Race/Racism

Refuse Fascism marches on Trump Hotel

On the 15th of January, refusefascism.org staged the second of their nightly street marches that begin with a 4PM rally at McPherson Square. This march went through Chinatown and then on to Trump Hotel. A tense confrontation ensued marchers surging against the hotel's barricades as security guards strained to hold them back. Eventually more guards and cops reinforced the barricade, foreclosing the possiblity of pushing through and storming the hotel-for that night.

Video including the confrontation at Trump Hotel

Guards strain to hold back the surging crowd at the barricades that have restricted access to Trump Hotel since the election

Black Lives Matter disrupts Mayor Bowser at council swearing-in

On the 2nd of January, DC Mayor Bowser faced the "little Counterinaugural" as Black Lives Matter activists set up in front of her demanding answers about the police shootings of Terrence Sterling and Javon Hall. Three people were forcibly removed while the Mayor went on bragging about private security cameras-and even about the police body cameras whose footage she refuses to release in the Javon Hall case. The cop who shot Terrence Sterling had his camera turned off entirely.

Update Jan 4:Mayor Bowser releases police body camera footage of Javon Hall shooting after two days in a row of protests directed at her. Protest works!

Video-three DC residents dragged from swearing-in over Terrence Sterling and Javon Hall signs

Black Lives Matter disrupts Mayor Bowser for Javon Hall at Freshstart 5K

On the 1st of January, DC Mayor Bowser got an unpleasant surprise when she showed up at her very own Freshstart 5K walk. Family members and friends of Javon Hall backed by Black Lives Matter activists showed up. They were demanding she release the police body camera footage from when cops shot and killed Javon Hall on Dec 25, 2016. She turned her back and refused to face them.

Video by J2 originally posted to Twitter

Vigil held for Javon Hall, killed by DC Police on Dec 25

On the 25th of December, DC police shot and killed JavonHall. His mother say he was unarmed, DC police claim he had a knife but are refusing to release body camera footage that could prove this one way or the other. On Dec 30, family, friends, and Black Lives Matter activists remembered him with a vigil near Walnut St NE.

Standing Rock update: police fire at water protectors with "less lethal" rounds-again

On the 27th of December, about 50 unarmed water protectors approached the barricaded bridge on Highway 1806, possibly checking reports that the police were taking down the razor wire and other barricades. The barricades were still there-and police opened fire with "less lethal" munitions, also pursuing the water protectors. They were then reported to be pursuing the water protectors but apparently couild not catch them in the snow or were to drive them off rather than capture them.

WWI-style barricades are still up, contrary to earlier report police were removing them. Ruth Hopkins photo

Video: 2016 in activism-chaos, catastrophe, and resistance

Video highlights of the past year in progressive activism. Resistance to Donald Trump, to the Dakota Access Pipeline, and to police murder are the three main themes of the past year. Now we must prepare for the battle to come on the 20th of January, and the war against racism and white supremacy that will follow.

Video-2016 in review

Jewish,Muslim activists demand building owner EVICT "Clarion Project" hate group

On Dec 21, both Jewish and Muslim activists backed by allies held a "No Hate Groups at 1717 Penn" rally, demanding that the extremist,anti-Muslim Clarion Project be evicted from the building for peddling hate. It is rare to hear of social activists demanding anyone be evicted, but hate groups are an exception to this rule. Tishman Speyer rents space in 1717 Penn Ave to the Clarion Project, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has announced plans to formally designate as a hate group.

Video from the protest against Clarion Project hate

MoveOn, DRUM march against Trump's planned registry of Muslims

On the 12th of December, MoveOn.org and DRUM(Desis Rising Up & Moving ) marched from the Department of Justice to the White House demanding Obama shut the NSEERS muslim registry all the way down. This is so Trump cannot use it as the framework for a more expansive registry of every Muslim in the US and who knows who else.

Update Dec 22:Possible VICTORY-Obama dismantling NSEERS so Trump can't easily revive it.

Video highlights of the march including comparisons made to Nazi Germany by some participants

"Standing Rock and Beyond" march demands DAPL pipeline be cancelled, Leonard Peltier be freed

On the 10th of December, the Standing Rock and Beyond march and rally demanded that Obama move to finish off the Dakota Access Pipeline and grant executive clemency to Leonard Peltier. Leonard Peltier's eldest son spoke at the rally on both his father's ongoing political imprisonment and on the dangers of corporate power over water.

Video-Leonard Peltier's son speaks on corporate control of water, marching to the EPA past Trump Hotel

Mayor Bowser gets protest for Terrence Sterling at her house

On Sep 11, 2016 Terrence Sterling was shot off his motorcycle by a DC cop while riding home to his family. Ever since then, his personal friends, Black Lives Matter, and SURJ-DC activists have been protesting on Monday nights demanding prosecution of the cop who shot him. On Mon, Dec 5 they escalated by moving their protest from 3ed and M sts (where Terrence was shot) to Mayor Bowser's house near 16th st and the MD line. She got home in the middle of the protest and refused to say even a word.

Video-Terrence Sterling protest catches Mayor Bowser arriving home

Mayor Bowser caught off-guard by Terrence Sterling protest at her house

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