Category Archives: Freedom

Before we get into todays Freedom Kicks, be sure to check out yesterdays:

Tuesday Freedom Kicks: International matches galore, Dave Johnson part of Annapolis Blues ownership group, and more

Read it? Welcome back. Its almost October, which means those of us secretly already watching Halloween movies can now openly watch Halloween movies. I love this season. Meteorologically, that is - not MajorLeagueSoccerly.

Andy Najar has unfortunately been injured again on international duty with Honduras. I just dont know what to say anymore.

Loudoun United is young. Very young. Globally young.

Hoyas, its time to buy into the Washington Spirit: I never get tired of reading about new fans wonderstruck by our local teams.

Washington Spirit call on Congress to pass Equal Pay for Team USA Act: Want to know more about what this headline means? Click the link.

Trinity Rodman gains some more recognition.

Three takeaways from the USMNTs frustrating 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia: Jasons thoughts on how last last match went... My thoughts? Berhalter obviously is playing 4D chess to make our World Cup opponents overconfident.

Meanwhile, on the U20 side of things... I recognize that name.

Report: 2026 World Cup Final to be played at AT&T Stadium: The World Cup looks like its headed to JerryWorld.

The IMSA season draws to a close at Road Atlanta this Saturday, and with it, the end of the DPi era. The DPi championship remains up for grabs. A reminder of how this race and championship ended last year:

With that, I leave you with the famous words of a beloved pig: Thats all, folks!

See the article here:

Wednesday Freedom Kicks: Another D.C. United injury, International roundups, and more - Black And Red United

Emily Dimick | Reporter

The Bowling Green State University College Democrats, Feminist Organization Rallying for Gender Equity and BG Persists will meet on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m. in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union to address the confusion behind Roe v. Wade being overturned.

When Roe v. Wade was overturned, it left many Ohioans wondering what is and isnt legal, in regards to reproductive rights. The senior organizer at ProChoice Ohio Hannah Servedio will talk about the new restrictions on abortion in the state and options that are available for women seeking abortions.

Bowling Green Councilperson Nick Rubando will attend the meeting, to inform attendees about the ways they can protect their reproductive rights. Tables with resources including handouts, informational pamphlets and more will be available for those attending.

After the meeting, attendees and anyone else who would like to join, are welcome to march through campus. Supplies will be available for people to make signs about the new restrictions on reproductive rights.

Read the rest here:

Reproductive Freedom Event happening Thursday | Campus | bgfalconmedia.com - bgfalconmedia.com

We may be on an international break, but soccer news never stops! D.C. United players have been busy on the pitch, albeit not in Black-and-Red, and there is plenty to keep us typing.

Victor Plsson got the start for Iceland against Albania today. A 1-1 draw puts Iceland in second place in their group.

Ravel Morrison made the XI for new head coach Heimirs first Reggae Boyz match - a friendly against Argentina at 8 pm ET today.

Morrison and Plsson arent alone competing for their country today. Jeremy Garay plays for El Salvador against Peru at Audi Field at 8 pm ET, while Andy Najar kits up for Honduras against Guatemala at 9 pm ET. Jackson Hopkins will join the U20 Youth National Team to take on Paraguay at 10 pm ET.

Loudoun United had three players make the USL Championship Team of the Week; Tyler Freeman, Skage Simonsen, and Ted Ku-DiPietro all made the cut.

Dave Johnson, the voice of D.C. United (and the Wizards, and really the voice of sports in the DMV) has joined the Annapolis Blues ownership group. We love to see it!

According to Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico, D.C. United is valued at more than $800 million. (This figure includes real estate development, Audi Field, the United Performance Center, sports betting and more.)

Finally, how is the USMNT really doing? Susannah Collins, Charlie Davies, and Tom Bogert discuss:

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Tuesday Freedom Kicks: International matches galore, Dave Johnson part of Annapolis Blues ownership group, an - Black And Red United

The HU Skate Club, photo courtesy of Kennedi Armour.

Nested in the corner of the Banneker Recreational Park lies a skate park, dressed in graffiti. The park can be heard before its seen with skateboards banging against the concrete to the tunes of R&B and Hip-hop. If its quiet, its likely a weekday afternoon and the Howard University students that fill the park are busy at school. A growing community of Howard students meet at the park every Friday to skate, sit, talk and debrief after a long week.

If I am not in class or working, I am skating, said Monyell Sessoms, the Howard University Skate Club president. If Im frustrated I skate, if Im happy I skate, if Im sad I skate, literally any state you can find me skating. Its kind of just my outlet.

Sessoms was a huge fan of the music group Odd Future growing up and after watching them skate, she thought of taking it up herself. She enjoyed it, but she didnt become an avid skater overnight. Sessoms didnt live in sunny California like the people in Odd Future, she lived in North Carolina where hardly anyone around her skated, let alone any Black people. She didnt have a cool group of people to skate with like those she admired.

Sessoms wanted to change that going into college and began recruiting skaters far before even stepping onto Howards campus. A year into the coronavirus pandemic and a year before students would return to Howards campus, Sessoms made a request for Howard skate buddies on Twitter.Monyell Sessoms, photo courtesy of Kennedi Armour.

Through this informal PSA, she met Kameren Haliday, another skater at Howard. Haliday is a junior computer science major and the vice president of the skateboarding club. When she was 11-years-old, she got her first board on Christmas. It was a thin, plastic $15 skateboard from Walmart. She was grateful for the board even though it was not the sturdy, wood skateboard that she really needed. Shortly after receiving the skateboard, she was riding at her local skatepark when the wheels abruptly stopped turning and she was stuck in a cast for weeks. During this time, she saved up for a better skateboard, and this one was perfect. If you saw Haliday, you saw her penny board glued to her arm, she described.

When the two finally arrived at Howards campus, they immediately began skateboarding. To their surprise, not many students were at Banneker upon their arrival.

My first day here, I came up here and I was like Dude, I dont see any skaters, said Sessoms in disbelief. So we started gradually finding each other, but I just thought, what if we were organized? What if we had set times to meet, just as a set inclusive space for everyone to come skate?Photo courtesy of Kennedi Armour.Photo courtesy of Kennedi Armour.

The HU Skate Club had its first meeting on Friday, Aug. 19 and the turnout made Sessoms and Haliday more confident to continue promoting their club.

First day, I had a bunch of people come up to me like, Oh my god, there are Black skaters here they didnt know this was here, they didnt know people skated on campus, but were here, said Sessoms excitedly. Weve kinda created a space where people can just be happy Black kids, theres no pressure to do anything.

Haliday and Sessoms both attested to chasing down anyone they saw with a skateboard, urging them to join them at the park. Community was something both of them valued and they wanted to create one if it wasnt already there. Not just for their fellow Howard students, but for little kids in the neighborhood who play just a few hundred feet away from the skatepark.

Were going to impact all the little girls that go to the playground and see us skateboarding, all the little boys that walk by, you know, to get McDonalds with their friends and see us skateboarding. All the other students that think, Oh Im too old to learn actually come out here and want to learn, said Haliday. Because its something fun that everyone should be allowed to do. Free to express themselves in this way.

Freedom of expression is what drives the club. Upon walking onto the skate grounds, one begins to realize that no one skater looks the same. Every shred of clothing, board and song that becomes a backdrop for cool tricks and aspiring skaters, all of it is aesthetically distinctive from the rest of what Howard University has to offer. Despite the individuality of every skater, they are all drawn to each other through the umbrella of being Black.

Were all here for the same purpose. Here, were all passionate about skating and its just somewhere we can go, said freshman psychology major and health sciences minor, MJ, from Pennsylvania. I feel like this skate community is very non-judgmental, especially as Black skaters. We just wanna hang out, this is our way of letting go, of having a good time.

Regardless of skill or experience with a board, everyone who sets foot on the skating grounds feels free of all judgment, like Bryten Gant, a junior electronics studio major from Georgia.

The fact that [the club] is very beginner friendly helps a lot because when I did my research, I feel like I got scared because I didnt wanna be seen as a poser, said Gant, holding their skateboard with both hands. But seeing so many Black skaters is so empowering and the fact that they emphasize beginners are welcome made me feel accepted.

Non-skaters, beginners and experienced skaters all share the park whole-heartedly. Its a community that thrives because of everyones willingness to be who they are. This freedom to be authentic is what allows beginners to learn, fall and get back up without embarrassment. Its common to find Haliday with a small group of beginner skaters, helping them balance on their boards, holding their arms so as to not fall over.

People like Sir Aivlys Blair, a Washington, D.C. resident, also teaches beginners how to skate. Blair doesnt attend Howard University, but finds peace and happiness in skating and his ability to teach others how to skate.Sir Aivlys Blair (right), photo courtesy of Kennedi Armour.

My homie signed up for this program to become a skateboarding teacher and he put me on. I applied and was accepted and I started doing lessons for like, two years, then branched off and started doing my own lessons, said Blair, speaking over the thumping music and scraping skateboard wheels. I love sharing this thing that carried me through more than half of my life and gave me happiness and friends I wouldnt have gotten otherwise.

To people like Essenia Satya, a junior sociology major and Spanish minor from Oakland, California, the Howard University Skate Club is more than a large group of like-minded individuals who have a desire to skate, its a family of students and D.C. locals who have bonded over skate culture and Black culture. Its a safe space of passion, dedication, friendship and love.

All types of people are welcome, whether you skate or not, said Satya. You can come at 5 p.m. and there will be people skating here until, like, 11 p.m., even after the lights turn off. Therell be people playing games and doing random stuff and becoming friends with each other.

Skating is an art form. Howard students are often known for their acute sense of style, intelligence and art. The skate club is simply another affirmation of this established reputation. Jerome Halsell, a senior electrical engineering major from Indianapolis, Indiana, found comfort in the clubs welcoming atmosphere.

Not only is it a community, its an open place for all, skaters and non-skaters alike, Halsell said passionately. Its a place for people to just enjoy themselves, to watch others enjoy themselves, and you know, have a good time. This club is just another way Howard is expressing diversity and art.

You can find more information on the club on Instagram.

Copy edited by Chanice McClover-Lee

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The Howard University Skate Club: A Celebration of Freedom and Authenticity - The Hilltop Online

Omar Bah| Guest columnist

Omar Bah is the founder of the Refugee Dream Center in Providence, and a former refugee from The Gambia. He is seeking the Democratic nomination for Rhode Islands 2nd Congressional District.

In The Gambia, where I spent the first 26 years of my life, women who sought and received abortion and other reproductive health services along with their doctors were frequently arrested, tortured, jailed, and sometimes disappeared. Some fled the country out of legitimate fear for their lives simply for seeking to access medical care that should be available to any woman.

This oppression and persecution did not stop at health care. As the authoritarian regime solidified its grip on power, the government even passed executive orders governing how a woman could dress. If you were a member of the LGBTQI+ community, you also lived in daily fear for your safety.

Because this abuse of power evolved over a period of years, the citizenry of our small country failed to act quickly enough to stop the downfall of our fragile democracy.

American democracy is at risk.

I have heard other political candidates also state this fact, butrespectfully, they dont fully understand the riskor how authoritarianism manifests, because they have not lived through it. I have.

In The Gambia (which I fled in 2006), ascension to power of a warlord who would never voluntarily relinquish his position was superseded by deep divisions in society. Through a combination of apathy and complacency, Gambians were lulled into thinking that the already poor economy and limited number of opportunities for jobs and education could not possibly get any worse. They were wrong.

I was one of those who resisted, as I observed the evil and coercive forces overtaking our young democracy, and I nearly paid with my life. I do not by any measure consider myself a radical, because I dont think defending democracy, defending a womans right to have an abortion, and defending the chance for everyone to achieve the American Dream are radical concepts.

However, we need in Congress more leaders who are willing to take a radical approach to defending American democracy and freedom as we have come to know it. It seems that the Republican Party and the U.S. Supreme Court are working in lockstep to take away rights of ordinary people, and to set this country back 50 or 100 years. We are marching, every day, closer and closer toward a society which oppresses its citizens. I have seen it happen, and we are on the same path.

I will not sit by while Justice Clarence Thomas seeks to fulfill all his wildest fantasies, which very likely include rolling back gay marriage, contraception and separations between church and state. I will not remain silent while politicians like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump do everything in their power to suppress the rights of people who look like me (or anyone) through repressive voting laws.

Because of my personal experiences, I have the ability to amplify this message in Congress in a way that very few others can.

In The Gambia, I was arrested on numerous occasions, and tortured. Despite the risks to my personal safety, I continued in my resistance to those who were oppressing my people. I want to urge Rhode Islanders to not be complacent in your views of, and engagement in, our democratic processes including in the 2nd District Congressional race.

The "powers that be"in the Democratic Party would like you to think that the only way to ensure that this seat remains Democratic is to elect the "safest" candidate to face off against Republican Allan Fung. I couldn't disagree more.

This great state needs to elect a leader who has a chance to transcend political divisions and wake up the politicians and those who think America is "too big to fail."

Because, it may not be.

Original post:

Opinion/Bah: Defending democracy and freedom is more important now than ever - The Providence Journal

Saint Augustines University (SAU) has signed Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) Cybersecurity memorandum of understanding to participate in Student Freedom Initiatives HBCU Capacity Building Effort.

Student Freedom Initiative, along with its strategic partnerships with Cisco, will work to address the digital divide faced by the nations HBCUs. The services provided will be at no cost to HBCUs.

This is an exciting time for Saint Augustines University, said SAU President Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail. This partnership advances our position by giving our students the core competencies and a secure, newly improved technological infrastructure necessary to prepare them for global leadership.

Student Freedom Initiative and Cisco are well-positioned to lead HBCUs through the process of implementing enhanced cybersecurity frameworks. Under this program, Saint Augustines will lower its risk of cyber-attacks and position itself to take advantage of new opportunities that will close the digital divide.

Becoming a part of the SFIs HBCU Capacity Building Effort is a major step towards advancing Dr. McPhails strategic initiatives related to Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (ST(R)E(A)M), said Dr. Terry Kidd, Vice President of Strategic Planning, Research, Technology & Innovation. In a rapidly changing higher education landscape, partnership such as these plays a critical role in expanding our digital infrastructure to innovate our learning ecosystem for the success of our students.

Cisco is donating more than $100 million in software and services to help HBCUs comply with NIST standards. Additionally, Cisco Networking Academy, an industry-standard IT education program, will be available to all HBCUs. This program will help ensure HBCU students and staff access relevant cybersecurity training and workforce development material.

Collectively, Student Freedom Initiative and Cisco will bring meaningful, sustained, and measurable opportunities to advance the HBCU ecosystem, added Keith B. Shoates, chief operating officer of Student Freedom Initiative.

Cybersecurity challenges and the ability to adequately keep pace with technological advancements are significant concerns in higher education.

About Student Freedom Initiative

A single purpose nonprofit organization, Student Freedom Initiative provides a catalyst for freedom in professional and life choices for students attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) by increasing their social and economic mobility using a student centric, evidence based, holistic, and collaborative approach. Initially focused on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Student Freedom Initiative enables mobility through four transformational components: (1) Income Contingent Alternative to Parent Plus and Private Loans, (2) Internships, (3) Tutoring/Mentorships/Other Services, and (4) Targeted HBCU Capacity Building. Student Freedom Initiative collaborates with community-based organizations, businesses, and governmental entities through public-private partnerships to make sustainable, systemic changes to support the entire HBCU ecosystem.

To date, Student Freedom Initiative has received generous contributions from ouranchor donorsRobert F. Smith, Fund II Foundation, and Cisco Systems, andmany others who have provided financial and/or in-kind services. The program has also beenacknowledged and supportedby the Business Roundtables Racial Equity & Justice Subcommittee on Education.

To learn more, visitwww.StudentFreedomInitiative.orgor@StudentFreedom on Twitter.

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Saint Augustine's University Partners with Student Freedom Initiative to Receive $1.6 Million in Software and Services - Saint Augustine's University

When she moved to Wind Crest, the Erickson Senior Living community in Douglas County, Colo., Kate Adams was looking forward to relaxing on her balcony, listening to music radiating from the outdoor amphitheater.

But with so many clubs and activities, artistic pursuits, and enriching volunteer opportunities to choose from at Wind Crest, residents are often surprised with how active and social their lifestyle is at the community.

Thanks to Wind Crests stylish and maintenance-free apartment homes, the headaches of homeownership are eliminated, allowing residents to fully enjoy all the advantages of being part of an engaging community that fosters meaningful connections and supports their overall well-being.

Something for everyone

Instead of just being a spectator to performances at the amphitheater, Kate decided to get involved by starting a new club, Friends of the Amphitheater, so she could participate in seeking out talent and scheduling performances. One of the many advantages of living at an Erickson Senior Living community like Wind Crest is the ease of starting new groups or activities, if they dont already exist. With the support of experienced staff members, people can pursue their passions and share them with others.

There is every kind of talent, skill, knowledge, and interest that you could ask for, right here at Wind Crest, says Kate. She says she knew there have to be musicians here who would perform out in the amphitheater.

Friends of the Amphitheater, which includes Kate and about 20 other neighbors, quickly began working together to find musicians and other acts within the community to perform at the amphitheater. Soon enough, the group was holding fundraisers so they could pay professional performers to come on campus. Their first attempt at raising money was very successful, and Kate hopes they will have two acts perform each month from June through October.

Making connections is easy

The ease of getting involved in activities and starting new clubs and making friends while doing both are just a few of the reasons why people love their lives at Wind Crest.

Its easy to make meaningful connections, and I think it makes everyone feel welcome, says Sales Counselor Sandy Shelpuk. Whether its their connections through clubs, classes at the fitness centers, or the ones they made over dinner, interactions like this are what make Wind Crest home for residents. Theyve gotten to meet other people, and theyve made friends here. And its fun!

Darla Schwartz, Wind Crest resident and self-described social worker who cant quit, would agree. When Darla isnt spending time in her apartment home with husband Ben, shes out and about meeting new people and inviting them to get together for dinner at one of the communitys on-site restaurants.

Whats in a name?

A couple of years ago, Darla began arranging name dinners.

I started doing this because I knew three or four Karens at Wind Crest. One day, it occurred to me, Wouldnt it be nifty to have dinner together with all of them?' Darla recalls. They all said yes. Of course, I couldnt leave well enough alone, so I invited all the Karens who live at Wind Crest.

Heres how it works: Darla reserves the private dining room, emails all the women on campus who share a particular first name, and invites them to come to dinner. She writes in the email, The best thing about it is you wont have to remember anybodys name that you meet, except mine!

So far, she has held dinners for Lindas, Carols, Marys, Mary-somethings (Mary-Lou, Mary-Beth, and the like), Jeans, Janes, Joans, and Anns/Annes/Annies. She chooses one name each month. One day, Darla who is currently the only one with that name at Wind Crest is going to have a dinner with her fellow Darlas.

Group gatherings

Darla has also set up monthly dinners called Newcomers and Neighbors (for those who are new to Wind Crest and community members who would like to welcome them), the Munch Bunch (for singles), and Couples Supper Club (so popular that there are two or three events held monthly).

She also organized a Guys Breakfast (for men who are single or widowed), and most recently, a breakfast club called Out to Breakfast, a group of singles and couples who travel off-campus together to try a new restaurant for the first meal of the day.

It gives me a purpose, it keeps me busy, and it gives me a good excuse not to clean my apartment home, says Darla with a laugh. I just love it!

After enjoying all these great meals together, residents have plenty of energy to spend in the fitness and aquatic centers.

Wind Crest is an extremely active community, says Fitness Manager Terri Billings. We offer a variety of exercise activities for residents. There is truly something for every body. By participating in fitness activities, residents are able to build their social connections, form relationships with one another, have fun, and get fit. All of which culminates in a fulfilling, vibrant retirement.

Invest in your future at Wind Crest. From top-notch amenities and activities to affordable, maintenance-free apartment homes, youll enjoy living your retirement to the fullest. Request more information today!

About Wind Crest: Wind Crest is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community (CCRC) developed and managed by Erickson Senior Living. Wind Crest is situated on a scenic 87-acre campus in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. The community, which is home to more than 1,700 residents, is supported by more than 750 employees. Additional information about Wind Crest can be found at WindCrest.com.

Written by Michele Wojciechowski

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The Freedom of a Carefree, Social Retirement at Wind Crest | YourHub - The Denver Post

When young female students are asked to take off their bras before entering a medical examination for security reasons, you are reminded of the fact that when it comes to patriarchy, the more things change, the more they remain the same.

A womans body is her own. And yet this act of forcibly being made to undress is somehow considered okay for reasons of security. And if it is a person in authority who is asking for the undressing.

What does it then mean to be strip-searched? What rights does the female prisoner have? Can the State force its citizens to reveal themselves to strangers? And invade their privacy in public interest?

Is the core issue in the un-hooking of the bra then consent or/and intent? Or is it about private acts versus public? Is it about privacy versus the public good? At the end of a long day, un-hooking the bra can be the most freeing thing. One of the great joys of working from home has been freedom from bra-wearing.

But this is a private act, an act of agency. A woman takes off her bra when and where she wants, BECAUSE SHE wants to. Or she may let someone else do it, as an expression of intimacy. But she decides.

Though the bra is a vast improvement over the corset, it still continues to be a garment of tight control, one that patriarchy wants to exert on our bodies.

Women should contain their bodies, their desires, their sexual energy. Women should always be on a bit of a leash, just slightly tight around the chest. Womens bodies must conform. Too big is not good. Too flat is not good. And of course, sagging is a complete no-no! And the shape too, it must be regulated. The contours must work for what makes society feel at ease. And must somehow please the male gaze.

But wearing the bra can also be a rebellion. The red strap peeking through, going black lace and purple satin when the world expects you to be in cotton whites and lycra nudes. Or going plain Jane and sports like, when the world expects underwired and decorative. It boils down to choice.

The bra is also a chronicler of a womans journey. As puberty dawns, there is awkwardness. The loss of innocence, pain of growing up, lure of the teenage world. A bra is a jumble of many such feelings.

Once you hit adulthood, you reach a size and you think you have arrived. The bra may represent people desired, intimacies expressed, a feeling of owning the feminine, a connection with ones body. But more often, feeling like youre not enough. Like your body doesnt conform.

But life carries on, and we carry our broken hearts and dreams, successes and triumphs. There is a new knowingness to life.

Some women give birth to children and their bodies change. Some women dont do any such thing and their bodies change. Some work themselves too hard.

Some bodies dont change. But our relationship with our bodies keeps evolving. Sometimes we feel the mirror lies, sometimes we lie to the mirror, sometimes we break the mirror, sometimes it makes us dance with abandon.

And then the years go by. Menopause brings with it, its own journey. And the bra may take on a different role. Sometimes holding us up, sometimes disappearing when breathing space is what we need, and sometimes just being there solid and sturdy. The bra is definitely a keeper of secrets, of memories and stories, and of pain and joy.

But if society did not ordain it, would we still wear it? If the world order was designed by women, maybe not. I, for one, cant wait for a post-bra world. Im happy to burn the bra at the stake.

The crux of the bra matter, just like all things female body, is CHOICE. Choice, consent, agency. That is freedom.

The writer is a screenwriter, director and producer

More:

Alankrita Shrivastava writes | Bra, unhooked: For that heaven of freedom - The Indian Express

July 31, 2022by Susie Day

Mutulu Shakur and his codefendant Marilyn Buck at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan, 1987. Photo: Trella Laughlin.

Anyone with a loved one in prison carries around the silent, ceaseless terror that the person so loved will die alone, behind bars. Currently, 71-year-old Mutulu Shakur, a Black man imprisoned 36 years, lies in a hospital bed in a federal prison medical facility in Lexington, Kentucky. Ravaged by bone marrow cancer, fed by tubes, having lost 25% of his body weight, Shakur has been given weeks at best, months to live. His loved ones family, friends, hundreds of supporters are trying any and all legal means to get him out. Time and again, the US government and the courts refuse.

Susie Day has written about prison issues since 1988, when she began reporting on the cases of people charged with political protest acts, one of them, Marilyn Buck. Her book, The Brother You Choose: Paul Coates and Eddie Conway Talk About Life, Politics, and The Revolution, was published by Haymarket Books in 2020.

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The Resounding Right of Mutulu Shakur to Die in Freedom - CounterPunch

Happy Friday! We are just about 48 hours out from Wayne Rooneys first match as head coach of D.C. United. If that doesnt throw a little pep in your step heading into the weekend, I dont know what will.

D.C. United continues to make moves to build out Rooneys squad, signing Victor Plsson from FC Schalke and David Ochoa from Real Salt Lake just this week. Lets hope the Black-and-Red have all the pieces they need (or are close to acquiring them) as the transfer window is about to slam shut on August 4.

Heres a fantastic first interview of Rooney and great behind-the-scenes content by Claudia Pagn to keep you busy until Sunday:

If youve been missing the Washington Spirit, youre in luck. Our defending champs take on North Carolina at 7:30 pm ET tonight! Andr has all the details on how to catch the match and what to expect. Make sure to stick with us tonight for your recap of North Carolina Courage vs. Washington Spirit.

In case you missed it, Ryan recapped a painful Loudoun United loss to Birmingham. If youre sleeping on Ryans great Loudoun content, youre missing critical insight on players that frequently appear in D.C. Uniteds 18 and the up-and-comers we could see on the first team in the near future.

Loudoun takes on Monterey Bay FC Union at Segra Field tomorrow, July 3, at 7:15 pm ET. Loudoun United will hold its inaugural D.C. United night and fans will be able to view the first teams MLS trophies.

Lets get this weekend started!

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Friday Freedom Kicks: Wayne Rooneys watch begins Sunday, Washington Spirit returns to action tonight, and mo - Black And Red United