Dogwood Weekly: What happened this week

Happy Monday, Virginia.

If you haven’t familiarized yourself with Cambridge, this week’s Dogwood Dog of the Week, what are you waiting for?

1. Two more mass shootings shake the country; here’s where gun laws stand in Virginia – More than 30 innocent people were killed and 50 more were injured last weekend in two mass shootings that shook the United States to its core. The shootings prompted renewed calls from Democrats, activists, and a large percentage of Americans to reform the country’s gun laws. It remains to be seen if Republicans finally budge from their opposition to gun safety reform, but given the raging debate swirling around guns, we decided to take a look at the current state of gun laws in Virginia. 
    
2. Activists hold vigil outside NRA Headquarters – Hundreds of protesters gathered Monday night in front of the National Rifle Association’s headquarters in Fairfax County to demand stronger gun laws. The Northern Virginia chapters of Brady and March for Our Lives organized the “Vigil for Remembrance and Change” in response to this weekend’s mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. Protesters honored the victims before criticizing the NRA and Republicans in the Senate who’ve failed to consider gun reform legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled House.
    
3. Trump’s history of racist rhetoric in the spotlight after mass shootings – Last weekend’s shootings also put a renewed spotlight on President Trump’s history of racist, anti-immigrant rhetoric. The El Paso shooting in particular has prompted backlash to the president, as the gunman published a hate-filled, anti-Latinx manifesto echoing language used by President Trump. Check out our full story for more on the responses to last weekend’s tragic events.
    
4. Rep. Gerry Connolly calls for an impeachment inquiry into Trump – Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) became the third Virginia Democrat to call for the House of Representatives to open an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. Connolly cited Trump’s obstruction of justice and defiance of congressional investigations and subpoenas, said Trump has “stoked the flames of white supremacy,” and has failed to heal the country at every turn. “Instead, he has stained the Oval Office with his racism, xenophobia, and bigotry,” Connolly said.
    
5. Richmond area schools have significant racial disparities in school discipline, report finds – Richmond-area schools suspend black students four times more often than white students, according to a new study from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium, the local research arm of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Education. The study paired its findings with suggestions to address the “racial disproportionality” of discipline practices in Richmond-area schools, including recommendations that schools revise their codes of conduct and provide additional resources and support for school leaders and teachers.

One more video before you go