On the 18th of July, MPD attempted to intimidate protesters into leaving BLM Plaza-just before the "Fuck the Police" march arrived and by their presence ended the police offensive. The John Lewis Vigil and midnight yoga then took place without further harassment. En route, the FTP march chanted "Fire, fire, gentrifier! in Adams-Morgan and other gentrified areas.
Video-marchers chant "fire, fire, gentrifier!" in Adams-Morgan 33 sec
On Friday, the 17th of July, Black Lives Matter protesters again marched on the home of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, demanding that she defund MPD. Her response was to summon over 30 cops to "protect" her from the public.
Video-scene at the door as ICE refuses the petitions 2 min 23 sec
Friday, the 17th of July was supposed to be a court-ordered deadline for ICE to release detained children so they don't get COVID-19. Instead, ICE went and got another ten-day extension, twice the 5 day average covid incubation period.
Video of the failed attempt by MPD to intimidate protesters into removing the paint table 2 min 50 sec
On the 16th of July, MPD cops at Black Lives Matter menaced protesters and attempted to intimidate them into removing a table used for a "paint and protest" sign-making workshop. The cops cited vending laws even though nothing was for sale, only to back down when protesters refused to remove the table. The vending enforcement goons did not even show up.
Video-singing "This is the scene of a crime" at Erlich's house 1 min 9 sec
On the 17th of July, protesters showed up at the Takoma Park home of Montgomery County Executive. They are demanding he put an end to plans for the Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission to build a storage unit over the burial ground. Already it is paved over for a parking lot, this proposal would dig up graves if not stopped.
On the 14th of July, MPD cops repeatedly cited vending laws to harass activists on Black Lives Matter Plaza for things OTHER than vending, such as setting up tables prior to the 8PM yoga session. At one point, cops attempted to arrest someone without a warrant for "fitting a description" only to be deterred and driven off by the crowd. After all this tension the yoga session drew quite a crowd.
On the 12th of July, Mayor Bowser rolled out a new tactic to harass the ongoing occupation of 16th st, which she herself renamed "Black Lives Matter Plaza." A "No vending zone" was declared on the plaza, signs posted, and venders warned to leave or else. This tactic is normally used to protect corporate chain stores from competition.
Video-march through gentrified areas ends w protest at DC Jail 1 min 6 sec
On the 11th of July, a fiesty "Fuck the Police" march out of Dupont Circle wound their way though wealthy areas of Capitol Hill chanting "Fire, fire, Gentrifier!" The march ended at DC Jail, where statements of support for people held captive inside were read and noisy chants reached those held inside. People held prisoner by the Enemy appeared at the windows to wave to protesters in response.
Video of arrests and assaults by MPD 4 min 21 sec from DC Media Group and Kate Kanterell raw clips
On the 7th of July, some kind of minor skirmish on Black Lives Matter Plaza was used by MPD as an excuse to pounce on and arrest several Black Lives Matter protesters. From there matters escalated, and police were suspected of provoking fights to "sting" protesters. H st ended up blocked off by cops again, only to be effectively back in protester hands by sunset.
Video-blowing the shofar at Kusher's house 40 sec
On the 7th of July, activists from IfNotNow poured Trump adviser Jared Kusher a very strong cup of anti-occupation wakeup. The noisy protest in front of his home demanded that the US condition futher aid to Israel on cancellation of plans to annex 1/3ed of the occupied West Bank.
Black Lives Mater activists are demanding that all DC Councilmembers vote NO on the budget until funding for MPD is entirely removed. On the night of July 6, eve of the vote, Black Youth Project 100 held an all-night protest at the home of Councilmember George Allen. Protesters demanded he come outside but he refused until the following morning.
Late in the night and under drenching rains, police attempted without success to drive off the protesters. Protesters stood their ground, and the cops retreated just as the rain always ends.
Video compiled from various Twitter clips 35 sec
On July 4, anti-racist protesters yanked down the statue of slave trader and father of colonialism Christopher Columbus in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. They then tossed part of the statue in the harbor, throwing Columbus back into the sea to start his deportation back to Europe.
Video: chasing the fash through the Monument area, and Harry's Bar gets shut down 5 min 29 sec
On the 4th of July, a toxic mix of Proud Boys, MAGAts (Trumpers) and other far-right supporters descended on DC seeking confrontations with Black Lives Matter protesters. They got their confrontations but not their desired outcome. The "Fuck the Police march" put them to flight, chasing them through the Washington Monument area and eventually back to their base at Harry's Bar.
Video: BLM and antifascists shut down anti-migrant hate rally 1 min 21 sec
On the 3ed of July, a small crew of fascists and Trumpers from nearby Harry's Bar held an anti-migrant hate rally on Freedom Plaza. Black Lives Matter supporters and antifascists descended on them to counterprotest. Cops held them apart until a second BLM contingent came in behind the police. At that point, cops folded their hand, and the fascists had to literally strike (lower) their flags and leave.
Israel had originally planned to announce annexation of about 1/3 of the Occupied West Bank on July 1, only to have to delay in the face of "Day of Rage" protests throughout Palestine and worldwide (excluding Trump) opposition. A protest at the Israeli Embassy proceeded anyway on July 3, warning that delay does NOT mean Israel has abandoned the planned annexation.
Video: speaker warns against being fooled by postponement of W Bank annexation announcement 18 sec
On the 2nd of July, word leaked that Fedex was considering yanking their sponsorship of Fedex Field over the Washington Football Team's racist name. Racism is incredibly "politically toxic" right now, and someone at Fedex must have deemed that name an unacceptable risk. With the team's finances at stake, Dan Snyder is finally "discussing" changing the football team's name.
Video: diner at restaurant wades into protesters to argue-WITHOUT A MASK 1 min 20 sec
On the last day of June, a "Fuck the Police" march set out from Columbus Circle in front of Union Station. The march stormed an expensive restaurant en route to Black Lives Matter Plaza. From there they successfully marched to Mayor Bowser's house, despite being outnumbered 5-1 by cops at one point.
On the 30th of June, the Frederick Post reported that the Confederate statue at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, MD had been torn down and smashed to pieces. They also report that this comes just days after white power stickers were found in nearby Baker Park.
On the 29th of June, the Excluded Workers Rally and motorcade demanded an end to the exclusion of informal sector workers from unemployment benefits. This includes day laborers, sex workers, undocumented workers, and many others in the informal economy. None have been receiving benefits as the virus has decimated their trades like so many others.
Video-guillotine set up at Jeff Bezo's house 1 min 48 sec
On the 28th of June, protesters marched on the massive, palatial DC home of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. They brought a mock guillotine with them-and set it up right in front of Jeff Bezo's home.
