May 2016

Heather Doyle sent to jail for reporting police misconduct and brutality in Calvert County, MD

On the 27th of May, Heather Doyle was convicted of filing a "false" police report for truthfully complaining about being dragged by police from the Feb 3, 2015 crane sit against Dominion's gas export manner in an unsafe manner. She also truthfully objected in that complaint to being assaulted by police. The Calvert County Sheriff's dept turned the tables, denied all charges, and have now successfully sentenced Heather to serve 15 days in jail for filing a compliant for police brutality and recklessness.

Video: Critical Mass Bike rides still riding in DC

On the 27th of May, a Critical Mass bike ride took to the streets of DC with well over 50 riders. Although nowhere near the size of the DC Bike Parties that can attract up to 600 riders, the Critical Mass rides are still taking place. They began in late 2001 and currently leave Dupont Circle shortly after 8PM on the last Friday of every month, the international day of Critical Mass rides. They have changed much since their anarchist and antiwar origins in DC back in 2001, but the core concept of a swarm of bikers taking to the streets remains.

Video of the May 27th Critical Mass including (at end) a car driver trying to order all riders off the street only to be shouted down

Neo-Nazis post pro-Trump flier at Union Station with Jewish caricature

On the 26th of May, a neo-Nazi propaganda poster promoting Donald Trump appeared on a Metro station post at Union Station. The poster used a caricature of Jews consistant with those drawn in Nazi newspapers in Germany during the 1930's and blamed "Jew media" for "whipping up hysteria" against known racist Donald Trump. This poster is designed to resist removal, being a very difficult to remove sticker of thin paper with very tough glue and probably will leave behind permanent damage to the underlying paint.

Code Pink protests rape and murder of woman by ex-Marine near Okinawa base

On April 28, 2016, a former U.S. Marine and current civilian employee of the US Marine base on Okinawa, Japan raped and murdered a local woman. This was the latest in a decades long string of rapes associated with that particular US military base. On the 26th of May, Code Pink staged a protest at Union Station demanding that the US base on Okinawa be removed instead of rebuilt.

Video-Protesters battle police, interrupt Trump in New Mexico

On the 24th of May in Albuquerque, New Mexico, protesters fought a significant battle against police and disrupted yet another racist Donald Trump event. Opponents of the racist hate spewed by would-be Fuhrer Trump sucessfully stormed through a police barricade to reach the Convention Center where the Trump event was held. inside, Trump was repeatedly interrupted by protesters, chants and booing could be heard in the background. Protests went on outside well after Trump's event had ended, at one point with rocks and fireworks being traded for tear gas or pepper spray, at another point protesters marched over the roofs of police cruisers in victory

Video compiled from multiple news clips set to music

Protesters pierce police barricades

Labor activists march into Wal-Mart, demand fired pregnant worker's job back

Wal-Mart fired Arleja Stevens for pregnancy-related absences two years after agreeing never to do so. On May 25, she walked back into the H st Wal-Mart to demand her job back. She was backed by activists from Making Change at Walmart and DC Jobs with Justice. The manager objected to protesters inside the store but accepted a copy of DC laws pertaining to pregnancy and employment and agreed to meet with her in an "open door" session at 10AM on May 26, 2016. If she does not get her job back protesters will target Wal-Mart's main corporate office in DC on the 7th of June.

Video-marching into Wal-Mart to demand Arleja Stevens's job back

Killer Baltimore cop acquitted, protesters told they can't be on street OR sidewalk

On the 23ed of May, the first verdict in the six cases against the police who murdered Freddie Grey was announced. As expected, Officer Edward Nero was found "Not Guilty" by a judge. He declined to face a jury for his crimes, choosing a bench trial instead. Protesters outside the courthouse were told by cops they had to "float," permitted to use neither the street nor the sidewalk. The Baltimore Bloc reported one violent arrest. The courthouse protest was apparently not the only protest of this verdict in Baltimore today.

Youtube video by "Zoo News" showing a larger,second protest at the Western District police station. warning: Youtube tracks all users

The scene as killer cop Nero's family is followed to their parking garage

Black LIves Matter activists demand investigation of police killings of Black women, project images on DOJ's walls

On evening of the 21st of May, Black Lives Matter activists gathered at the Department of Justice to demand investigations into police murders of Black women both Cisgendered and Transgendered. A projector was set up, showing scenes of some of the police incidents that led to the deaths of Black women at the hands of police on the walls of the Department of Justice.

Video featuring Sandra Bland portion of projection

Closure of FERC "public" meeting draws street blockade

The monthly "public" meeting on May 19th of the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) was closed to the public in response to this week's protests. In response protesters took over 1st St NE in front of FERC's doors. Sounds of chainsaws and fracking fluid injection were played over the PA at one point, at another point the mock eminent domain notice against FERC chairman Norman Bay's house was read aloud for the second time. It had been posted the previous day when the mock pipeline was set up at the Chairman's house.

Video from the 1st St blockade outside FERC on 5-19-2016

Related:Video overview of entire week of action including both the Rubber Stamp Rebellion and Break Free From Fossil Fuels (1 min 15 sec)

Blocking the streets outside FERC after their monthly "public" meeting was closed to the public

Anti-TPP activists perform street theater, then march to DNC

On the 18th of May the US International Trade Commission (US ITC) released its economic impact statement of the TPP or Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

Outside, both the Rubber Stamp Rebellion and the No Lame Duck Uprising were present, performing a skit about how the ISDN or "Investor State Dispute resolution" corporate courts would let oil companies sue the US for demanding they clean up their spills or limit their drilling. The skit ended with Uncle Sam, hat in hand, begging the taxpayers for money to pay off the TPP ISDN judgements to Big Pig Oil.

Video of the TPP skit featuring Pig Oil and his fracking buddies

The skit in front of the US International Trade Commission

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