Friday, April 22nd was Earth Day. On that day, Wynn Alan Bruce, a devout Buddhist, set himself on fire in front of the Supreme Court to protest climate chaos and air polllution. He died the next day. The Washington Post "reported" this story-but with not a single mention of why Mr Bruce set himself ablaze.
Video: Deploying a banner and flares at the Wilson Building against Washington Gas's $5 billion project 3min 26 sec
On the 22nd of April, Extinction Rebellion DC dropped a banner and set off smoke flares to reinforce a blockade of the Wilson Building. They were demanding that the DC Council act to prevent Washington Gas from spending $ 5 billion on new gas distribution infrastructure at a time when the world needs to be transitioning off off of fracked gas.
The DC Bike Party's annual April "Cherry Blossom Chase" is often their biggest ride of the year, and this year seemed to be no exception. Due to climate change moving up the cherry blossoms bloom about ten days, once again this ride came after the cherry blossoms were mostly finished.
Video: DC Bike Party's "Cherry Blossom Chase" April ride 1 min 10 sec
Video-setting up the blockade, its effects, and cops arresting blockaders 4 min 18 sec
On the 8th of April, Declare Emergency and Scientist Rebellion returned to the site of a blockade of I-395 earlier in the week for Round II. The blockade site shuts off the route used by most Congressmen with homes in Virginia to go to work. Demands were for action against climate chaos, that the government declare a climate emergency, and that the Enbridge Line 3 and Line 5 projects be stopped forever.
Video: Cops close Lafeyette Sq, arrest at least 5 in climate CD 3 min 52 sec
On the 6th of April, protesters with the "Scientist rebellion locked themselves to the White House fence with chains and U-locks. Police closed all of Lafayette Square in response, in a futile attempt to block photography of their extraction efforts. After about an hour and a half, the cops cut the locks and arrested at least five people.
In morning rush hour on the 4th of April, Declare Emergency blocked I-395 near Maine Ave. This is the route used by many Members of Congress to get to "work." Demands of the protest were zero concessions for drilling or mining on any Federal or Indigenous land.
Video posted to Twitter by Anthony Tilghman 5 sec warning-link is to Twitter
Video of the roadblock and ensuing arrests 3 min 25 sec
On the first of April, student activists backed by the MIGIZI indigenous Caravan and several Green groups blockaded MD Rt 355 in front of Montgomery College in Rockville, MD. The students are demanding that Montgomery County Public Schools entirely end their use of fossil fuels.
Video: Light Brigade at Supreme Court and Capitol 40 sec
On the 30th of March, the Light Brigade held a protest first at the Supreme Court, then at the US Capitol to support growing demands that Supreme Court "Justice" Clarence Thomas be impeached.
On the evening of the 30th of March, DC activists responded to Truist Bank's fence around Adams-Morgan plaza with posters calling out their greed for land and demanding DC intervene.
Truist wants to convert this decades-long public space into luxury condominiums, but local activists have drawn the red line against this redlining banking conglomerate. The plaza exists due to a prior settlement concerning one of Truist's constituant parts gettting caught redlining against people of color.
Video based on 12 second clip released by an anonymous source 12 sec
On the 27th of March, this communique appeared on Twitter:
"We received some anonymous pictures and videos of Henry aka BrantForLiberty’s car in Hagerstown. Oof looks rough Henry, but you did tell antifa to up their game."
Video-DC Indymedia reporter challenges convoy about their covid outbreak and support for Trump (2 min)(note-ends w footage of 3-16 assault by convoy on another biker
Video-highlights from the rally and march 3 min 45 sec
On the 25th of March, one of the largest progressive marches of the entire year so far set forth from Lafayette Park. This was Fridays For the Future, a student-led movement to demand action on climate change. They marched to the US Capitol with chants like "we don't need your money-let the corporations burn!
Video-direct action against the convoys 3-18 to 3-21 31 sec
On the 18th of March, a convoy speaker at Hagerstown Speedway threatened to scrape the paint from BLM Plaza, then tar and feather the plaza and "all our delegates." This brought a firestorm of counterattack down on the convoy.
On the 19th of March, the DC Bike Party held a special ride to the cherry blossoms, which were starting to open at that time. One rider remarked that the bike parties are outdrawing the anti-vax "trucker" convoys.
Video: the convoy in DC, the threatening speech, and limited ability of the convoy to deliver on threats to BLM Plaza 2 min 22 sec
On the 18th of March, the so-called "People's Convoy" decided to attack a new target: Black Lives Matter Plaza. In a chilling speech, they threatened to "scrape up" the paint, then tar and feather politicians and BLM activists alike.
On the 15th, 16th and 17th of March, the so-called "People's Convoy" overcame police defenses aimed at keeping them out of DC after failed attempts the previous day. On the 16th they streamed through NY Ave and there were numerous incidents of DC residents (especially femmes) being harassed. On the 17th they entered the city in small, scattered groups that were actually hard to find.
Most of the harassment reportedly came from drivers of 4 wheeled vehicles, not actual commercial trucks. An especially ugly incident was this one reported over Twitter:
On the 11th of March, Extinction Rebellion DC held one of their "truth blasting parades" starting at 8PM on a Friday night. This brought the message of an ongoing climate emergency to Friday night partiers in cars on on foot alike.
Video-the march near 16th st 1 min 20 sec
Video-riders coming off Key Bridge and ringing bike bells for the Embassy of Ukraine 1 min 18 sec
On the 9th of March, the DC Bike Party held their first ride of the year, including a round-trip crossing of Key Bridge on the route. On the return trip, riders rang their bells in solidarity as they passed the Embassy of Ukraine.
Video highlights of the dance party for women's rights at Kavanaugh's house 1 mn 52 sec
The 8th of March was International Women's Day. Protests were held all over the so-called "United States" against an expected Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs Wade. Here in the DC area, "Injustice" Kavanaugh's Chevy Chase neighbors organized yet another protest at his house. This time around the protest took the form of a dance party.
Video-Trumpers/MAGAts and militia supporters in convoy, antifa flag opposing them 46 sec
On the 6th of March, the long-expected MAGAt/antivax convoy descended on the Capitol Beltway. Included in the convoy were many with pro-Trump and pro militia banners. There was even explicit support for the J6 coup attempt. A single counterprotester drove through them with a large antifa flag flying from their car.