Washington DC— On Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at 1:14 PM, Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto will join the ceremony to designate New Hampshire Avenue NW between Virginia Ave. NW and F St. NW as “Jamal Khashoggi Way” in front of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, located at 601 New Hampshire Ave NW.
On October 2, 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and resident of the Washington metropolitan area, was murdered by agents of the Government of Saudi Arabia in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. The street designation ceremony is being held at 1:14 p.m., the same time that Mr. Khashoggi entered the Saudi Consulate before he was murdered. His brutal murder sparked worldwide outrage, including here in the United States. The Central Intelligence Agency has concluded with high confidence that his murder was the result of a pre-planned and deliberate action, which was authorized and directed by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
"Jamal Khashoggi knew that by shining a light on Saudi Arabia and seeking truth, he risked his freedom and, indeed, his life. Journalists around the world and here in America face similar dangers every day, and we must never let those who seek to intimidate them succeed. Freedom of the press is fundamental to our democracy and safeguarding human rights where democracy does not exist,” said Councilmember Brooke Pinto.
In honor of Mr. Khashoggi’s bravery and to reaffirm the District of Columbia’s commitment to free speech and a free and independent press, Councilmember Pinto introduced legislation to designate New Hampshire Avenue NW, between Virginia Ave. NW and F St. NW, as “Jamal Khashoggi Way.” The “Jamal Khashoggi Way Designation Act of 2021” passed the Council unanimously in December 2021 and became District law in February 2022. The legislation was co-introduced by Chairman Phil Mendelson and Councilmembers Elissa Silverman, Christina Henderson, Brianne K. Nadeau, Mary M. Cheh, Charles Allen, and Vincent C. Gray.
The street renaming ceremony will take place outside the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia where the “Jamal Khashoggi Way” sign will be unveiled. This location is important so that everyone who visits the Saudi embassy in Washington, DC will be reminded of Mr. Khashoggi's courage and the indispensable values of free speech and a free and independent press.
“When journalism is under assault, our freedom and democracy is endangered. Everyone who visits the Saudi embassy in Washington, DC will be reminded of Mr. Khashoggi's courage,” said Councilmember Brooke Pinto. “Today is a day that represents our commitment to freedom of speech and democracy for all.”