Lafayette Square near the White House reopens to public

[left-of-center2012]

Lafayette Square, the park across from the White House, reopened Monday to the public nearly a year after federal authorities fenced off the area at the height of nationwide protests over policing following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The square, which offers perhaps the best view of the White House to the public, was closed after U.S. Park Police officers last June forcefully dispersed protesters who had gathered near the White House.

The protesters were ejected from the square shortly before then-President Donald Trump walked across the park to stand near St. John’s Church to pose before cameras holding a Bible. The church had been damaged the night before Trump’s photo-op, when a fire was set in the basement of the building during protests.

Fencing still surrounds the square named after the American Revolutionary War hero, but entryways on the northern side of the park were quietly opened to the public on Monday morning.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/george-floyd-donald-trump-death-of-george-floyd-government-and-politics-67492b52d542145d559a9f45ddd5f866

[Hekate]

1. This is very good news

[AllaN01Bear]

2. yes.

[underpants]

3. Good. I remember watching that with my daughter

The police or whatever they were (prisons?) took that first step forward and I said out loud “Uh oh”. What we watched that day I will never forget.

[gratuitous]

4. I wonder how much coverage this will get?

It has all the hallmarks of a feel-good story on the television machine. Easy to understand visuals, before-and-after contrasts, an uplifting reason for the change, and uh oh! it might piss off Needy Amin. Never mind. Can't risk that.

[Brother Buzz]

5. Good, John Carr, aka Oliver Stone....

can return to his vigil, and I understand there's a little bounce in his step there days