Irene Ly, a junior majoring in psychology, is The Hatchet’s contributing opinions editor.
In case you missed it, here’s the best and worst news from around campus and the District this week.
Thumbs up:
A D.C. chef is using cooking skills to stop gun violence.
Recent gun-related violence has prompted Beuchert’s Saloon Executive Chef Andrew Markert to organize a fundraiser called “Forks Up, Guns Down” to benefit the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Washington City Paper reported Monday. The CSGV is a nonprofit umbrella group that consists of 47 national organizations that work to reduce gun violence through research and political advocacy.
The event will be held July 31 and will feature food from Bar Pilar’s Jesse Miller, Sixth Engine’s Kyle Bailey, The Hamilton’s Anthony Lombardo, as well as drinks from guest bartenders including The Dabney’s Tyler Hudgens.
Beuchert’s Saloon had hoped to raise $5,000 for the CSGV by selling 100 tickets to the event for $50 apiece. Tickets have already sold out.
While no significant gun control legislation has passed despite the recent events of gun violence, it is encouraging to see that people on the other side of the Hill are doing their part to make a difference, and being creative about it.
Thumbs down:
The District may have the most to lose from a Donald Trump presidency.
In the Republican Party’s official platform released Monday, the party rejected the idea of D.C. statehood and budget autonomy, Washington City Paper reported. The District’s statehood “can be advanced only by a constitutional amendment” and that “any other approach would be invalid,” according to the platform.
The Washington Post referred to the language used in the document as “the most forceful anti-statehood language in decades.”
Despite the platform, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser continued with her push for statehood and traveled to Cleveland Tuesday to visit the Republican Convention to lobby for D.C. statehood, the Washington Post reported.
Although D.C. shadow senator Paul Strauss said that Bowser was recognized and welcomed at the convention, it is likely her calls for statehood will do little to sway those in support of the platform.
The Republican Party’s anti-statehood views contrast those of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who has said she will advocate for D.C. statehood. Passing statehood for the District is also in the draft of the Democratic platform.
Whether or not the president supports statehood may ultimately not have a significant effect on enacting statehood. But it may give D.C. residents another reason to support one candidate over another.
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