Police/Legal/Prisons

Protesters march for police abolition in wake of Chauvin verdict

On the 24th of April, Black Lives Matter protesters took to the streets nationally to demand that police departments and policing be abolished. It's not enough to convict a single cop for murder when more mostly young Black and Brown people are being shot and otherwise killed by cops every day. One of these protests was in DC, and during this protest it was pointed out that 1 in 3 Black people killed by a stranger is killed by a cop.

Video-cops in Blue Lives Matter masks block Metrobus 57 sec

The march ready to set out

BLM Plaza celebrates Chauvin verdict as killer cop goes to jail

On the 20th of April, the verdict came back in Derek Chauvin's case for murdering George Floyd: GUILTY on all counts. As he was led away to jail to await sentencing, celebrations broke out coast to coast. DC's Black Lives Matter plaza was no exception. Music played, people cheered, and a groups of bicyclists came through. Had Chauvin walked this would have gotten quite rough instead.

Video: celebration on BLM Plaza 36 sec

National Guard activated in DC against expected Chauvin verdict/BLM protesters

Update: verdict reached, Chauvin GUILTY on all counts, taken to jail

On the 20th of April,about 250 National Guard troops were activiated to "assist law enforcement" against BLM protests in the wake of the coming verdict in the Chauvin case. Already police have been meeting protests for Duante Wright with insane numbers of police and wrongful arrests followed by dropped charges. Mainstream media is predicting another "long, hot summer" and they are NOT talking about the weather.

Is THIS how Biden, Bowser, the National Guard, and MPD plan to respond to street protests if Chauvin is acquitted? (Photo edited using GIMP to "update" that infamous Trump scene on H st.)

FTP march paints up Union Station Columbus statue, cops attack at dispersal

On the 17th of April, the second of three DC marches for Duante Wright and others murdered by police made a beeline to Union Station from their stepoff, and covered it with anti-facist graffiti upon arrival. With Chauvin's trial about to end in MN and huge protests expected, the question of what to do with statues of racist murderers is now back on the table.

Black House News video of sudden police attack as marchers dispersed at end of march 1 min 29 sec

Intense Duante Wright march withstands assaults by police, descends on 3D cop station

On the 17th of April. a large and furious crowd gathered at BLM Plaza for a march against the police murders of Duante Wright, George Floyd (whose killer may be acquitted in days), and so many more. Wealthy diners were confronted and in one incident a powerful firework landed in or near them. Later, as the march descended on MPD's 3D headquarters, cops began shoving protesters and at least one arrest was reported.

Video of the march including one of the police attacks, the march on MPD and the fake kettle 5 min 22 sec

Bike cops press in on the march, shield bloc and own bikes protecting rear of march

DC Marches for Duante Wright begin as world awaits verdict in Chauvin/George Floyd case

Police in the suburbs of Minneapolis killed another young Black man on the 11th of April, Duante Wright. He was pulled over for an air freshener dangling from his car mirror, cops escalated and in the end he was shot and murdered. Fighting erupted that night in MN, and on the 12th of April marchers took to the streets in DC in solidarity.

POV video of Duante Wright March in DC, w analyis of police tactics 2 min 23 sec

Memorial candles lit at the Joan of Arc statue in Malcolm X Park

Noise Demo against DC Jail combines with "learning from Lucasville" teach-in

On the 11th of April, a noisy, pot-and-pan banging protest at DC Jail demanded that prisoners be released. The indefinate delays of trials due to COVID-19 was cited as making pretrial detention and felony holds on bail unconstitutional (speedy trial). This was combined with a teach-in on the Lucasville (Ohio) prison uprising of 1993, where many gangs combined and rose in revolt for 11 days.

Video-noisy pot and pan banging outside DC Jail 23 sec

Fuck the Police march takes Takoma Park, MD streets

On the 10th of April, a Fuck the Police (FTP) march gathered at Takoma Park Metro, then crossed into MD and marched through Takoma Park and Silver Spring to protest Montgomery County police officers Dionne Holliday and Kevin Christmon handcuffing a 5 year old boy and threatening him with a beating for wandering away from school. The march faced little police opposition, perhaps out of shame.

Three Takoma Park police cruisers behind the march, they seemed to be unable to get and stay ahead of the march as it snake marched rom street to street

Night march against ICE gets lots of cops but no serious police aggression

On the 3ed of April, anti-capitalist activists combined with La Raza DC to organize a night march demanding nothing less than the total abolition of ICE. The march went through dining areas, getting cheers from many but jeers from the wealthy. Large numbers of bike cops shadowed the march but made no attempts at snatch-and-grab arrests or kettles.

Video-atmosphere on 18th st as march comes through 1 min 23 sec

Bike cops line up behind the march on the 18th st restaurant row. A line of protesters with shields is behind the photographer.

Protesters march on home of Arlington Board of Supervisers member over arrestee transfers to ICE

On the 22nd of March, pot-and-pan banging protesters marched on the home of a member of Arlington's Board of Supervisers. They were demanding a total and complete end to ALL cooperation with ICE by Arlington Police, courts, and the Sheriff. The targeted politician responded to the story of a man being arrested, turned over to ICE, and deported after a traffic accident with seemingly an hour of bullshit.

Video: marchers at the house met with an attempt to baffle protesters with BS and trivia while Arlington tops ICE detainer compliance

1 min 44 sec

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