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DSA disrupts DHS Secretary 's dinner at Mexican restaurant MXDC On the 19th of June, Dept of Homeland Security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen thought dinner at a Mexican restaurant came with impunity from being called to account for separating children from their parents at the border. The Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America had other ideas, showing up inside MXDC to protest.
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A contingent of activists from the Poor People's Campaign marched to and delivered testimony at the Department of Health and Human Services, highlighting the plight of immigrant families separated by the Trump administration, health care and housing for all and other issues faced by poor people in this country.
The Poor People's Campaign blockade at the EPA
On the 18th of June, the Poor People's Campaign abandoned Capitol Hill protests. Instead, they marched from a big tent on the Mall and broke into three sections. The march sections went to EPA, HUD, and HHS. The EPA and HUD got blockades, while HHS has barricaded protesters out. A "People's HHS" was erected at that location. In all cases cops declined to make arrests, so protesters escalated to street blockades and a final blockade at the Dept of Injustice.
Video including all of the blockades and targets (5min 33 sec)
Early in May 2018, DC police escalated their war on Black youth riding dirt bikes and ATV's by killing dirt bike rider Jeffery Price in NE. Cops chased him in violation of the city's no-chase rule, and used an SUV to force a fatal collision at Fitch Place and Division Avenue, NE On the 15th of June, community activists held a protest rally at the same location.
Video-An attorney retained by Jeff Price's family speaks at the rally (15m)
Poor People's Campaign activists taking direct action to protest thge Supreme Court's partisan decision enabling the continuing disenfranchisement of US voters.
This is not the first time small children have been dragged from their parents and interned in camps
On the 14th of June, migrant rights activists gathered for the "Families Belong Together" protest against the Trump/Sessions policy of separating families at the border, where screaming children are dragged away from their parents. DHS has admitted the sole purpose of this intentional torture of children is to deter others from crossing the border. Many of the protesters invoked Nazi Germany and called Trump's policy "evil."
Video: speakers including two members of Congress describe the prisons and invoke past horrors
Waiting for sunset
On the 12th of June, multiple organizations held the DC Resistance Iftar on Freedom Plaza. Iftar is the Islamic traditional sunset breaking of the fast during Ramadan. Community Iftars around issues of concern to all are part of this tradition. Before the sun set on the DC Resistance Iftar, speakers condemned Trump's travel ban US support for the brutal regime in the Phillipines and the ongoing siege of Gaza.
Video including part of the statement by Jerome Succor Aba read out at the Iftar
It has been confirmed that in addition to the MPD officers spotted marching ahead of the Pride parade by David Thursten, transgender MPD officer Jessica Hawkins marched in uniform, solo, with the transgender flag. At one point, MPD retweeted a video showing her, then realized people in the background were chanting "fuck the police" and pulled down their retweet.
Densely packed bikes as the ride leaves Dupont Circle
On the 13th of June, the DC Bike Party held their Pride-themed June 2018 ride. This ride was very large, and when the ride went to the basilica at Catholic University and circled the street in front of it not all of the ride would fit in the circle at one due to its size.
Video from the start of the ride plus the visit to the Basilica
On the 11th of June, antiwar activists from multiple groups gathered outside the White House on the even of the Trump-Kim nuclear disarmament summit. Many worried that this pair of hotheads would not be able to get through the summit without one insulting the other and trashing the negotiations. One of the banners reminded the world of how many US nuclear warheads need to be removed along with the Korean nukes.
Video from the 2018 Crystal Cup, second race of the series
On the 9th and 10th of June, pro bike racers returned to the streets of Clarendon and Crystal City, for the Clarendon and Crystal cups respectively. With the furious resistance mounted by marginalized communities against corporatization of events like Pride, it can be shocking to see the degree of overt corporatization (and militarization in this case) in pro bike racing.
David Thurston's photo of armed MPD officers marching on the parade route
Related video: NJNP "Cops off K" march 11PM June 9
The official list of contingents in the 2018 Capitol Pride parade did not include MPD, and there was a long time with nothing on the route before another, different contingent appeared to step off the parade. None the less, David Thurston got a photo of MPD officers escorted by two Pride staffers marching the route, possibly well ahead of the rest of the parade
The June 10, 2018 Capital Pride festival offered a mixed bag of traditional GLBTQ themes and corporate booths. Here more than at the parade the Capital Pride board's refusal to meet demands of No Justice No Pride was on display. An MPD contingent was at the very periphery but present, and recruiters for the CIA and similar agencies were present. Especially disappointing in a world of price-gouging on HIV and similar drugs was the presence of a Gilead Sciences booth: this is the company charging $1,000 a pill for a Hepatitis C drug.
