WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA)–In an act of civil disobedience, Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent C. Gray, and six members of the District’s City Council were arrested April 11 by the U.S. Capitol Police for protesting the highly publicized congressional budget deal. According to District officials, this budget violated the rights of the city’s residents to autonomy and self-determination.

Mayor Gray and the City Councilmembers were arrested for blocking Constitution Avenue, a major thoroughfare near the U.S. Senate office buildings. Throughout the ordeal, Gray encouraged all residents of the District of Columbia to stand up and take actions aimed at bringing about the end of this long-standing injustice against the District. He urged District residents to educate friends, family members and neighbors on the issues facing the nation’s Capital.

BLOCKING TRAFFIC—Shown here blocking Constitution Avenue prior to their arrest are Council Chairman Kwame Brown, Councilmember Michael Brown, Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Councilmember Tommy Wells and Councilmember Yvette Alexander. (NNPA Photo/Lateef Mangum)

CHESTER, Pa. (AP)—Shots rang out in a suburban Philadelphia social hall where a teenage party was being held, killing two people and sending eight others to hospitals, authorities said Saturday.

Police in Chester, where a state of emergency was declared last summer because of crime concerns, said a suspect was taken into custody after officers were called to the Minaret Temple No. 174 around 11:30 p.m. Friday and found “numerous victims.”

THE CARNAGE CONTINUES—Israel Laboy, father of Robel Laboy who was shot and killed Friday night, is comforted by family members at a candlelight vigil at Fourth and Ward streets, April 9, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Delaware County Daily Times, Eric Hartline)

Police said nine people were transported to Crozer Chester Medical Center, where a spokesman said one died soon afterward and another died Saturday afternoon. Four other victims remained in stable condition, and three had been discharged, the spokesman said. A 10th person was treated at Taylor Hospital and was released.

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. (AP)—Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis says he'll run again—for New Jersey Senate.

The 49-year-old New Jersey native announced his bid to represent his hometown of Willingboro on Monday.

“When I run—as you see from my record—I run to win,” Lewis said outside a historic courthouse in his home county, where he announced his candidacy with his mother and other family members standing nearby.

IN THE RACE—Former Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, right, gets a hug and kiss from his mother, Evelyn Lewis, after he announced his candidacy for a New Jersey state Senate seat, April 11, in Mount Holly, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)