DC

Cove Point/gas export Protest shuts Bank of America branch

Submitted by Luke on Wed, 12/16/2015 - 15:25

On the 16th of December, protesters opposing fracked gas export from Dominion's LNG project in Calvert County, MD showed up at the Dupont Circle branch of Bank of America. They were there to deliver a letter to the bank manager and give out fliers outside. Bank of America locked their doors, not only refusing the letter but locking out all their customers, some of whom had paid to park their cars nearby. Bank of America owns 1.4% of Dominion and lent them $4 billion for the Cove Point gas export facility. The Dupont Circle protest was part of a regional day of action against Bank of America's investments in gas export and especially Dominion's dangerous Cove Point facility.

Environment/Food/Health

D.C. Mayor Calls for Warrantless Searches of Ex-Prisoners

Submitted by repost on Tue, 12/15/2015 - 10:54

The Real News Network:
The most Democratic city in the country is also the site of some of the harshest and most racialized proposed crime legislation

Civil Liberites/Constitution
Civil Rights/Equal Rights
Police/Legal/Prisons
Race/Racism

Black Lives Matter demands Justice for Alonzo Smith at Marbury Plaza

Submitted by Luke on Sat, 12/12/2015 - 22:58

On the 12th of December, Black Lives Matter activists gathered at Marbury Plaza on Good Hope Road to demand community control of all police and the names of the "special police" who killed Alonzo Smith. His mother spoke at the rally, reporting that the coroner's office had found he was beaten to death. On November 1, DC Police were summoned to Marbury Plaza, finding Alonzo dead and in handcuffs in the custody of the "Special Police" of Blackout Security, which provides "security" at the apartment complex.

Video-Mother of Alonzo Smith speaks

Police/Legal/Prisons
Race/Racism
Demanding justice for Alonzo Smith

Koran burners STOPPED near the White House

Submitted by Luke on Sat, 12/12/2015 - 22:15

On the 12th of December, the "new furor" exemplified by Donald Trump boiled over into an attempt by right-wing nutjobs to burn the Koran at the White House. With minutes to go, the Secret Service noticed an abandoned backpack and closed the street and park, denying them their intended location. Pushed to 15th st, the right-wingers pulled out a Koran and began to tear it up-only to lose control of it as counterprotesters challenged them for the book. The man tearing out pages started yelling "take it! take it! and someone did exactly that before he could set flame to it. Given this invitation, police made no attempt to stop the man who rescued the book and the pages and got them safely out of the area.

Video:anti-racist protesters confront would-be Koran burners

Anti-War/Peace
Right Wing

The Koran in the air as those who would burn it lose control of it-still from John Zangas Youtube video

Would-be Koran burners shut down

People's Climate Rescue brings boat to White House as Paris summit ends in weak deal

Submitted by Luke on Sat, 12/12/2015 - 21:43

On the 12th of December, the People's Climate Rescue brought a rubber boat and oars to the White House to demand real action on climate chaos and climate justice. Meanwhile in Paris, the negotiating countries announced a deal promising to hold temperature rise to 1 C, but the deal has no enforcement teeth. No trade sanctions, no courts bypassing normal legal procedures, none of the iron teeth associated with things like NAFTA/TPP style trade treaties.

Video featuring bagpipe and sung music from the People's Climate Rescue

Environment/Food/Health
People's Climate Rescue

Activists protest World Bank loans to Uzbek cotton industry known for forced labor

Submitted by Luke on Thu, 12/10/2015 - 23:10

On the 10th of December, activists projected huge images on the sides of the World Bank's headquarters to protest a half-billion dollar loan to Uzbekistan for their cotton industry. Uzbekistan's cotton producers were called out for using child labor and forced labor. The production of cotton with slave labor was supposedly stopped in 1865 by the Civil War in the US, yet the World Bank is lending US tax dollars for the same thing in Uzbekistan today.

45 sec video of projection on World Bank headquarters

Globalization/Anti-globalization
Human Rights
Saying NO to slavery-on the walls of the World Bank

Protesters at Trump hotel project call for boycott

Submitted by Luke on Thu, 12/10/2015 - 22:58

On the 10th of December, representatives of Code Pink and NOW joined area Muslims and at least one Syrian refugee at Donald Trump's hotel project on Penn Ave at 11th st. A huge banner with the word "racist" was held up under the giant "Trump" sign that some say violates campaign finance laws. Underneath, speakers condemned the incredible racist proposals that have been coming from Donald Trump's presidental campaign in recent weeks and called for a boycott of his hotel when it opens in 2016.

Video-protesters at Trump Hotel call for boycott

Civil Liberites/Constitution
Civil Rights/Equal Rights
Elections/Legislation/Government
Protesters at Trump hotel call for boycott

DC Bike Party reportback for December

Submitted by Luke on Thu, 12/10/2015 - 00:33

On the 9th of December, the DC Bike Party took to the streets once again. Unlike last year, the Bike Parties have continued into winter, normally on the second Wednesdays of each month excepting special events. Although not as many people ride in winter rides as summer, energy was high and this was still a large and festive group ride.

Video highlights from near the beginning of the ride(1 min 12 sec)

Culture/Entertainment
A festive DC Bike Party

BLM postpones DC oil/gas lease auction under threat of protest

Submitted by Luke on Thu, 12/10/2015 - 00:14

On the 1oth of December, the Bureau of Land Management had planned to hold an auction near the Navy Yard to sell oil and gase leases on public land. Two parcels in Arkansas and 7 in Michigan were on the block, with fracking as their possible fate. Climate activists had been planning some rather confrontational actions against this. With Obama"s involvement in the Paris climate talks, any news coverage of the protests could have been a major political embarassment. On the other hand, a publiclty-avoiding refusal to arrest protesters no matter what would give activists a free hand to shut the proceedings down entirely. As a result, the BLM has postponed the auction until March 17, 2016.

Environment/Food/Health

Protesters shut down night of deer killing in Rock Creek Park

Submitted by Luke on Mon, 12/07/2015 - 20:22

On the 7th of December, the National Park Service and "Wildlife Services" attempted to launch a dastardly sneak attack on Rock Creek Park's deer, setting up to shoot them while Monday Night Football distracted the protesters. It didn't work. Activists patrolling the woods found NPS setting up at about 7PM and announced plans for a 10PM protest. By 9:30PM closed roads had been reopened and it appeared the deer shoot had been cancelled for the night. Protesters set up anyway, standing alert against them trying to set back up.

Video of the protest

Animal Rights
Protesters shut down deer killing for a night

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