May 2021

Protesters take to the streets as Palestine explodes

On the 11th of May , a massive protest including a mock tank repurposed from a Colombia rally took to the streets to protest Israel's proposed evictions in Jerusalem and the spiraling violence that has resulted. What began as an attempt to evict residents of a Jerusalem neighborhood Israel wants exploded into an Israeli assault on al-Aqsa with 300 injuries, between 500 and 1,000 rockets fired from Gaza in retaliation, and Israeli airstrikes in response to the rockets.

Video: 2 clips by Alejandro Alvarez-the massive crowd on Const Ave, and the mock tank at 16th and H 1 min 36 sec

Still from Alejandro Alvarez Twitter video

Mayor Bowser paves over BLM Plaza

Early morning on Tues May 11, DC's Mayor Bowser paved over the Black Lives Matter Plaza lettering on 16th st. She never actually supported BLM as shown by her pro-police, pro-gentrification policies.

Black Lives Matter DC photo via Twitter

Colombian Ambassador's house tagged in solidarity with protests in Colombia

Sometime on May 7, unknown activists redecorated the home of the Colombian Ambassador in Washington DC. The paintwork was in solidarity with hard-pressed protesters in Colombia, who have been shot at by police seeking to halt the popular mobilization against the US backed regime there. At least 26 protesters have been shot and killed in Colombia, and protesters in DC are making it plain this will NOT be tolerated.

Wyatt Reed video of the paintwork at the Colombian Ambassador's residence 23 sec

Line 3 protests shut down Wells Fargo, most downtown banks mid-day

On the 7th of May, Extinction Rebellion DC and other groups acting in solidarity with Anishaabe activists marched on multiple downdown branches of Wells Fargo. They dumped fake oil, rolled oil barrels and marched a giant Black Snake in the streets, and tried to give away wild rice soaked in oil. Cops didn't know only Wells Fargo was being targetted, so they blocked entry to all banks near the protests, effectively shutting them down.

Video: rolling oil barrels, spreading tar, marching the Black Snake as banks shut down 6 min 54 sec

Wells Fargo: Thou hast summoned the Black Snake!

Sudan Debt Relief Moves Forward

US Plays Major Role in Sudan Relief Effort

Under a debt relief plan won by advocates in the early 2000s, Sudan could see a drastic cut in its $50 billion debt this summer, according to the IMF and the World Bank. 

US Supports Removal of Vaccine Trade Barrier

As developing countries struggle to access vaccines, the US announced support to eliminate trade barriers on vaccine access. In a statement Wednesday, the Biden Administration called for a waiver on COVID-19 vaccine intellectual property patents at the World Trade Organization.

“Less than 2% of vaccines reached poor countries,” said Eric LeCompte, the Executive Director of the religious development organization Jubilee USA Network. "Intellectual property rights prevent developing countries from making their own vaccines or accessing generic versions."

Street signs hacked to condemn MPD and Bagshaw during Mayday

As Mayday protests wound down, at least two DC electronic street signs showed hacked messages. One read "MPD are pigs" and the other known modified sign read "Fuck Jason Bagshaw." Bagshaw is famous for among other things commanding police assaults on protesters at 4D after Karon Hylton was chased into traffic and killed by a cop near Ga Ave.

DC Jail gets another noise demo after a prisoner dies there

In the week prior to Mayday, a prisoner trapped in the DC Jail's dungeons died. In response, Decarcerate DC and community activists descended on the jail shortly after nightfall on Mayday for another noise demo and teach-in. Part of the teach-in was about the Attica Uprising, a repeat of which is one of the greatest fears of any jailer or warden.

Video-noise demo at DC Jail 44 sec

Banging pots and pans outside the DC Jail

DC's Mayday march winds from Malcolm X Park to White House

On Saturday, May 1, DC's annual Mayday march began at its traditional Malcolm X Park gathering point and marched to the White House, ending on H st due to the fence still blocking off most of Lafayette Square. It was the 2013 iteration of this same march that so famously stormed the GOP over the Rana Plaza sweatshop building collapse in Bangladesh.

Video-the 2021 Mayday march in DC

Movimiento Cosecha holds massive "Papers, Not Crumbs" march

On Mayday, May 1, Biden's 101st day in office, Movimiento Cosecha marched between and rallied at Black Lives Matter Plaza(focussed on the White House), ICE headquarters, and the Washington Monument. Undocumented migrants travelled by bus from as long as 12 hours away to take part in this protest demanding citizenship.

Video-Alejandro Alvarez's video of the march leaving ICE HQ from above 1 min 7 sec

Deporter in Chief Biden (photo by Julio Ricardo Varala)

Movimiento Cosecha blockades car access to White House over 100 days inaction on migrant rights

In his first 100 days in office, Biden has taken only one substantiative action to reverse Trump's racist immigration policies: stopping wall construction. Children are still being held in cages and deportations are accelerating. In response, on April 30(Biden's 100th day), Movimiento Cosecha blocked the main car access to the White House for over 6 hours before absorbing 33 reported arrests.

Video: setting up the blockade in the White House driveway 31 sec

Still from Movimiento Cosecha video

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