September 2015

On the 30th of September, about 20 people protested outside the Embassy of Saudi Arabia against both the airstrike that killed 38 people at a wedding party and the planned execution and postmortem crucifixion of 21 year old Ali al-Nimr. The Embassy was holding a massive party inside for Saudi National Day. As protesters began to talk to the partygoers, the Embassy turned the music up all the way in an effort to drown out protesters and block this interaction. Unable to arrest and behead protesters in the US, they were reduced to using music to fight protesters.

On the 25th of September, the hunger strikers at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) broke their 18 day hunger fast, then delivered 5 copies of Pope Francis' encyclical on climate change to FERC staffers. Beyond Extreme Energy broke the fast with a breaking of bread that was shared with the entire crowd. Afterwards, the entire group marched once around FERC's building, taking the streets at N Capitol and at K streets.

Video-breaking the fast, delivering the encyclical, then marching around FERC

On the 24th of September, thousands participated in the "Moral Action on Climate" rally just outside the security zone as the Pope addressed Congress. The Pontiff asked Congress directly to abolish the death penalty and to show compassion for immigrants. He more generally called on the world to "limit and direct technology," and also to "put technology at the service of another type of progress." This is not the message Wall Street and extractive industries want to hear at the US Capitol.

Video-the Pope asks humanity to "limit and direct technology"

On the 22nd of September, the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance marched from the World Bank to the gates of the White House and demanded a meeting with President Obama.They wanted to discuss the impact of Obama's wars on climate change but were ignored. In response they blocked the White House gates and over a dozen were arrested.

Video: Marching from the World Bank to the White House, then blocking the gates

On the 23ed of September, five Native American activists protested at Lafayette Square in DC as Pope Francis canonized Junipero Serra, the notorious founder of California's "Indian Mission" system when CA was part of "New Spain" in the 1700's. More Native Americans protested at the Carmel-by-the-Sea mission in CA, where Serra is buried and the canonization was shown live on a big screen Jumbotron.

Two days earlier, Native American activist Louise Thundercloud gave this video interview about why Junipero Serra should not be declared a saint by the White House barricades