Police/Legal/Prisons

US Capitol Police force civil rights die-in to relocate to DOJ

On the 8th of December, civil rights protesters had planned to stage a 4 1/2 hour die-in on the US Capitol West Lawn. They were met with threats and verbal aggression by the US Capitol Police. Since this was not intended to be a confrontational action, protesters decided to march to the US Dept of Justice and stage the die-in there.

Secret Service attempts to keep civil rights protesters from White House area

On the 7th of December, Secret Service tried and failed to keep DC Ferguson from the area in front of the White House, claiming "an event" was taking place. In response civil rights protesters went to the sidewalk across from the White House and stayed for a while making as much noise as possible with the announced intention of disrupting the event in question.

Video of march into and protest on area in front of White House

Protesters across from the White House over the objection of Secret Service

Civil rights protesters stage die-in at Union Station, Shut down Georgetown and Key Bridge

On the 6th of December the fast and furious pace of protests against police murders of African-Americans continued with a 3PM die-in at Union Station and a street march that began shortly after 6PM on U street. This march went downtown, to Georgetown, and crossed Key Bridge into Arlington before deciding on the Metro to disperse to lose two undercover cops. Just before Georgetown there was an ugly incident where a US Capitol Policeman assaulted one of the protesters.

Youtube video of 3PM Union Station die-in posted by Travis Shoff

Still from the Travis Shoff Youtube video

Man injured by violent arrest at Dec 5 civil rights protest in Chinatown

On Dec 5, civil rights protesters in DC shut down Chinatown on multiple occasions. At about 10:55PM cops suddenly pursued someone said to be one of the protesters, the crowd surged after them. When the scene opened up a bit one man was down and in handcuffs. He suffered seizures police said were caused by being pepper sprayed. They left him in handcuffs through the seizures, and no ambulance was summoned. Finally a bunch of cops picked him up like a log and carried him off to an unknown destination at or beyond the end of the block.

Video showing results of police assault on man said to be a protester

This man was injured by police

Civil Rights protesters shut down Chinatown, blockade Verizon Center

On the 5th of December, civil rights protesters returned to Chinatown, staging a massive die-in in rush hour traffic before blockading the Verizon Center. In a repeat of the previous night's scene at the Hyatt/ALEC confrontation, bike cops blocked off the Verizon Center as well, creating a front-line similar to at a very large IMF protest.

Video of the later 11PM die-in at 7th and H in Chinatown

11PM Dec 5:Violent arrest leaves one protester injuredVideo

John Zangas photo of Chinatown die-in

Major DC Ferguson Protest shuts streets, storms Hyatt and Wal-Mart

On the 4th of December, thousands marched in DC streets after dark to protest the police murders of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and so many others. Protesters hit the National Christmas Tree lighting, then shut down the 14th st Bridge (again) and I-395 in a separate incident. They stormed the downtown Hyatt looking for an ALEC meeting, laid siege to the Hyatt near Union Station where ALEC was finally found, and finally stormed the Wal-Mart at 1st and H st for the 3ed time. The Wal-Mart action got tough: it was an opposed storming and security responded by locking some of the protesters inside. Security was forced to let everyone back out as pressure mounted outside.

Video-protesters storm Wal-Mart

Video-huge march from MPD headquarters to the Wilson building

The massive crowd that gathered on the steps of MPD HQ with far more still in the street

Eric Garner/Ferguson march blockades K st, Dupont, Adams-Morgan

On the 3rd of December, a New York grand jury refused to indict the cop responsible for the chokehold death of Eric Garner. In response, protesters here in DC as well as in NY took to the streets. In DC, protesters blocked up intersections at K st, all the entrances to Dupont Circle, and finally marched into and blocked up Adams-Morgan. At Dupont they were joined by protesters against the murder of 43 students by Mexican police allied with drug cartels.

Video of the H st, K st, and Dupont Circle portions of the protest including a confrontational motorist who got out of his car

Blockading K st

Ferguson protesters shut down Union Station

On the 2nd of December Ferguson protesters took action again in DC, this time shutting down Union Station's Metro entrance and bus tunnel in afternoon rush hour. Many of the protesters were Howard University students.

Code Pink photo

Ferguson protesters block 14th st bridge

On the 1st of December, Ferguson protesters blocked the 14th st Bridge for about 1/2 hour in AM rush hour. This was the day after a similar protest blocked I-395 on perhaps the busiest travel day of the year. There was one ugly incident involving a motorist in an expensive Mercedes who tried to push through the blockade but was stopped. This was shortly after another motorist was allowed to pass after saying he was going to a dialysis appointment. Apparently letting one car pass made other drivers more aggressive. The line of protesters blocked the bridge until shortly after the cops read out the required 1st of three warnings for a mass arrest, then marched off the bridge.

Video of the blockade of the 14th st Bridge

Another angle on the Mercedes whose driver tried to push through the blockade-Youtube

Ferguson protesters block SE-SW freeway

On the 30th of November, DC Ferguson protesters escalated their tactics with a hard blockade shutting down the SE-SW Freeway on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

NBC News photo

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