WASHINGTON, DC – DC Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) released the following statement in response to an incident on Sunday, August 13 at the William H. Rumsey Aquatics Center located in Eastern Market. 

“I have spoken with leadership at both the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Metropolitan Police Department. As I understand it, an individual came to a public pool in Ward 6 and displayed on his person a symbol of hatred and bigotry. When asked to leave by staff, he started using hateful and derogatory language toward the staff and was then escorted from the building by Protective Services.

The symbols and language of hate have no place in our community. When the President of the United States lacks the courage to openly denounce hatred, it falls to each of us to do so. I call on all of us to speak up and reject symbols of hatred and bigotry wherever and whenever they appear. We cannot allow these symbols, these words, and these acts to become normalized.”

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