On the 28th of September, several activists who have been at Standing Rock recounted their experiences at St Stephens to the beginnings of the DC Standing Rock Solidarity group. They recounted the experiences at camp and gave an update on the legal status of the pipeline, in which the segment crossing the Missouri River is on hold due to legal cases concerning the river crossing and the Historic Preservation Act. They also mentioned new and ugly developments today in Standing Rock, where again loaded guns were pointed at water protectors-and an aircraft sprayed tear gas on their totally nonviolent corn planting ceremony. In addition 21 people were arrested.
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Oromo people march for end to US aid to Ethiopean regime On the 29th of September, Baltimore Bloc reported "3000+" in a march of mostly the Oromo people of Ethiopia and Kenya demanding an end to US and World Bank aid to the regime in Ethiopia. They are calling out the regime for genocide and the use of armed force to suppress peaceful protest against the Addis Ababa Integrated Master Plan, which would absorb tribal lands into the capital city and create mass displacement of farmers. The ruling TPLF/EPRDF party has been called a fascist party for their treatment of the Oromo people. |
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Circling up before the presentation at St Stephens
On the 26th of September, Obama met with tribal leaders at the White House Tribal Nations Conference. Outside, Native Americans and allies rallied around the demand that the US Army Corps of Engineers and other parts of the Executive Branch block and reject the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).Presumably the DAPL and other pipelines that threaten Indigenous health and survival were near tne top of the agenda given current events in Standing Rock, N Dakota.
NCNR photo
On September 26, 2016, antiwar activists activists associated with the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (NCNR) went to the Pentagon today seeking a meeting with decision-makers in the Pentagon chain of command including Secretary Ashton Carter. They told Pentagon police they wouldn’t leave until they spoke to an official in a position of authority about war crimes committed by the US and that they were following their obligations under Nuremberg to draw attention to these crimes of US government elected and appointed officials. Although the activists were nonviolent the Pentagon police placed 21 activists under arrest and charged them with “Violation of a Lawful Order”.
Code Pink's Youtube video from the Pentagon civil disobedience.
Local News
On the 29th of September, Washington DC was called "drunk on development" by a witness at the The Barry Farms demolition/zoning case before the DC Court of Appeals. The lower courts have ruled that demolition of this low income housing complex can proceed but this has been on hold pending the appeal. Activists from Empower DC and the Barry Farms Tenants and Allies Association(who filed the appeal) were on hand in the courtroom as these arguments were heard.
Security removing a Spectra "lobbyist" from the monthly meeting of FERC. the Federal Energ Regulatory Commission
On the 22nd of September, outraged "representatives" of Spectra Energy were kicked out of the monthly meeting of FERC for whining about the possibility of a “stop work order” on Spectra’s Algonquin Incremental Market (AIM) pipeline project.The magic words were "we pay your salary!"
Town Hall meeting of united organizations and activists against police state murders and mass incarcerations.
August 20, 2016
Host Organization: Gethsemane Baptist Church
Khalfani Drummer, Pastor
Newswire
Photos by Elvert Barnes: Vigil