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MD residents rally in Baltimore to kick fracked gas infrastructure out of state On the 18th of April, MD residents from Cove Point, Accokeek, Myersville, and other places menaced by fracked gas project protested outside the MD Dept of the Environment. They were there to demand that the existing state ban on fracking be made meaninful with a ban on fracked gas pipelines and compressor stations, and that the export terminal at Cove Point be shut down. |
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On the 18th of April, DC Divest rallied on the steps of the Wilson Building, then packed the room at the DC Council’s CFO Oversight Hearing. They were there to demand that Jack Evans stop holding up a bill to remove the DC government's money from Well Fargo.
Video featuring councilmember David Grosso, author of the divestment bill
Another round of solidarity posters for the J20 defendents has appeared around DC, this time showing Donald Trump aiming a pistol at the viewer and warning of literal Trumped-up charges. In other words, it is believed that the decision to file such questionable cases that the first six defendents were acquitted and later trials have been delayed goes right to the top.
On the 17th of April, California's governor Jerry Brown appeared at the National Press Club. To get in, he had to pass protesters demanding he cut his ties to California's oil and gas industy and ban fracking in his state. The oil industry has CA in their sights for the next big North Dakota style oil fracking boom.
Video-oil rigs raised outside National Press Club, Gov Brown has to run the gauntlet
One of the big anti-Trump marches of 2017 was the Science March. On April 14, 2018 the Science March returned to DC. Although not technically and anti-Trump march, most of the marchers and many chants were militantly anti-Trump. Chants of "fire Scott Pruitt" and demands to save the EPA were heard over and over as marchers worked their way towards the US Capitol. A number of signs also protrayed dinosaurs as a warning about extinction, and climate change came up a lot.
Rush-hour march on NY Ave against killer cop Brian Trainer and all other killer cops in DC
On the 11th of April, MPD officer Brian Trainer had administrative hearing concerning MPD's internal review board's finding that he should be fired for shooting motorcyclist Terrence Sterling on Sep 11, 2016. The evening after the hearing, Black Lives Matter DC, SURJ-DC, No Justice No Pride, and others blockaded NY Ave and Chinatown to remind Mayor Bowser that letting killer cops walk carries a price tag.
Activists from #DefendJ20, @RightsDissent, and @xychelsea drop off pettions at the U$ Attorney's office
On the 17th of April, the next J20 trial had been scheduled to begin(now delayed until June 4, another trial in May).The defendents are some of the 59 people still facing up to 61 years in prison for daring to protest Trump's inauguration on Jan 20, 2018. On April 10th, supporters dropped off nearly 180,000 signed petitions demanding all these charges be dropped at the US Attorney's office.
Video explaining the current status and implications of the case from itsgoingdown.org
Video highlights of the protest (55 sec)
On the 21st of October, Students Against Sweatshops picketed the Georgetown outlet of Abercrombie and Fitch. The sweatshop-friendly retailer was renamed "Abercrumble and Ditch" for their decision to refuse to sign the 2018 follow-on to the post Rana Plaza "Accord on Fire and Building Safety."
A checkpoint at the IMF Spring Meetings on April 21
World leaders, finance ministers, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations begin the Spring International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings on the 10-year anniversary of the global financial crisis. On Tuesday the IMF's economic outlook report predicts short-term global growth to 3.9%, it highlights debt levels, trade policies, decreased labor participation and aging populations as risks to long-term growth."The IMF is saying that now is the time for countries to get their houses in order to prevent and prepare for future financial crises," noted Jubilee USA
Returning from Memorial Bridge en route to cherry blossoms on Mall
On the 11th of April, the DC held their first fully promoted ride of the year, billed as the "Cherry Blossom Chase." The ride went over Memorial Bridge before going to Independence Ave and Haines Point under the cherry blosssoms.
Corporate healthcare is a ball-and chain!
Video-Activists drag a ball and chain from the health insurance lobbists to HHS
On the 9th of march, activists organized by a Single Payer Action Camp dragged a giant ball and chain from the American Health Insurance Plans office past the Canadian Embassy and the US Capitol to the Department of Health and Human Services. They were demanding that the failing ACA be replaced by a "Medicare for All," single payer system as used in all other industrialized nations.
Code Pink protests the "Saudi cultural and arts event" at the Kennedy Center during the visit of Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman. From Code Pink: The protesters will focus on bin Salman's key role in the bombing of Yemen, which has created the worldâs greatest humanitarian crisis. They will also debunk the notion that the Crown Prince is a reformer who is fighting corruption and bringing a new age of enlightenment to the kingdom.
Video-shackling Jeff Sessions in Effigy in front of the Supreme Court
On the 26t of March, Mijente and No Justice No Pride showed up in front of the Supreme Court with a Confederate statue style effigy of Jeff Sessions. As people lined up outside the court watched, they put leg irons, chains, and handcuffs on the effigy. Inside, Attorney General Jeff Sessions was arguing the Supreme Court should overturn a 9th Circuit case that found shackling Federal defendents to be unconstitutional.
