On the 20th of October, Chuck Modi published a series of interviews on Twitter with a protester identified as "Aye" who is facing Trumped-up charges totalling 175 years after charges from the August kettles were used as a pretext to raid her house.
Video-two of Chuck Modi's interview clips with Aye 2 min 18 sec
On the 17th of October, the "Fuck the Police" march took to the streets at its usual Saturday night time. In addition to the usual focus on police murders of Black and Brown people, marchers called out the DC government for spending $130,000 on tear gas for expected "riots" after the election.
Video: women's march and confrontations at the Supreme Court 2 min
The Oct 17 Women's March targetted both Trump and Amy Coney Barrett as unfit for office, and had as its focus the efforts to vote Trump out of office(if possible...). The march drew both Trumper and antichoice counterprotesters. These in turn drew a counter-counter protest by young activists. Heated debates ensued, with right-wing signs blocked and at least two antichoice signs painted over.
Video-Protesters march on Senate w "handmaids" up front 58 sec
On the 14th of October, GOP Senators announced intentions to call an immediate committee vote on Trump's Amy Coney Barret nomination for Supreme Court. Protesters mobilized early AM on Oct 15 to oppose this rushed vote, while the Dems exercised their procedural right to force a one week delay. Protesters then marched around the Dirksen and Hart buildings before linking up with a go-go sound truck.
On the 14th of October, DC Bike Party partnered with Shutdown DC and Extinction Rebellion DC for a Halloween-themed "Get out the Vote" bike ride. Hundreds participated.
Video-the ride at St John's Church, and Halloween theme on display at Union Station 1 min 15 sec
The 13th of October was an ugly day for the US Supreme Court. Trump's nominee Amy Coney Barrett refused to answer whether voter intimidation is illegal and refused to commit to recusing herself from deciding a disputed election. As she spoke, hate groups such as the anti-GLBTQ "Concerned Women for America" were in town lobbying for her confirmation.
Video-duelling protests outside the Supreme Court shortly before Noon 2 min 12 sec
Early on the rainy and windswept morning of Oct 12, protesters responded to the start of Trump's Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barret with a blockade of the Dirksen Building. Twenty-one arrests were reported. Duelling protests both for and against the nomination continued at least until Noon if not later.
This year Indigenous Solidarity Day fell on Oct 12. A "National Columbus Day Association" event found themselves upstaged by an Indigenous protest, and by a warning from an antifa videographer that their fancy statue would by torn down by protesters. Donald Trump gave the event's (presumably recorded from Oct 9) keynote speech, and that's when an anti-Fascist journalist showed up.
On the 10th of October, the They/Them "Fuck the Police" march took to the streets, undeterred by Monday's police harassment of an activist house. A swarm of bike cops maneuvered in such a way as to keep the entire march inside what was nearly a moving kettle, with their lead elements moving at the last minute. The march had to disperse early again from 14th and Columbia due to escalating police aggression.
Video-police tactics used against the They/Them march 1 min 52 sec
On the 10th of October, a potentially still-contagious Donald Trump invited 2,000 GOP supporters to a "Back the Blue" rally on the White House South Lawn. While the theme was law and order, Trump violated DC health codes concerning isolation while actively infectious with COVID as well as the Hatch Act. The Hatch act forbids use of government assets (such as the White House) for partisan political purposes.
Video-Armenians compare Turkey to ISIS(Daesh) 31 sec
On the 8th of October, protesters again filled Black Lives Matter Plaza from H st to I st. This time the Fascist being protested was Turkish dictator Erdogan and most of the protesters were Armenians. Demands were an end to US aid and sanctions against both Turkey and Azerbaijan, which is helping Turkey's efforts to continue their 1915 genocide.
Video from the scene 1 min 8 sec
On the 5th of October, Park Police showed up at an activist house in DC, claiming to have a warrant against someone who does not live there. Facing a fast-growing crowd of neighbors and rapid-responding activists, the called MPD for backup, but in the end all the cops had to leave, though not before being filmed not wearing masks at close range to other people.
On the 5th of October, activists providing jail support for those arrested in Saturday's protests were themselves threatened with arrest by MPD. Cops turned out to be bluffing, the protest grew and even included go-go music before all arrestees were released.
Shortly before Trump was discharged early from Walter Reed, the Trump supporters outside were photographed with a Confederate flag flying alongside the usual thin blue line, rattlesnake, and other such flags. The neo-Confederates have increasingly come out of the closet in the past 6 months(well, "Proud Boys" are supposed to come out...)
Late afternoon on Oct 3, police violence against Black Lives Matter marchers continued with a biker cop assault on a peaceful daytime march on or near 18th St. The cops swarmed out of nowhere, arrested a 16 year old, and created an unusually tense and charged environment even for a police attack by some accounts.
Update Oct 6: 4th GOP Senator tests positive, Barret confirmation margin down to two votes
Fast-breaking news on Oct 2 had Trump first testing positive for COVID, then getting sick, and finally being taken to Walter Reed Hospital. GOP Senators Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Mike Lee of Utah both tested positive too, probably exposed at Trump's Sep 26 announcement of Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court. Two more GOP Senators later tested positive too. Now the GOP want to delay Barrett's confirmation hearings, as they may be down 2 votes
On the 29th of September, at least one very high quality, either professionally made or very well repainted sign saying "Defund Police-invest in communities" showed up, bolted to a sign post bearing parking restriction signs of the same size, shape, material, and mode of fastening.
Both the paint on the front and the bare aluminum on the back appeared to be brand-new.
On the 29th of September, a series of "speak outs" began outside the Supreme Court. Activists (some with frontline healthcare ties) demanding that nobody be confirmed to the Supreme Court prior to passage of a coronavirus relief bill or better yet, the Inauguration.
Video: far-right disrupts the rally, and interview attempt w man in "Its OK to be White" shirt 2 min 17 sec
On the 27th of September, a "No Confirmation without Inauguration" rally was held in front of the Supreme Court steps. Speakers warned this would be "a fight." A fight indeed: Fundamentalist Christians and outright white nationalists showed up to counterprotest and harass, using their bullhorns in siren mode plus their chants in a failed attempt to drown out the sound system.
