DC

In recent years DC's developers and their bought-and-paid for politicians have been trying to move out the residents of Barry Farms to make way for "redevelopment" and what they think of as "progress." On the 17th of September, the 11th st Bridge Park Washington Performing Arts held a Lantern Walk remembering the African-American builders who built their homes in Barry Farms and Hillsdale while working such long hours in town that they often had to walk back to Anacostia by lantern light. Some of the participants in the Lantern Walk sang "We shall not be moved" by the 11th St Bridge, a clear reference to the current threats to Barry Farms.

Video highlights of the Lantern Walk

The 14th of September featured another DC Bike Party, this time on a route including Memorial Bridge into Virginia and back. As always hundreds of riders showed up. The DC Bike Parties are once again on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.

Video highlights of the ride

On the 14th of September, activists opposing construction of the Dakota Access pipeline shut down two branches of TD Bank. Several of the protesters on Sep 14th drove all the way from Standing Rock, N Dakota, an over 20 hour drive. TD Bank is a major investor in the pipeline, just as they were a major investor in the failed attempt to build the Keystone XL. During that campaign some called them "Tar Dollar" bank. The first branch locked out customers after an advance team of three entered the branch to read out a letter condemning their investments in the pipeline. The second branch was found locked when protesters reached it, it is unknown if they had been locked up all through the protest at the first branch or locked up when activsts departed from there. TD Bank locked down so protesters didn't have to it seems.

Video-marching on and closing two TD Bank Branches plus a warning for Obama

On the 12th of September, DC social activists and religious leaders began holding "Moral Mondays" at the DC Council demanding that miniumum wages be raised, public housing be perserved, schools and public property not be privatized, mass incarceration be ended, and more. Moral Mondays began in North Carolina as a protest against right-wing and racist policies of the state government such as restricting voting rights and cutting social programs. In North Carolina Moral Mondays are known for civil disobedience, DC councilmembers should consider the possibility that failure to address the needs of the people could force the use of civil disobedience here in DC as well.