September 2016

On the 17th of September, Climate First! took a crew of six protesters to a branch of TD Bank at about noon to speak to the manager about TD Bank's investments in the Dakota Access Pipeline. This was sufficent to cause TD Bank to shut their doors and lock out all their customers. Sometime later four of the six went to a second branch of TD Bank, with the same results. TD Bank is so afraid of public scrutiny of their investments in poisoning Native Americans at Standing Rock they won't stay open if their is any sign of dissent. This suggests that protesters against TD Bank could disperse one person to each branch within range, which should close all branches in the area.

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

On the 16th of September, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an "administrative injunction" prohibiting further work on the Dakota Access Pipeline within 20 miles of the Missouri river pending resolution of a lawsuit brought by both the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe against the pipeline. This injunction is not on the merits of the case but gives the court time to hear arguments. Corporate lawyer William Leone from the other side is now whining that the pipeline builders have lost $5 BILLION in market value due to the globally spreading #NoDAPL movement.

on the 15th of September, Unicorn Riot release this footage of militarized police arresting water defenders at Standing Rock, where over 5,000 Native Americans and supporters have gathered in an all-out effort to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. Facebook has blocked some of Unicorn Riot's videos, this one was posted to Vimeo which lacks Facebook's highly politicized in-house human monitor/snitch program. A copy has been saved in smaller 360p resolution in case Vimeo pulls this down.

Water Protectors Arrested by Militaried Police-video by Unicorn Riot(on Vimeo)

On the 15th of September, Rainforest Action Network staged a "Keep it in the Ground" rally to demand that Obama cease and desist leasing out Federal lands for oil and gas leasing. Indigenous opponents of fossil fuel extraction and especially of the Dakota Access Pipeline were a large portion of the participants. Meanwhile, news from Standing Rock has emerged that police have now filed a conspiracy charge against a supporter for simply giving somone who participated in action a ride to the camp.

Video-indignous speakers give updates on Standing Rock/DAPL situation