July 2016

A modest proposal for the Trump/RNC protests in Cleveland

The Cleveland pigs have decreed that things like gas masks, food coolers, bicycle locks, and squirt guns are banned in a huge "event zone" covering a good part of downtown Cleveland during the Repugnican National Convention. Squirt guns are banned but due to the state's "open carry" law REAL guns cannot be banned. This provides leverage for protest organizers.

What Would Trump Fascism Look Like?

What Would Trump Fascism Look Like? Eight Most Likely Traits

By Al Carroll

Black Lives Matter shuts down Georgetown, announces summer of home demos

On the 9th of July, Black Lives Matter gathered at the African-American Civil War Memorial for what appeared to be another march on U st. While the march began there, it quickly headed west towards Dupont Circle, then dropped into Rock Creek Park announcing a destination at the MLK Memorial. Once in Rock Creek, the march pulled a surprise, going up the ramps into Georgetown on a night nobody had expected Black Lives Matter to go there.

Video highlights of the march including both announcements

Georgetown on Saturday night after Black Lives Matter marched in

Shutting down Georgetown after long march from U st

DC Bike Party takes over the streets

On the the 8th of July, the DC Bike Party took to the streets once again, now having been in existance for four years. Although not the largest ever, this was a very large bike party of hundreds of riders. This was also roughly the 4th anniversary of the first DC Bike Party In this ride, a few riders wore signs saying things like "Black Lives Matter" and "Disarm the police."

Video from the 1st half of the July 2016 DC Bike Party

DC Bike Party July 2016

Black Lives Matter protesters march from DOJ to White House on 2nd day of protests

On the 8th of July, Black Lives Matter protesters took to the streets for a second evening in a row. Marchers started by circling the Department of Justice several times before heading to the White House. Demands at DOJ were for Federal civil rights investigations into all of the recent wave of police shootings of young African-American males.

Video highlights of Black Lives Matter march including heckling Trump Hotel

Black Lives Matter marchers giving Trump Hotel the finger

Protesting killer cops for the second day in a row

Leonard Peltier Freedom Ride 2016 in DC July 23-24

Come Out to Support President Obama Granting Leonard Peltier Clemency.
Your brother needs your help! Please share with your networks!

This July 23rd-24th US political prisoner Leonard Peltier's supporters
will complete a 3,000 mile freedom ride to Washington DC to ask President
Obama to grant Leonard clemency. A rally is planned for the US Capitol
steps. Leonard's health is failing and his continued incarceration serves
no justifiable reason. He is an old man now who paints artwork and wants
to work on old cars. This rally and freedom ride is organized by Leonard's

Black Lives Matter protesters march on Capitol, 7D police station

In the wake of yet more police shootings of young African-American men, Black Lives Matter protesters took to the streets of DC in two locations. One march began at the White House and went to the Capitol, breaking through the first of two police lines set by US Capitol Police in the process. The other march began at the Congress Heights Metro station and was called "Roll Up on 7D" for their ending location at the 7D police station in Anacostia. Some mainstream media outlets reported only on the march in NW.

Video from march on 7D cut from clip originally uploaded to Twitter by E.J. Thribb

Video of march at US Capitol after dark, originally posted to Twitter by Christine Kim

Rolling up on 7D: photo by Raza Ahmad Rumi

One of two Black Lives Matter marches in DC 7-7-2016

TPP protesters visit office of Rep Eli Cummins in Baltimore

President Obama has explicitly said he will not permit the Democratic Party platform to take a position against the TPP trade deal. In response, on the 7th of July fair trade protesters showed up at the offices of Representative Elijah Cummins, who chairs the Democratic Party's platform committee. Elijah Cummins has said before he opposes the TPP and has repeatedly voted against TPP related bills including Obama's treasured "fast-track" bill last year. The protesters were there to say they've got his back and are asking him to stand up to bullying from the Obama administration and ensure that the party platform opposes the TPP trade deal.

Video from the TPP protest at rep Elijah Cummings' office in Baltimore

Protesting Obama's bullying on the TPP to the chair of the DNC platform committee

Donald Trump visit to Capitol Hill draws protests over racism and outsourcing

On the 7th of July, Donald Trump visited GOP officials at the Capitol Hill Club near the US Capitol. Outside, protesters denounced him for racism, sexism, homophobia-and for outsourcing millions of US jobs to other countries. There was mention that the over a billion dollars he managed to lose running his own casino imply his economic performance as President would also lead to bankruptcy. Trump got in and out the back door, same way the rest of the garbage leaves the club and in this case enters. Afterwards, one GOP attendee described Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan as now being "teammates." Unless this is for public consumption, it's opposite what WTOP radio has been saying about GOP unity

Video from the protest of Trump's visit to GOP bigwigs at the Capitol Hill Club

Protesting Donald Trump at the Capitol Hill Club

GMO Protesters throw money on Senate Floor over pro-GMO labelling bill

On the 6th of July, protesters opposing yet another pro-Monsanto, pro-GMO, anti-food labelling "Dark Act" bill in the Senate threw money on the Senate floor. This protest was called the "DarkActMoneyDrop, symbolizing the wholesale bribery of politicians legalized by Citizens United and used by corporations like Monsanto to control members of Congress. By comparison, nobody dared make a move for the publicly visible money thrown on the Senate floor while C-Span's cameras rolled.

Video posted by Roll Call to Youtube

Still from Roll Call's Youtube video

Activists threatened with arrest for protest calling zoo a prison for animals

On the 3ed of July, activists from Direct Action Everywhere showed up at the National Zoo with fliers, signs, and a bullhorn denouncing the zoo as a prison for animals. Zoos have been compared to life in prison with no parole before. The comparison made the zoo sufficiently uncomfortable that as soon as the bullhorn started up, zoo cops responded, trying to claim ownership of the sidewalk in front of the zoo. Protesters rejected that lie, and both Park Police and MPD showed up, in the end reminding the zoo police that the zoo does not in fact own the sidewalk. Many times security guards have made that claim at a protest, and time after time even the police have had to admit this claim is a lie.

Video of the zoo protest and zoo cops trying to claim ownership of the sidewalk

Cops at zoo threaten arrest after protesters compare zoo to prison over bullhorn

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