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Norton Thanks U.S. Capitol Police for Not Enforcing Sledding Ban

March 5, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C.—After requesting a waiver to allow sledding on Capitol Grounds for this snowstorm was denied last night by the U.S. Capitol Police Board, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today was gratified to hear reports that dozens of residents had succeeded in sledding on the Capitol Grounds after all. U.S. Capitol Police informed parents that the sledding ban was still in effect, but did not prevent kids from sledding.

"My thanks to the U.S. Capitol Police, who did not interfere with sledding on the Capitol Grounds today," Norton said. "Today was like most days in the city's history when sledding has been permitted on the hill outside the Capitol. I had to be out and about, but I did not go to the Capitol after my staff informed me that kids were sledding. I wanted it to be clear that today's sledding resulted from spontaneous organizing by parents for their kids. There could have been no better showing of the strong community support for overturning—or not enforcing—the sledding ban. Neither the waiver that I requested nor old fashioned commonsense policing about when to use the heavy hand of the law matter to kids. All kids know that D.C. is not Massachusetts and we rarely get enough snow to make having a sled seem worth it. Today, parents who saw the snow could not bring themselves to say, ‘do not touch,' or worse, ‘keep off America's front lawn.' Thank you, Capitol Police."