DC

Congress Heights redevelopment STOPPED after slumlord Geoff Griffis gets another home demo

Submitted by Luke on Sat, 07/23/2016 - 15:59

Update July 28:WMATA tables proposed sale of Metro property required for Congress Heights redevelopment, blocking Geoff's proposed luxury apartment and office plans.

Geoffrey Griffis, managing member for CityPartners, LLC is up to his neck in the efforts to evict all residents of Congress Heights in Anacostia so a new "mixed use" development can take their place. On the 23rd of July under scorching heat, dozens of Congress Heights tenants backed up by residents of other properties facing deliberate slum conditions and other illegal eviction schemes showed up at Geoffrey's luxurious Cleveland Park home to warn that he can't try to put people out of their homes, then return to his home and not have problems. Protesters called out CityPartners LLC for a business model based on emptying out buildings so the condos can come.

Video including Geoff coming out in an attempt to buy off protesters with bottled water

Housing/urban Issues/Gentrification
Local News/Neighborhoods

The scene in front of Geoffry Griffis home, quite a contrast to what he has done to Congress Heights

Protesting an evicting slumlord at his Cleveland Park home

Beyond Extreme Energy disrupts FERC, locks down at Democratic Party HQ

Submitted by Luke on Thu, 07/21/2016 - 18:32

On the 21st of July, six members of Beyond Extreme Energy (BXE) locked down across the doors of Democratic Party headquarters in DC, holding the space for hours. The Democrats sent out two people to "negotiate," but they said they had no authority to speak for anyone. Negotiations went nowhere, so the blockade went on for hours. The Dems were outraged that Green Party activists participated in the blockade but were warned that their pro-corporate, pro-fracking, pro-TPP politics were driving away their base.

Video from the lockdown at Democratic Party headquarters

Environment/Food/Health

lockdown and banner at Democratic headquarters

Lockdown against fracking and the TPP at Democratic Party HQ

Black Lives Matter occupies Fraternal order of Police lobbying office

Submitted by Luke on Wed, 07/20/2016 - 15:40

Early morning on the 20th of July,Members of BYP 100 and Black Lives Matter DC took over the Fraternal Order of Police Legislative OfAdvocacy Center at 328 Massachusetts Ave NE. Activists held the site about 16 hours before leaving shortly before midnight, after a "frat party" demonstrating how the FOP works to ensure killer cops escape justice due to start. Several signs called the FOP "the most violent fraternty in America."

Video highlights of the occupation of the FOP's lobbying HQ

Police/Legal/Prisons
Race/Racism
Black Lives Matter occupies Fraternal Order of Police

Black Lives Matter shuts down Georgetown, announces summer of home demos

Submitted by Luke on Sun, 07/10/2016 - 15:11

On the 9th of July, Black Lives Matter gathered at the African-American Civil War Memorial for what appeared to be another march on U st. While the march began there, it quickly headed west towards Dupont Circle, then dropped into Rock Creek Park announcing a destination at the MLK Memorial. Once in Rock Creek, the march pulled a surprise, going up the ramps into Georgetown on a night nobody had expected Black Lives Matter to go there.

Video highlights of the march including both announcements

Police/Legal/Prisons
Race/Racism

Georgetown on Saturday night after Black Lives Matter marched in

Shutting down Georgetown after long march from U st

DC Bike Party takes over the streets

Submitted by Luke on Sat, 07/09/2016 - 17:01

On the the 8th of July, the DC Bike Party took to the streets once again, now having been in existance for four years. Although not the largest ever, this was a very large bike party of hundreds of riders. This was also roughly the 4th anniversary of the first DC Bike Party In this ride, a few riders wore signs saying things like "Black Lives Matter" and "Disarm the police."

Video from the 1st half of the July 2016 DC Bike Party

Culture/Entertainment
DC Bike Party July 2016

Black Lives Matter protesters march from DOJ to White House on 2nd day of protests

Submitted by Luke on Fri, 07/08/2016 - 19:46

On the 8th of July, Black Lives Matter protesters took to the streets for a second evening in a row. Marchers started by circling the Department of Justice several times before heading to the White House. Demands at DOJ were for Federal civil rights investigations into all of the recent wave of police shootings of young African-American males.

Video highlights of Black Lives Matter march including heckling Trump Hotel

Police/Legal/Prisons
Race/Racism

Black Lives Matter marchers giving Trump Hotel the finger

Protesting killer cops for the second day in a row

Leonard Peltier Freedom Ride 2016 in DC July 23-24

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 07/08/2016 - 01:36 
Come Out to Support President Obama Granting Leonard Peltier Clemency.
Your brother needs your help! Please share with your networks!

This July 23rd-24th US political prisoner Leonard Peltier's supporters
will complete a 3,000 mile freedom ride to Washington DC to ask President
Obama to grant Leonard clemency. A rally is planned for the US Capitol
steps. Leonard's health is failing and his continued incarceration serves
no justifiable reason. He is an old man now who paints artwork and wants
to work on old cars. This rally and freedom ride is organized by Leonard's
Civil Rights/Equal Rights
Environment/Food/Health
Human Rights
Race/Racism

Black Lives Matter protesters march on Capitol, 7D police station

Submitted by Luke on Thu, 07/07/2016 - 22:13

In the wake of yet more police shootings of young African-American men, Black Lives Matter protesters took to the streets of DC in two locations. One march began at the White House and went to the Capitol, breaking through the first of two police lines set by US Capitol Police in the process. The other march began at the Congress Heights Metro station and was called "Roll Up on 7D" for their ending location at the 7D police station in Anacostia. Some mainstream media outlets reported only on the march in NW.

Video from march on 7D cut from clip originally uploaded to Twitter by E.J. Thribb

Video of march at US Capitol after dark, originally posted to Twitter by Christine Kim

Police/Legal/Prisons
Race/Racism

Rolling up on 7D: photo by Raza Ahmad Rumi

One of two Black Lives Matter marches in DC 7-7-2016

Donald Trump visit to Capitol Hill draws protests over racism and outsourcing

Submitted by Luke on Thu, 07/07/2016 - 14:41

On the 7th of July, Donald Trump visited GOP officials at the Capitol Hill Club near the US Capitol. Outside, protesters denounced him for racism, sexism, homophobia-and for outsourcing millions of US jobs to other countries. There was mention that the over a billion dollars he managed to lose running his own casino imply his economic performance as President would also lead to bankruptcy. Trump got in and out the back door, same way the rest of the garbage leaves the club and in this case enters. Afterwards, one GOP attendee described Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan as now being "teammates." Unless this is for public consumption, it's opposite what WTOP radio has been saying about GOP unity

Video from the protest of Trump's visit to GOP bigwigs at the Capitol Hill Club

Elections/Legislation/Government
Labor/Economics/Business
Race/Racism
Right Wing
Protesting Donald Trump at the Capitol Hill Club

GMO Protesters throw money on Senate Floor over pro-GMO labelling bill

Submitted by Luke on Wed, 07/06/2016 - 19:28

On the 6th of July, protesters opposing yet another pro-Monsanto, pro-GMO, anti-food labelling "Dark Act" bill in the Senate threw money on the Senate floor. This protest was called the "DarkActMoneyDrop, symbolizing the wholesale bribery of politicians legalized by Citizens United and used by corporations like Monsanto to control members of Congress. By comparison, nobody dared make a move for the publicly visible money thrown on the Senate floor while C-Span's cameras rolled.

Video posted by Roll Call to Youtube

Environment/Food/Health

Still from Roll Call's Youtube video

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