May 2016

On the 27th of May, a Critical Mass bike ride took to the streets of DC with well over 50 riders. Although nowhere near the size of the DC Bike Parties that can attract up to 600 riders, the Critical Mass rides are still taking place. They began in late 2001 and currently leave Dupont Circle shortly after 8PM on the last Friday of every month, the international day of Critical Mass rides. They have changed much since their anarchist and antiwar origins in DC back in 2001, but the core concept of a swarm of bikers taking to the streets remains.

Video of the May 27th Critical Mass including (at end) a car driver trying to order all riders off the street only to be shouted down

On April 28, 2016, a former U.S. Marine and current civilian employee of the US Marine base on Okinawa, Japan raped and murdered a local woman. This was the latest in a decades long string of rapes associated with that particular US military base. On the 26th of May, Code Pink staged a protest at Union Station demanding that the US base on Okinawa be removed instead of rebuilt.

On the 24th of May in Albuquerque, New Mexico, protesters fought a significant battle against police and disrupted yet another racist Donald Trump event. Opponents of the racist hate spewed by would-be Fuhrer Trump sucessfully stormed through a police barricade to reach the Convention Center where the Trump event was held. inside, Trump was repeatedly interrupted by protesters, chants and booing could be heard in the background. Protests went on outside well after Trump's event had ended, at one point with rocks and fireworks being traded for tear gas or pepper spray, at another point protesters marched over the roofs of police cruisers in victory

Video compiled from multiple news clips set to music

On the 23ed of May, the first verdict in the six cases against the police who murdered Freddie Grey was announced. As expected, Officer Edward Nero was found "Not Guilty" by a judge. He declined to face a jury for his crimes, choosing a bench trial instead. Protesters outside the courthouse were told by cops they had to "float," permitted to use neither the street nor the sidewalk. The Baltimore Bloc reported one violent arrest. The courthouse protest was apparently not the only protest of this verdict in Baltimore today.

Youtube video by "Zoo News" showing a larger,second protest at the Western District police station. warning: Youtube tracks all users