Newswire

Metro construction/partial shutdown leads to near gridlock

The 6th of June was the first day of Metro's emergency "Safe Track" repair program. Construction is being done in a staged manner and started with only delays and not the coming closures. This still put enough extra cars on the road to put some intersections dangerously close to literal gridlock, as some drivers got caught in the intersections as lights changed. Drivers are told to never, ever enter the intersection until there is room to get back out of it, but will disregard this if they fear turning cars will otherwise take the space. If adjacent intersections get blocked this way, the result can be a spreading nightmare of traffic that cannot escape until the gridlock is taken apart from the outside in.

Video showing drivers blocking the box during severe traffic on 16th st about 5:30PM June 6, 2016

Metro Safe Track traffic mess Day 1

Virginians Against Trump marches to Capitol against hate

On the 6th of June, "Virginians Against Trump" marched from the White House to the Capitol to protest the racist candidacy of Donald Trump for president. This was a small but diverse group including supporters of both major parties united by opposition to Trump. The small size and reality that Facebook promises don't equate to turnout reminded me of the first Black Lives Matter rally for Michael Brown rally at the White House in Sumnmer 2014. There too it was apparently the organizer's first time out-but nowhere near the last.

Video Highlights of the march and people's responses

Virginians Against Trump

Pro-Palestine/BDS activists protest inside Fidelity Investments over AirBnB settlement activity

On the 3ed of June, as the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza reached 50 years, BDS activists managed to get inside the offices of Fidelity Investments on K st. Fidelity is a major investor in the notorious house-sharing firm AirBnB, known locally as a driver of gentrification. Globally they are known for being active in Israeli Settlements, renting out stolen homes to tourists.

Video from the protest inside Fidelity

Outside Fidelity just after protesters had been inside to deliver BDS petitions

Protest held at OAS against attacks on Venezuala in wake of Brazil coup

On Tuesday, the 31st of May OAS secretary general Luis Almagro called an "emergency meeting" to discuss suspending Venezuela from the OAS. On Wednesday, the 1st of June, supporters of Venezuelan president Maduro showed up in front of the OAS's DC building calling for impeaching Almagro, the president of the OAS instead of overthrowing Venezuelan president Maduro. The two right-wing counterprotesters were outnumbered by Venezuelan citizens at the protest outraged at the OAS attacking their country and fearing a coup may be in the works.

Video-counterprotester says pro-Madura protesters "would be shot in the head"-but by own government or the planned "nonviolent coup?"

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