OnPolitics: Two grieving communities
A vehicle is towed away from the scene where Daunte Wright was killed on April 11, 2021 in Brooklyn Center, Minn. (Photo: Stephen Maturen, Getty Images)
It’s been a busy day in Washington, OnPolitics readers.
Today, United States Capitol Police Officer William “Billy” Evans lies in honor in the Capitol rotunda. (Evans was killed when he and another officer were struck near the Capitol by a car April 2 that then rammed a barrier.)
In big foreign policy news, President Joe Biden plans to pull all military forces out of Afghanistan by Sept. 11, ending U.S. presence in the Middle Eastern nation by the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that spurred America’s longest war.
It’s Mabinty, with your guide to the day’s political news.
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The Obamas’ heavy heart
Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama issued a statement grieving the loss of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man who was shot and killed by police during a Sunday traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb.
“Our hearts are heavy over yet another shooting of a Black man, Daunte Wright, at the hands of police,” the couple wrote in a joint statement. “It’s important to conduct a full and transparent investigation, but this is also a reminder of just how badly we need to reimagine policing and public safety in this country,” they urged.
Wright’s death took place just miles from the ongoing trial of Derek Chauvin, the white police officer who faces murder charges in the death of George Floyd. The incident has again sparked outrage and grief in a community already grappling with the Chauvin trial.
Biden called the shooting death of Wright “a really tragic thing” on Monday and said he watched “fairly graphic” body camera footage from the officer who fired the fatal shot.
“The question is was it an accident? Was it intentional?” Biden told reporters at the White House. “That remains to be determined by a full-blown investigation.”
- Officer identified as a 26-year veteran in fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright:What we know
Will Congress *actually* pass hate crime legislation?
Last month, our politics reporter Jeanine Santucci reported that with six of the eight victims killed in recent shootings in Atlanta identified as of Asian descent, Asian Americans and lawmakers across the country have reported increased fear of attacks on their communities, amid an uptick in racially motivated attacks.
Today, Santucci reports Democratic lawmakers are urging Republicans to get on board with legislation that aims to combat hate crimes against Asian Americans and strengthen hate crime reporting.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said at a press conference on Tuesday that the Senate would bring up the bill this week on the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which was introduced by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii.
But with 60 votes required to bring the legislation to a full vote for passage in the Senate, Democrats might be facing a filibuster if not enough Republicans back the legislation, as Democrats have a slim 50-seat majority.
More news to know:
- Rep. Madison Cawthorn proposes ‘Donument’ act,making Trump’s border wall a national monument
- Ron DeSantis might already be running for president. Donald Trump could help – and hurt – his plans
- President Joe Biden to nominate Christine Wormuthas first woman secretary of the Army
- Biden ‘prepared to negotiate’ size, taxes with lawmakerson $2.25 trillion infrastructure and jobs plan
Today is a good day to practice self-care. —Mabinty
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