washington d.c news

The U.S. House Rules Committee is considering three Republican-backed bills that would override Washington D.C.'s local laws regarding noncitizen voting rights, police reform, and immigration cooperation. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has strongly criticized these measures as undemocratic interference with the District's self-governance, calling them "paternalistic" attacks on the will of over 700,000 D.C. residents. The bills would specifically prohibit noncitizens from voting in local D.C. elections, roll back police accountability reforms enacted after the 2020 protests, and nullify D.C.'s sanctuary city policies by forcing cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Norton emphasized that these proposals represent federal overreach into matters that should be decided by D.C.'s local government and called for Congress to respect the District's democratically enacted laws.

President Trump has dispatched 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles without California Governor Gavin Newsom's approval, drawing parallels to his 2020 actions in Washington, D.C., where federal forces violently removed peaceful Black protesters demonstrating against George Floyd's killing. For Black Washingtonians, who lack state government protection and voting representation in Congress, this intervention in Los Angeles serves as a troubling reminder of their vulnerability to federal overreach and militarized responses to Black-led protests. The article outlines five specific reasons why Black D.C. residents should be concerned, including the precedent set by Trump's previous militarized response to protests, disproportionate policing of Black communities, D.C.'s lack of statehood protection, threats from Project 2025, and Trump's rhetoric that criminalizes Black dissent.

Africa Day, celebrated globally during the last week of May, commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and its successor the African Union (AU), marking 62 years since its establishment in 2025. This year's theme, "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations," highlighted strategies for addressing historical injustices while supporting the AU's Agenda 2063 development plan. The AU Representational Mission to the United States hosted a celebration on May 30, featuring speeches, cultural displays, and performances that emphasized Pan-African unity. Attendees and embassy officials stressed the importance of diaspora connections and collaborative efforts to realize Africa's potential as a global influence.

The article identifies ten towns across the United States with populations that are entirely or nearly entirely Black or African American. These communities, including Jonestown, Mississippi; Lincoln Park, Georgia; Unionville, Georgia; and Harlem, Florida, face varying economic challenges with most experiencing high poverty rates despite some differences in median household incomes. Many of these towns are experiencing population decline, with Jonestown's population dropping from 956 in 2020 to 866 residents currently. The article provides detailed demographic and economic statistics for each community, highlighting the significant economic disparities these predominantly Black towns face compared to national averages.

Black-majority cities continue to serve as cultural, political, and economic centers for African Americans in 2025, with South Fulton, Jackson, and Detroit being prominent examples where African Americans constitute more than 80% of the population. These urban centers persist as vital anchors for Black America despite ongoing challenges and inequality. According to demographic projections, the United States is expected to become a minority-white nation by 2045, with racial minorities driving significant demographic and economic changes. The article lists the top 10 American cities with the highest percentage of Black residents in 2025, led by South Fulton, Georgia, where 93.26% of the population identifies as Black.

The House has passed a budget bill that analysts and civil rights advocates warn will disproportionately harm Black Americans through massive cuts to social programs. The legislation reduces Medicaid funding by $880 billion, cuts $300 billion from SNAP (food stamps), eliminates subsidized student loans, and expands tax breaks that primarily benefit wealthy individuals. These changes threaten essential lifelines for Black communities who disproportionately rely on these programs for healthcare, food security, education access, and housing assistance, while simultaneously reducing funding for diversity initiatives and legal aid services.