Newswire

Youtube prohibits authors of poltical videos from selling ads-and some activists actually object

On the 3ed of September, an image appeared on twitter from an account simply labelled as "anonymous" with a Guy Fawlkes mask along with charges that Youtube is censoring activist video not be taking it down but rather by forbidding posters from selling additional ads ("revenue sharing") on them. Youtube does not consider social activist video "ad-safe," just as some activists do not consider anticapitalist video made for the purpose of selling corporations' ads "hypocrisy safe." For Youtube to offer to air the videos, just not to offer to permit posters to sell corporate ads on them is not censorship of anything but the ads themselves. The advertisers are unlikely to object to that "censorship."

Since when is refusing to sell ads on content censorship?

FOX News calls for return of overt jump-outs with departure of former police chief Lanier

On the 1st of September, Fox 5 News broadcast one of their incessant "crime news" stories, this one about a shooting in DC. FOX went well beyond covering this young man's death, they went into his neighborhood seeking anyone who they could induce to say on camera that they wanted the incoming police chief to bring back "plainclothes vice squads." These squads are known as "jump-outs" and are infamous for stopping and forcibly searching all young African-American males on a block if any crime by anyone is observed. Police deny they now exist but this sort of harassment is still pervasive in many parts of DC. A key demand of Black Lives Matter in DC has been to total and complete elimination of police jump-out squads. The FOX broadcast carefully avoided the words "Jump-out" as well as "Black Lives Matter" even while covering a non-police involved shooting.

Security violently removes animal rights protesters from Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

On the 21st of August, plainclothes security guards forcibly removed a number of animal rights activists from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception after they began a "vegan outreach" protest/speakout. As soon as they got outside the door they became violent enough to inflict bruises, knocking down the activist using the camera. The camera stopped when it hit the ground. Not knowing the camera had stopped, the woman using it turned it on one of the guards while he was boasting "yeah I assaulted you" to another activist. The camera still some of what that same guard was boasting about, meaning his "testimony" isn't needed anyway.

Video of the incident including bruises left by the assault

Protesters assaulted at National Basilica

Reportback from Rally4Refugees

On the 28th of August DCRally4Refugees held a mixed concert/speaking event at Sylvan Theater near the Washington Monument. Bands alternated with speakers as organizers sought to raise funds and connect people with groups active on refugee issues. They pointed out that more people have been displaced from their homes now than ever before, and due to the war in Syria the total number of international refugees has now topped 20 million. A tiny number of Trump supporters tried to counterprotest this event, but at one point a pair of Code Pink activist counter-counterprotesting them was equal to 40% of their numbers. Meanwhile, a speaker from El Salvador called out the utter hypocrisy of those who benefit from migrant labor while demanding migrants leave.

Some video highlights of DCRally4Refugees

Advocates in life jackets symbolize the dangers faced on the water by one of the largest refugee populations in human history

DCRally4Refugees

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