In The News

At the entrance of the alley is Griner, pictured with a soft smile meant to draw the viewer’s eye to the rest of the work. Wednesday marked 153 days that she has been detained in Russia on drug charges. The State Department said in May that the U.S. government considers Griner wrongfully detained.

The black-and-white faces of 18 Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad stretch across a brick wall on M Street in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Little known are the names of the Americans detained abroad despite their years’ long plight to regain their freedom, but now, thanks to a work of art unveiled on Wednesday in the U.S. capital, the faces of more than a dozen U.S. citizens held by foreign governments will be visible to tens of thousands.

The mural features 18 Americans held in other countries. There are currently 64 known citizens being detained outside the U.S., according to the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation.

Dozens of family members of Americans detained abroad gathered in Washington on Wednesday to unveil a mural of their loved ones, to urge the country not to forget about them and again call for the US government to act decisively to bring them home.

The Bring Our Families Home Campaign – made up of family members of Americans considered by the United States government as “wrongfully detained” – sponsored and organized the mural. Griner has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17 on drug charges, and her trial will continue Monday.

Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan, and DC’s Emad Shargi are among 18 detainees whose images will appear on a 15-foot artwork.

The Capital Fringe Festival kicks off this weekend, giving stage time to performers who create something a little out of the norm. News4’s Tommy McFly has a preview.

Capital Fringe performances by more than 250 artists will run for two weekends out of spaces in the Georgetown Park mall that were once home to retailers like DSW and Forever 21, and capacity at each venue is limited to 51 seats.