DC

Pilgrimmage to the Pope for immigrant rights arrives in DC

Submitted by Luke on Tue, 09/22/2015 - 23:09

On the 22nd of September, the "100 women 100 miles Pilgrimmage to the Pope" for immigrant rights arrived at McPherson Square. One hundred women had marched all the way from an ICE detention center in Pennsylvania and were joined by many more supporters on the last leg of the march inside DC. The march ended at McPherson Square, where the Catholic hunger fasters for climate action already have tents set up. The evening program featured an appearance by Sweet Honey in the Rock after the speakers finished.

Stirring video of the end of the march, followed by clip from Sweet Honey in the Rock's performance

Immigration
100 women finish march from ICE hellhole to the Pope

Antiwar and climate activists arrested blockading White House gates

Submitted by Luke on Tue, 09/22/2015 - 16:53

On the 22nd of September, the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance marched from the World Bank to the gates of the White House and demanded a meeting with President Obama.They wanted to discuss the impact of Obama's wars on climate change but were ignored. In response they blocked the White House gates and over a dozen were arrested.

Video: Marching from the World Bank to the White House, then blocking the gates

Anti-War/Peace
Environment/Food/Health

Blocking the gates of the White House

Climate/war blockade at the White House

Native American activists condemn Pope's decision to canonize Junipero Serra

Submitted by Luke on Mon, 09/21/2015 - 19:52

On the 23ed of September, five Native American activists protested at Lafayette Square in DC as Pope Francis canonized Junipero Serra, the notorious founder of California's "Indian Mission" system when CA was part of "New Spain" in the 1700's. More Native Americans protested at the Carmel-by-the-Sea mission in CA, where Serra is buried and the canonization was shown live on a big screen Jumbotron.

Two days earlier, Native American activist Louise Thundercloud gave this video interview about why Junipero Serra should not be declared a saint by the White House barricades

Race/Racism
Interview: No sainthood for Junipero Serra, torturer of Native Americans

Chinatown mass eviction update: landlord expels activists invited by tenants

Submitted by Luke on Sun, 09/20/2015 - 14:38

On the 19th of September, local activist Sam Jeweler reported that security guards at Chinatown's Museum Square apartment complex expelled a group of ten tenant canvassers he was part of. The canvassers were present at the request of some of the tenants to inform others of their rights against Landlord Bush Co's planned mass eviction of everyone in the building.

Local News/Neighborhoods

DC Residents protest continuing efforts to merge PEPCO, Exelon

Submitted by Luke on Thu, 09/17/2015 - 19:30

On the 17th of September, DC area residents marched on City Hall demanding that the Council and the Mayor stand firm on the city's rejection of the proposed PEPCO-Exelon merger. Exelon is known for customer service even worse than PEPCO plus a virulent opposition to net metering and solar installations. The Public Service Commission has rejected the proposed merger but Exelon has yet to give up and are asking the PSC to reconsider their decision. DC has rejected the merger on grounds that it would interfere with efforts to move PEPCO towards greater use of renewable energy, to which Exelon as proven hostile.

Video-residents march on City Hall, deliver signed "petition banner" for Mayor's office

Environment/Food/Health
Labor/Economics/Business
Marching on City Hall against Exelon

Honduran migrants disabled on the "Beast" trains hold hunger strike at the White House

Submitted by Luke on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 21:01

Beginning on September 14th and continuing until September 24 (when the Pope is in town) the "caravan of the mutiliated" from Honduras is holding a fast and presence in front of the White House. They are demanding to meet with Obama concerning the hell they have been through. The caravan consists of migrants who lost limbs while riding the notorious "beast" freight trains that are often the only way to get north through Mexico to the US border.

Immigration

Interviews with two Beyond Extreme Energy water-only fasters at FERC

Submitted by Luke on Tue, 09/15/2015 - 00:54

Video interviews with two participants on the 7th day of an 18 day water-only fast at the offices of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, also known as FERC. The fast is demanding and end to all issuance of permits for fossul fuel extraction by FERC. That includes gas fracking, pipelines, export facilities, all of it. FERC has responded with a gag order forbidding their staffers from talking to the activists out front.

Video-two interviews with fasters outside FERC

Environment/Food/Health

The scene at FERC on the 7th day of BXE's fast

BXE's fasters on what's fracked up at FERC

DC Bike Party takes over the streets

Submitted by Luke on Fri, 09/11/2015 - 00:13

On the 9th of September, the DC Bike Party took to the streets. Hundreds of riders filled streets with dense and festive traffic from Dupont Circle to and over Memorial Bridge, then back into DC. There were a couple tense moments as the ride neared it's end on H st NE involving cops and a minor crash on the streetcar tracks but no injuries or determined police aggression.

Video highlights of 1st half DC Bike Party to 1960's music from the sound bike

Culture/Entertainment

Wall to wall bikes near the beginning of the ride

Festive ride to the sounds of the 1960's

Code Pink counterprotests Donald Trump/Ted Cruz anti-Iran rally

Submitted by Luke on Wed, 09/09/2015 - 16:05

On the 9th of September, infamous racist Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin and other far-right ideologues staged a rally on the Capitol West Lawn against the Iran nuclear deal. Some among their audience had Israeli flags, no doubt AIPAC played a role in this. Code Pink showed up and took up a position effectively corking the main entrance to the entire Trump/Cruz pro-war shinding.

Video-Code Pink takes on the Trump/Cruz zoo

Anti-War/Peace
Code Pink vs "Don Trump"

Anti-fracking activists begin 2 week fast, occupation at FERC

Submitted by Luke on Tue, 09/08/2015 - 12:49

On the 8th of September, anti-fracking activists arrived in front of the offices of FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) for a two week fast and sidewalk occupation that will last until the Pope's visit to Washington DC on September 24. Activists from Beyond Extreme Emergy are demanding that not one more permit be approved for a fracking well, a gas export facility, a pipeline, or any other fracking related project. This is the 4th time FERC has found itself facing daily protests over fracking and gas export. Yes, we have "a situation" at FERC!

Environment/Food/Health

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