January 2019

Update Jan 22: DC Council overrides Mayor's veto, fare evasion will be decriminalized unless Congress intervenes. Mayor "more cops more jails" Bowser defeated again.

On the 16th of January, DC Mayor Bowser VETOED the Metro fare decriminalization bill. The bill passed the DC Council by a 10-2 margin, enough to override the Mayor's veto if nobody changes their vote. Metro police have been aggressively targeting Black youth for enforcement and arrest on fare evasion charges. This could perhaps be called "Make Metro White Again.

Jan 11 was the 17th anniversary of the opening of AmeriKKKa's dungeoun at Guantanimo Bay, Cuba. On Jan 11, 2019 protesters marked the occasion with a broader protest both of indefinate detention at Gitmo and US mass incarceration in general. Immigration detention was also singled out as protesters marched from the White House to Trump Hotel, and then to DC's own Central Cellblock.

Video highlights of the rally and march 4 min 15 sec

On the 10th of January, thousands of Federal workers gathered in front of the AFL-CIO's headquarters, then marched on the White House demanding an end to Trump's lockout of Federal workers. Speaker after speaker denounced GOP Senator Majority leader Mitch McConnell for blocking any votes on bills to reopen the Federal government without caving to Trump's demand for a racist border wall.

Video highlights of the rally and short march

On the 9th of January, environmental groups rallied near the MD State House for passage of the "Clean Energy Jobs Act," which would mandate that 50% of MD's electricity come from renewable sources other than trash incineration within ten years. After being re-elected, Gov Hogan claimed to "have a purple surfboard" to "ride the blue wave" so protesters asked him to trade in his purple surfboard for a green one.

Video-Gov Hogan asked to "trade in his purple surfboard" for a green one, and why states must lead when Federal government will now

On the 5th of January, barely over half a dozen fascists organized by Proud Boys expellee Jovi Val showed up in front of the White House. They were there to defend Cville car ramming driver James Fields and Proud Boys facing felonies for a brutal beatdown in NYC in October 2018. Instead, they spent all their time arguing with people, and their statements defending James Fields led to some kind of incident ending with four counterprotesters being arrested.

Update Jan 7 13:30PM:All arrestees have been released after spending nearly 48 hours in Enemy hands. Cases are not dropped however.

Jovi Val, half dozen supporters make fools of themselves at failed White House rally 3 min