I held out hope last week for an overhyped dusting until the snow began to fall. Snowstorms are OK, and even pretty, as long as you don't have to go anywhere. But my little street in South Philly has never seen a plow in the 10 years I've been living there. My chihuahua mix, who has her own snowsuit (I made it, of course), is definitely asking to see the manager. The poor thing can't see over the drifts. I hope that you've been able to dig out, and stay warm in this week's brutal temps.
The weather hasn't stopped our writers. This week, they're heading to Steel Magnolias at People's Light (critic Emily Schilling says it was a risky choice, but it paid off), a new Sherlock Holmes adaptation at the Walnut (critic C.M. Crockford loved it), and lots more. We're also tracking Philly activists and legislators who are gearing up in case the federal government turns to us for its next major ICE operation. Check out my story on last week's packed No ICE Philly meetup, and my report on Tuesday's press conference featuring a major legislative announcement from some of City Council.
Our eyes are also on the outrage at the President's House exhibit in Old City, where National Park staffers recently removed historical signage approved and funded by the Philadelphia community, because the Trump administration wants to erase the truth about our past. Look for more from us on this, but in the meantime, affirm that Philly's Black history is not going anywhere with this roundup of BSR stories.
It's another terrifying week in America, and anyone with a modicum of care for human rights is traumatized by the news out of Minneapolis, where a second person was gunned down in the street by ICE. As leaders at the January 27 press conference at City Hall said, we in Philly must follow the active, peaceful example of protestors in Minnesota. We must look out for our neighbors, and march for what's right, no matter what comes our way.
Alaina Johns
BSR editor-in-chief
