May 2017

On the 16th of May, net neutrality activists smashed computer hardware in front of the FCC, then loaded the junk into a trash can and attempted to deliver it to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The smashfest carried a serious message: that a non-neutral, corporate-content centric Internet would make most people's computers and phones as worthless as the smashed junk in front of FCC headquarters.

Video-smashing junk computers at FCC, then attempting to deliver them to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai

On the 14th of May, Popular Resistance showed up outside the home of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai in opposition to reopening the net neutrality issue. In addtion, three of Pai's neighbors joined the protest. Net neutrality was thought to be settled law, but Trump and Pai want to reopen the danger of paid prioritization and throttling or outright blocking of websites that cannot pay for premium "fast lanes.

This 33 second video of the protest would become harder to access without net neutrality

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) escaped a May 11th deadline for Congress to void a rule designed to give prepaid card users similar protections as debit card users. Congress could have used the Congressional Review Act or CRA to remove the "Prepaid Account Rule" as they did earlier this year to void other transparency rules. The Prepaid Account Rule will go into effect later in the year."Vulnerable consumers need to be protected from fraud, hidden fees and predatory actors," noted Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA.

On the 10th of May the DC Bike Party took to the streets again. This ride was themed as the "spy ride" and began just before sunset from Dupont Circle. DC Bike Parties are normally on the 2nd Wednesday of the warmer months, starting 8PM at Dupont Circle. Hundreds of riders usually show up.

Video from the May DC Bike Party

On the 9th of May, Trump fired FBI director James Comey. It is generally believed this is due to his request for more resources to investigate "Russiagate," the suspicions that Trump had help from Putin in the 2016 election. On the 10th of May, protesters gathered in front of the White House not to defend the FBI but rather against Trump. Some demanded a special prosecutor, others went further to demand that Trump be impeached.