NBA champions Golden State Warriors to visit with D.C. students instead of Trump

The NBA champion Golden State Warriors will spend next week's trip to Washington, D.C., visiting local children after the team was disinvited (although the team had said they weren't going???) from the White House by President Trump.

The team told ESPN that the players plan to attend a small event closed to media with local D.C. children during their visit to the nation's capital, though details of the event were not readily available.

"It's their championship. They got disinvited to the White House, so it's up to them what they wanted to do. So they made their plans," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told ESPN. "I want the players to have a good day and to do something positive and to enjoy what they're doing."

The event was decided on after the team received invitations from Democrats such as Mayor Muriel Bowser and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) to visit the U.S. Capitol. But the Warriors decided not to politicize their visit to Washington.

"At the end of the day, it's about us celebrating a championship, so there's no point in getting into the political stuff and all that," forward Draymond Green told ESPN. "It's about something we did great. Why make it about [politics]?"

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Michelle Obama shows support for students fighting for sensible gun laws

As survivors of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting capture the nation’s attention with their persistent and powerful calls for sensible gun laws, former first lady Michelle Obama has expressed “total awe” and support for the young activists.

I’m in total awe of the extraordinary students in Florida. Like every movement for progress in our history, gun reform will take unyielding courage and endurance. But @barackobama and I believe in you, we’re proud of you, and we’re behind you every step of the way.

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) February 22, 2018

#WakandaTheVote: Activist using Black Panther screening to increase voter registration

Days after the premiere of "Black Panther," lines are still out the door at theaters across New York City.

Now activists are using the Marvel super hero movie starring a nearly all black cast and set in the fictional East African nation of Wakanda as a chance to increase African American voter registration.

Oprah Announces $500k Donation to ‘March For Our Lives’

Celebrities are putting their financial might behind a march on Washington being organized by students who survived last week’s mass shooting that left 17 dead at a Parkland, Florida high school.

Earlier on Tuesday, George and Amal Clooney announced they are donating $500,000 to the upcoming “March For Our Lives” — and now talk show titan Oprah Winfrey has said she will match their donation:

George and Amal, I couldn’t agree with you more. I am joining forces with you and will match your $500,000 donation to ‘March For Our Lives.’ These inspiring young people remind me of the Freedom Riders of the 60s who also said we’ve had ENOUGH and our voices will be heard.

— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) February 20, 2018

Sen. Tim Scott says Russia investigation, Fla. school shooter tips are "separate issues"

Trump is falsely trying to make the claim that if the FBI spent less time on Russia and more time on following up the tips on the shooter in Parkland Florida that maybe they could have stopped that shooting. Trump leaves out the fact that over 35,000 men and women serve in the FBI and that they can probably handle more than one investigation at a time. He also ignores the fact that tips about the shooter would have been dealt with by the local field office, not by those handling the Russia investigation.

Even fellow republicans such as Sen. Tim Scott have stepped in to say that the two investigations are two separate issues.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, says the reality is that they are "two separate issues." "I think we have to separate the issue, without any question," Scott told CBS News' "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

We, the system, have not done the right job," said Scott, pointing to shortcomings in law enforcement's ability to prevent the Charleston and Texas church shootings.

"What we've seen in three major atrocities is that the system that was in place simply was not followed. So my focus is not on having or not having a gun debate. We're going to have that," said Scott. "But the reality of it is that three incidents could have been avoided, prevented, if the system itself had worked."

Scott noted, however, that he was hopeful Congress would "get something done this year" with regard to bringing bipartisan gun legislation to the Senate floor.

"The reality of it is that we have a sense of urgency about getting this done. And I'm very hopeful that this is the time that we see this nation's leadership united to solve a problem that could've prevented atrocities," said Scott. [SOURCE]