DC

Unity walk between Synagogue, churches, and Islamic Center stands against religious hate

Submitted by Luke on Sun, 09/11/2016 - 22:12

On the 15th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks, a "Unity Walk" originated at Washington Hebrew Congregation, ended at the Islamic Center, and stopped in at most of the churches, temples, and other religious institutions along the way. The march was in opposition to religious hate, under the theme "know your neighbor." At the Islamic Center, a Jewish Rabbi spoke condemning the persecution of US Muslims that has taken place since the entirely foreign 9-11 attacks. No direct mention of Trump and the wave of hate he was stirred up was necessary.

Video-A Rabbi condemns Islamophobia, speaking at the closing ceremony at the Islamic center

9/11
Anti-War/Peace

Closing ceremonies at the Islamic Center

A rabbi condemns Islamophobia in speech at Islamic Center during Unity Walk

TPP opponents warn Congress lame duck ratification attempt will face severe disruption

Submitted by Luke on Wed, 09/07/2016 - 18:33

On the 7th of September, opponents of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) marched from Union Station to the Senate office buildings followed by the US Capitol. They gave Congress a simple warning: any attempt to ratify the TPP during a "lame duck" session will face severe disruption! Thousands of people were reported to have signed a pledge to obstruct and resist any proceedings on the Hill to ratify this "corporate coup" super-NAFTA.

Video highlights of the TPP Protest

Globalization/Anti-globalization
Marching on Congress against the TPP-and lame duck ratification plans

Code Pink protests arms sales to Saudi theocrats as Congress returns

Submitted by Luke on Wed, 09/07/2016 - 17:50

On the 7th of September, Code Pink protested US arms sales to Saudi Arabia at the Hart Building as Congress came back to town. Saudi Arabia is using those US weapons to bomb Yemen in support of their sectarian agenda there and has even bombed schools. While one team stayed outside a second team went inside-and was threatened with arrest over giving supporters of Saudi Arabia's bombing campaign the "bloody hands" treatment.

Anti-War/Peace

FOX News calls for return of overt jump-outs with departure of former police chief Lanier

Submitted by Luke on Thu, 09/01/2016 - 22:41

On the 1st of September, Fox 5 News broadcast one of their incessant "crime news" stories, this one about a shooting in DC. FOX went well beyond covering this young man's death, they went into his neighborhood seeking anyone who they could induce to say on camera that they wanted the incoming police chief to bring back "plainclothes vice squads." These squads are known as "jump-outs" and are infamous for stopping and forcibly searching all young African-American males on a block if any crime by anyone is observed. Police deny they now exist but this sort of harassment is still pervasive in many parts of DC. A key demand of Black Lives Matter in DC has been to total and complete elimination of police jump-out squads. The FOX broadcast carefully avoided the words "Jump-out" as well as "Black Lives Matter" even while covering a non-police involved shooting.

Police/Legal/Prisons

Security violently removes animal rights protesters from Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Submitted by Luke on Thu, 09/01/2016 - 21:41

On the 21st of August, plainclothes security guards forcibly removed a number of animal rights activists from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception after they began a "vegan outreach" protest/speakout. As soon as they got outside the door they became violent enough to inflict bruises, knocking down the activist using the camera. The camera stopped when it hit the ground. Not knowing the camera had stopped, the woman using it turned it on one of the guards while he was boasting "yeah I assaulted you" to another activist. The camera still some of what that same guard was boasting about, meaning his "testimony" isn't needed anyway.

Video of the incident including bruises left by the assault

Animal Rights
Police/Legal/Prisons
Protesters assaulted at National Basilica

Reportback from Rally4Refugees

Submitted by Luke on Sun, 08/28/2016 - 19:58

On the 28th of August DCRally4Refugees held a mixed concert/speaking event at Sylvan Theater near the Washington Monument. Bands alternated with speakers as organizers sought to raise funds and connect people with groups active on refugee issues. They pointed out that more people have been displaced from their homes now than ever before, and due to the war in Syria the total number of international refugees has now topped 20 million. A tiny number of Trump supporters tried to counterprotest this event, but at one point a pair of Code Pink activist counter-counterprotesting them was equal to 40% of their numbers. Meanwhile, a speaker from El Salvador called out the utter hypocrisy of those who benefit from migrant labor while demanding migrants leave.

Some video highlights of DCRally4Refugees

Immigration

Advocates in life jackets symbolize the dangers faced on the water by one of the largest refugee populations in human history

DCRally4Refugees

Federal court hearing on Dakota Access Pipeline draws hundreds to protest

Submitted by Luke on Wed, 08/24/2016 - 17:21

On the 24th of August, US District Court at 333 Constitution Ave heard the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's lawsuit against the US Army Corps of Engineers over the Dakota Access Pipeline. Outside hundreds protested as speakers alternated with drumming and singing. As this case was being heard, construction at the site where protesters are blocking the pipeline in North Dakota has been halted pending resolution of this and several other legal cases. Dozens have been arrested there, but a hearing set (in another case)for August 25 on an injunction to limit protest and direct action at the pipeline site was cancelled in light of the construction halt.

Video featuring speaker who has been at Sacred Stone Camp for 2 1/2 weeks and seen no violence from activists at all

Environment/Food/Health
Race/Racism
No Dakota Access Pipeline protest at US District Court in DC

Code Pink blocks Saudi Embassy to protest bombing of Yemen

Submitted by Luke on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 23:42

On the 23ed of August, Code Pink blockaded the front entrance of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia to demand they stop their bombing campaign in Yemen. Saudi Arabia's terror bombing there differs from what Daesh does mostly in the use of aircraft to deliver the bombs-and in that fact that the bombs are supplied by the United States.The sectarian nature of Saudi Arabia's intervention in Yemen is essentially the same as that seen elsewhere from Daesh.

Anti-War/Peace

Emergency call for solidarity with Standing Rock Sioux at Fed court hearing over Dakota Access Pipeline

Submitted by Luke on Tue, 08/23/2016 - 14:05

On the 24th of August, the US District Court will hear the lawsuit by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe against the US Army Corps of Engineers over the Dakota Access Pipeline in N Dakota. The hearing runs 1PM-5PM August 24 at 333 Constitution Ave.. There will be a rally outside and presumably observers inside as well. Construction has been stopped pending this hearing because protesters at the Sacred Stone Camp have occupied and shut down the site. If the lawsuit is sucessful and the permit is blocked, the Dakota Access Pipeline will be defeated. Otherwise a situation that has been made dangerous by government officials and their "state of emergency" will continue to escalate. Things are getting very ugly in N Dakota.

Environment/Food/Health
Race/Racism

DC Police launch harassment campaign against transgender sex workers

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 08/21/2016 - 14:11

Early AM on Sun, August 21, the entire area of K and L streets between N Cap st and 1st st NE was overrrun with cops while transgender sex workers were forced to move east to a temporary area to meet their clients. Presumably their clients knew to check further east if the normal area was overrun with pigs, as this is the direction cops have been pushing them since condos took over the old 5th and K area. Out of state cars seen parked near places like NPR radio were harassed with fake "crime alert" parking tickets whose real purpose no doubt was to warn that license plates were being logged by cops. The broken piles of car window glass indicating an active car break-in zone have never been evident in that area, thus casting doubt on any actual "crime" problem concerning anything other than sex work.

Gender/Sexuality/Identity

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