Video-marching on the Capitol 2 min 26 sec
On the 25th of February, the "Real People Real Relief" rally demanded Congress pass a covid relief bill that benefits working class people, migrants, and people of color. A key demand was that the $15 an hour minimum wage NOT be dropped from the bill. The event climaxed with a symbolic march to the razor-wire topped fence around the US Capitol.
In prior years, AIPAC has brought hundreds of Congressmen or their staffs to the Washington Convention Center to pick up their lobbying (bribe) money, to the tune of intense protests and sometimes blockades. In 2020 they and CPAC brought some of the the first covid cases to DC. Due to the still ongoing pandemic, AIPAC has announced that their annual convention will NOT take place this year.
On the 20th of February, supporters of Amazon workers seeking to unionize and get a living wage gathered in a series of solidarity rallies at or near Amazon facilities across the US. One of these was in Crystal City Arlington, where Amazon is setting up part of their "HQ2" second headquarters split between Arlington and Nashville.
Video: Protesters chant against Biden's deportations on H St 29 sec
Between Jan 20 and Feb 15 2021, over 26,000 people have been deported in defiance of Obama's supposed deportation freeze. Haitians and other Black migrants seem to have been especially targetted. On President's Day (Feb 15th), migrant and BLM activists gathered on Black Lives Matter Plaza, demanding Biden keep his promises to halt ALL (not some) deportations.
On the 6th of February, a Montgomery County sheriff's deputy shot and killed MD resident Kevin Costlow. On Fed 14, activists organized by tye Silver Coalition showed up in front of the main MoCo courthouse, demanding that police and sheriff's departments be defunded. Speakers emphasized that police protect the property of the rich, NOT the general public.
Video-protesters read out a statement by one of Kevin's neighbors 2 min 28 sec
Video-Build Back Fossil Free march on the White House 1 min 26 sec
On the 11th of Feb, a "Build Back Fossil Free" march demanded new President Biden order the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) to halt operation and cancel Enbridge's Line 3 that trespasses on Ojibwa land. Other demands included cancelling all other Federal support for fossil fuel infrastructure and supporting renewables instead.
Video-Luke's solidarity run and the 93 mile relay run against DAPL and Line 3 36 sec
On the 9th of February, the Standing Rock Youth Council challenged activists to run any distance in solidarity with their 93 mile winter relay run from Timber Lake to Cannonball River, where the No DAPL camps of 2016 were located. DC's own Luke rose to the challenge, supporting the national campaign to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Video of cops riding recklessly close, the fake kettle, a cop crashing his bike, and more 2 min 27 sec
They/Them's weekly "FTP" march on Feb 6 ran into a police response that may have been capable of stopping the Jan 6 Fascist assault on the Capitol. On 18th between S and T streets, cops set bike lines trapping the protest. The north line moved out when protesters advanced towards it, but made it plain one command from a whiteshirt and protesters would have had to fight their way out.
Video of cops harassing Black man trying to leave at end of march 56 sec, by Black House News
Police reaction to the They/Them "Fuck the Police" march on Jan 30th was a stark contrast to the utter lack of police attention paid to the Jan 29 Patriot Front fascist march just the day before. Hordes of bike cops menaced the march, people were harassed trying to go home afterwards, and there were repeated physical incidents though no apparent arrests.
On the 29th of January, dangerous white supremacists returned to DC, marching on the Mall carrying an explicity Fascist modification of the US flag. Barely two weeks after a fascist insurrection stormed the US Capitol they carried their flags on long sticks and set off smoke bombs while chanting racist slogans.There was zero police interference or harassment.
Lydia Pillis video clearly showing the fasces added to their modified US flags 29 sec
As of the evening of Jan 22, the fence blocking access to the "sign fence" on H st from BLM Plaza has been removed. Hopefully no remnants of the coup plotters are still in town to attempt an attack on the artwork
On the 20th of January, the streets were mostly quiet as Trump quit the White House and fled to Miami with the rest of the failed coup plotters. There were some exceptions however:
Video-stripping counterprotesters confront, drive off SLPC-listed hate preachers 2 min 20 sec
Video by DC YLF of police detainment of POC folks from LA on their way back to their cars 16 sec
Video of Comet's sucessful dance party response to "Pizzagate" harassment 58 sec
On the 19th of January, fundamentalist Christian "Pizzagate" believers attempted to harass Comet Pizza (again...) only to be driven off by a loud dance party. Their slanderous chants were answered with Lady Ga-ga and other dance music, and soon a full-on dance party began. Not long after, the Fundies packed it in, tapped out, and quit the field.
The 18th of January saw another armed protest in a state capitol, this time in Richmond. The annual 2nd Amendment lobby day organizers were upstaged by militia and Boogaloo Bois open carrying in defiance of Richmond's recent legislation banning firearms at protests. Two days to go to Inauguration.
On the 17th of January, the expected armed "Million Militia March" on DC was a no-show. Some organizers had reportedly cancelled, and media folks at their expected assembly areas saw nothing. So far, only in Michigan have armed far-right protesters appeared. One day down,three to go.
Video: fences, National Guard troops-and BLM Plaza still open Jan 16 1 min 38 sec
On the 15th of January, police agencies began fencing off large parts of downtown DC as they usually do for an Inauguration. In addition, large numbers of armed National Guard troops began showing up in the city. They are intended to protect Biden's Inauguration from armed Trump supporters and outright neo-Nazis, assuming they don't change sides themselves.
Neither the departing White House resident nor the incoming one is perfect... That said, it is not a good ideato have an outside inauguration... sharpshooters could be a mile away... in any one of 360 degreesaround the inauguration site... no security could cover all the pointsnonviolence for all beings
Video: ShutDownDC's footage of so many cops trailing the banner holders 12 sec
On the 13th of January, the House voted to impeach Donald Trump for a 2nd time. Outside protesters held giant banners demanding that members of Congress who supported the Jan 6 coup attempt be expelled in addition to Trump. Large numbers of cops trailed them, and at at least one point made threats of arrest.
On the 7th of January, small packs of fascists and Magats were still visible in DC, many of them playing tourist and even some still just across 1st St from the US Capitol. In at least one incident defenders of BLM Plaza were again put to the test.
Video-cops remove Trump supporter from BLM Plaza after attack on sign holder 1 min 5 sec
Late night on the 5th of January, the Proud Boys marched in force on Black Lives Matter Plaza. They got nearly to the plaza itself before being stopped by an MPD police line. They attempted to charge through by force and failed. One may have gotten onto the plaza before being arrested. So much for "Back the Blue!"
Video: Proud Boys try to storm BLM Plaza right through MPD's police line Brenden Gutenschwager, 20 sec
