DC: Let our kids play now!
Who: District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has denied DC youth the opportunity to safely return to Fall sports by refusing to allow permits issued by DC Department of Parks and Recreation and DCPS facilities.
What: We’re calling on Mayor Bowser to allow for the safe resumption of sports and recreational programming for DC youth, the same way our peers and neighbors in Maryland and Virginia have been able to return to play over the previous several weeks. DC residents should never be forced to leave the city just to play youth sports, and our kids deserve to play just as much as everyone else.
Recently Mayor Bill deBlasio overturned his decision to deny permits for youth sports in NYC, and we need the same swift action to be taken here in DC. The COVID pandemic has created an incredibly stressful environment for our underserved communities, and we must ensure that the ongoing physical, mental and emotional health of DC youth becomes a top priority. We demand a fair and equitable solution for ALL of our families.
Why: For the past 6 months our most vulnerable population has been stuck indoors with no access to the structured sports programs that create vital support systems for at-risk youth. DC fields and recreational spaces have been used by neighborhood groups during this time, but they lack the necessary safety protocols. Unchecked ‘pick-up’ soccer games with large gatherings of people (sometimes 50 to 100+) at local venues have been common all summer. As long as there are no permits available for safely returning to play in DC, our community as a whole is at an increasingly higher risk.
Meanwhile, outside city limits, many of the District’s neighboring counties have allowed permits and resumed sports programming with safety protocols for youth: Fairfax County (VA), Arlington County (VA), Montgomery County (MD) and Howard County (MD). We can do better!
How: Join us today. Help us ensure that our kids don’t get left on the sidelines anymore, and let’s work together to keep our DC family safe during this pandemic.
Mayor Bowser: Let Our Kids Play Now!
yours in community,
Amir Lowery