parents don&#8217;t plan to get their child vaccinated against the coronavirus, citing &#8220;concerns about the newness of the vaccine and not enough testing or research, concerns over side effects, and worries over the overall safety of the vaccines.&#8221;
&#8220;Additionally,&#8221; the survey found, &#8220;about one in ten parents say they do not think their child needs the vaccine or say they are not worried about COVID-19.&#8221;
The survey also found that 44% of black parents with unvaccinated kids between six months and four years old are concerned that getting their child vaccinated would mean that they take time off work (or that the vaccine would give the child side effects that would require the parent to take time off work).
Similarly, 45% of Hispanic parents expressed fears that they would not be able to get their children vaccinated at a trustworthy place.
Some parents (53%) even view the vaccine as a greater danger to their child&#8217;s health than COVID itself. The survey found that 67% of those whose children have previously tested positive for COVID believe this.
&#8220;We know millions of parents and caregivers are eager to get their young children vaccinated, and with today’s decision, they can,&#8221; CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0618-children-vaccine.html">said</a> in mid-June. &#8220;I encourage parents and caregivers with questions to talk to their doctor, nurse, or local pharmacist to learn more about the benefits of vaccinations and the importance of protecting their children by getting them vaccinated.”

Screen Shot 2022-08-02 at 1.50.55 PM

D.C.’s Vaccine Mandate Might Disproportionately Affect Black Students, ‘Exacerbate Racial Inequity’

D.C. Mandating That Children Be Vaccinated Before School Begins 

Menu