DC

Mayor Bowser begins raids on homeless camps

Submitted by Luke on Fri, 11/20/2015 - 21:02

On the 20th of November, Mayor Bowser carried out her threat to begin DPW "cleanup" raids on homeless camps with an attack on the camp in Rock Creek Park near Va Ave. A trash truck, a box truck, and a shelter van were brought in, along with at least one police van for security. Recent Dept of Justice opinions opposing prosecution of the homeless may have deterred forcible removal, but it was clear that some belongings other than the tents were either being thrown in the trash or hauled away to a government warehouse. As of 7PM, many tents were still standing, and it appeared that most residents had refused the Mayor's demands to move to city-controlled shelters. The shelters are known for everything from metal detectors to bedbugs, and some refuse to use them.

Housing/urban Issues/Gentrification
Local News/Neighborhoods

Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil at AU

Submitted by Luke on Fri, 11/20/2015 - 00:07

On the evening of November 19th the Queers and Allies' Trans and Non-Binary Collective at American University held the Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil and Speakout. After speakers at the indoor portion spoke of the severe discrimination, poverty, and widespread murder and police violence faced by transgender people, everyone went outside for a vigil to remember those who have been killed. Flags of remembrance for the fallen were planted in the quad while the whole group held candles in the dark.

Gender/Sexuality/Identity

Violent arrest at 2nd night of Trans Week of Action street protests

Submitted by Luke on Wed, 11/18/2015 - 23:57

On the 18th of October, Trans Week of Action protesters took to the streets for the second night in a row. This time around, the blockades targeted the area around Target. Police tried to aggressively move traffic past protesters. When protesters stood their ground, one cop responded first with pushing, then with a violent takedown and arrest of an activist perceived as an organizer. Arrest can be a life-threatening experience for any transgender person, so the rest of the protesters were severely agitated by this, ultimately responding by retaking the exact same intersection.

Video-violent arrest at Trans Week of Action protest Nov 18 and precipitating incident

Gender/Sexuality/Identity

This incident of a cop shoving a protester led to a violent arrest

Violent arrest after trans activists blockade 14th st

TPP burned at Phillipine Embassy, one arrest after lockdown at Japanese Embassy

Submitted by Luke on Tue, 11/17/2015 - 17:28

On the 17th of November,protesters against the TPP trade deal marched to the embassies of many countries affected by the treaty.At the Embassy of the Phillipines, protesters burned a symbolic "TPP text" much smaller than the 6,000 page stack in solidarity with protesters in the Phillipines who burned ASEAN logos. At the Embassy of Japan, one protester locked himself by the neck to the doors. It took about an hour for police to remove and arrest him.

Video-burning the TPP

Video-civil disobedience at the Japanese Embassy

Globalization/Anti-globalization

Burning a stand-in for the TPP at the Phillipine Embassy, the 6000+ page full text would require a furnace to incinerate.

Burn the TPP!

Anti-TPP "torchlight" parade storms Morgan-Stanley, beseiges Monsanto and Ronald Reagan building

Submitted by Luke on Mon, 11/16/2015 - 22:18

On the evening of November 16, anti-TPP protesters assembled at the US Chamber of Commerce for a "torchlight" themed parade. The "torches" were toilet roll shades lit from the inside by LED lights. This march stormed the building housing investment banker Morgan Stanley's offices. Next marchers blocked access to Monsanto after a failed attempt to get inside. Finally the march went to the Ronald Reagan building and largely took over the plaza in front of it on the 14th st side.

Video-TPP protesters storm Morgan-Stanley

Globalization/Anti-globalization

Toilet roll "torches" lit from the inside by many LED lights

Storming Morgan-Stanley against the TPP

US Trade Rep's office festooned with "TP" by anti TPP trade deal protesters

Submitted by Luke on Mon, 11/16/2015 - 13:23

On the 16th of November, opponents of the Trans-Pacific Partnershio (TPP) marched on the offices of the United States Trade Representative(USTR), blocked entrances for a while, and festooned the area with anti-TPP toilet paper. This sort of thing just had to happen sooner or later-TP'ing the TPP. As a "night action" it would have been a potent enough symbol, but this was done in the open while activists controlled both the sidewalk and that half of the street.

Video of fair trade activists TP'ing USTR

Foreign Policy/Imperialism
Globalization/Anti-globalization

The TPP gets TP'ed

TP'ing the TPP

Protesters call for ending US alliance with Saudi Arabia over imminent executions

Submitted by Luke on Fri, 11/13/2015 - 17:00

The government of Saudi Arabia has sentenced Ali-Mohammed al-Nimr to death by beheading followed by crucifixion of his body for participationg in anti-regime protests in 2012 at the age of 17. Six other young men face similar sentences. All of al-Nimr's appeals have been exhausted. Around the world, protesters mobilized at Saudi embassies. One of these protests began at the Saudi Embassy here in DC and marched to the White House. Activists called out Saudi Arabia not only for the planned executions but also as the driving force behind ISIS/Daesh and for genocide against the people of Yemen

Video of the march and a Code Pink speaker

Anti-War/Peace
Foreign Policy/Imperialism
World Uprisings

Saudi Arabia not only beheads people like ISIS/Daesh, these protesters say they are Daesh's gas pump

NO to Saudi executions and terror

DC Bike Party reportback for November 11

Submitted by Luke on Thu, 11/12/2015 - 00:40

On the 11th of November, the DC Bike Party once again took to the streets. This ride went up the hills and around Adams-Morgan and 16th st, with a mid-ride stop in Malcolm X Park. Near the end of the ride came a display of precision riding as several riders "rode under the arch" formed by the joined hands of two other riders.

Video-"Riding Under the Arch" at the DC Bike Party(35 sec)

Sports

The November Bike Party crossing the bridge over Rock Creek above Adams-Morgan

"Riding Under the Arch" at the DC Bike Party

Cops harass Black Lives Matter activists at SE home

Submitted by Luke on Wed, 11/11/2015 - 14:40

On the 8th of November, reports emerged on Twitter that DC police from the 7D station shined lights into an activist home in Anacostia, and screamed at the women inside. Two cops showed up and shined lights into the house, then started screaming threats when asked why they were doing this. Cops also pulled over someone leaving the BlackJoySunday event that was being held at the house that evening.

Video originally posted to Twitter by Taylor Griffin

Local News/Neighborhoods
Police/Legal/Prisons
Race/Racism
Cops harass Black Lives Matter activists at SE home

Palestine supporters jeer Netanyahu's motorcade at Center for American Progress

Submitted by Luke on Tue, 11/10/2015 - 16:15

On the 10th of November, Israel's extremist Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke at the Center for American Progress. His motorcade had to pass jeering protesters on the far side of the street. Not only that, as his motorcade was being planned the protesters were on the near side of the street. Had the protesters refused to move the motorcade-and the speech-would have had to wait. Until protesters actually did move the outcome of this was unknown to police.No head of state likes to run a gauntlet of jeering protesters.

Video-protesters jeer the motorcade

Anti-War/Peace
Foreign Policy/Imperialism

Jeering Netanyahu's motorcade

Jeering Netanyahu's motorcade

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