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Activists march on Capitol Hill in support of Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’

By Will Vitka

Activists from multiple groups blocked roads in downtown D.C. during Tuesday morning’s rush hour in an effort to pressure Congress on climate, health care, immigration and voting rights reforms. WTOP’s Alejandro Alvarez reported there was approximately 200 people participating in the demonstrations, which were organized by ShutDownDC, SPACEs In Action, CODEPINK, Arm in Arm Washington DC, CCAN Action Fund and Action Rebellion DC, among other groups. Most were there to call on the U.S. Senate to pass President Biden’s Build Back Better legislation by the end of 2021. Groups had billed today’s action on the Capitol as a “Deadline for Democracy”. https://twitter.com/codepink/status/1467903228473970689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1467903228473970689%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wusa9.com%2Farticle%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fprotests%2Fdemonstrators-demanding-action-on-build-back-better-plan%2F65-25200979-3ac0-4882-9198-aa30ba37334f “We need Build Back Better in time for the holidays,” a speaker said. The demonstrations, which began around 7 a.m., caused delays for morning commuters, but had moved off the main roads by around 10 a.m..

In anticipation of Tuesday morning’s demonstrations, United States Capitol Police (USCP) had shut down several streets adjacent to the Capitol. Groups still managed to cause disruptions throughout the morning. Alvarez reported that anti-war group Code Pink parked a wooden tank covered in paper flowers at the intersection of 4th and Independence Avenue, SW.

Activists blocked a number of roads during the morning rush Tuesday in an effort to pressure Congress on climate, health care, immigration and voting rights reforms. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)
Three blockades, with about a dozen people each, managed to stop inbound traffic from the 3rd Street Tunnel and Independence Ave., S.W. Another blockade (with live music) for health and child care reform halted traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capitol, where the pavement was covered in chalk messages to Congress, Alvarez reported. According to the group Extinction Rebellion, two of its members were arrested for blocking 4th and Independence SW. USCP has told WTOP that 38 people were arrested throughout the day for “obstructing or incommoding”. Shortly before noon, as the morning’s crowd began to thin, Alvarez reported a large contingent of immigration-rights protesters with the group CASA, along with a handful of other groups, began marching on Capitol Hill.

Get the latest on traffic conditions from the WTOP Traffic Center online and get updates on the 8s at 103.5FM. [google_map latitude=”38.88948915521118″ longitude=”-77.008988932995″ zoom=”14″ height=”300px” location_label=”Protests” dynamic_map=”true”] WTOP’s Alejandro Alvarez and Jessica Kronzer contributed to this report.

Oversight Committee and Dan Snyder at odds over subpoena

By Peter Hailey
Oversight Committee and Snyder at odds over subpoena originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonThe House Committee on Oversight and Reform released a statement Monday alleging that Commanders owner Dan Snyder "has so far refused to accept service" of the subpoena that was originally mentioned by Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) last Wednesday."While the Committee has been, and remains, willing to consider reasonable accommodations requested by witnesses, we will not tolerate attempts to evade service of a duly authorized subpoena or seek special treatment not afforded to other witnesses who testified in this matter," a Committee spokesperson said. "The Committee will not be deterred from obtaining Mr. Snyder’s testimony, and we remain committed to ensuring transparency about the toxic workplace culture at the Washington Commanders and the NFL’s inadequate response."Snyder's side, however, disputed those comments through its own statement hours later."Mr. Snyder has not refused to appear for a deposition," a spokesman texted NBC Sports Washington's JP Finlay. "The Committee offered only one date – June 30 – and Mr. Snyder’s attorney is out of the country and unavailable on that date. Mr. Snyder's lawyer has provided alternative dates to the Committee and looks forward to finding a path forward for Mr. Snyder's further cooperation and to address remaining due process concerns."Washington Football Talk Podcast | Listen and Subscribe | Watch on YouTubeIn the June 22 hearing focused on Washington's allegedly toxic culture, Maloney announced her intent to subpoena Snyder for a deposition. Snyder didn't voluntarily show for the proceedings and was in France as it played out. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell participated and answered questions from members of the Committee."If the NFL is unwilling to hold Mr. Snyder accountable, then I am prepared to do so," Maloney said in the hearing.In addition to Goodell, multiple former employees of the franchise have spoken to the Committee about their experiences working under Snyder, including a couple of higher-level executives. Snyder himself, though, has yet to engage with the Committee, which has been investigating his ownership of the club for nearly nine months. 
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