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On the 15th of April, large numbers of union supporters gathered on Capitol Hill oppose the proposed TPP or Trans-Pacific Partnership. They called this "another NAFTA," and even used the term "SHAFTA" for the trade deals that have been offshoring US jobs and led to plummeting wages since 1994. Multiple members of Congress as well as union officials had some unusually tough talk against the "fast track" bill for the TPP. Fast track means a quick ratification vote with no debate if a treaty is signed, for a treaty whose very text is being kept secret.

Video-tough talk at Capitol Hill rally against the TPP

Unable to execute political prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal, prison authorities have instead been trying to kill him by neglect. For three months he showed signs of diabetes and treatment was refused until he was finally taken to an outside hospital and fainted with blood sugar at seven times the normal level. On Friday, the 10th of April, supporters protested all over the US demanding compassionate release for Mumia. Here in DC, supporters of Mumia marched on the US Dept of Justice

On the 8th of April, hundreds of DC area cyclists gathered in spotty rain for the first of the year's DC Bike Parties. They leave Dupont Circle at 8PM on the second Wednesday of each of the warmer months of the year. This one was the Cherry Blossom Chase, and rode to the Hained Point loop, under newly opened cherry blossoms. Just before the ride began the rain tapered off to nothing more than drizzle, nowhere near enough to dampen the spirits of hundreds of riders on the first Bike Party of the year

2 min video of the ride

On the last day of March, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser held her "state of the district" address. Outside were scores of DC residents excluded from the event-and apparently excluded from the Mayor's promises about affordable housing. There was even talk of housing that someone with a $75,000 a year income can afford being defined as "affordable." The "Real State of the District" protesters beseiged the Lincoln Theater where the Mayor was speaking and at one point took to the streets to blockade 13th and U sts. A key slogan was "Black Homes Matter!"

Video of the "Real State of the District" protest

On the 26th of March, Members of the #Ayotzi43DC protested in front of the US Dept of State demanding a cutoff of US funds to Mexican military units involved in human rights violations. The rally was followed by a march on the Mexican Embassy. Six months ago to the day, Mexican police and military opened fire on a bus carrying 43 teaching students in Ayotzinapa and they have not been seen since. It is widely suspected that after police ambushed and fired on their bus the survivers were turned over to cartel gunmen to be killed and there is evidence their bodies may have been incinerated.

Video clips of the March and rallies

On the 24th of March, Greenpeace staged a protest in front of the White House to demand that Obama reject any expansion of oil drilling in the Arctic. This protest was held as Obama's decision could now come at any time. Like the Keystone KX, this decision pits the survival of Indigenous people and untold numbers of animal species against the profits of hugely rich multinational oil companies.

On the 20th of March, animal rights protesters showed up for the second night in a row outside a DC performance of Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey circus. On the 21st of March even more protesters were present throughout the daytime performance of the circus One of the protesters on March 20th was a former elephant trainer displaying a real bullhook, the instrument used to beat the elephants into submission. Ringlings has announced they will retire the elepant acts, but not all the other animals such as tigers.

Video featuring former elephant trainer with bullhook on display and another activist speaking on the future of Ringling's elephants

On the 12th of March, Metro Transit Police shot and killed a man in the tunnels near the Potomac Ave station. They have refused to identify him and some media reports didn't even admit the shooting was by a cop! The following night (March 13), DC Ferguson met at Chinatown, got on the Metro, then got off at U st to block the intersection of 14th and U streets.

stirring video of the protest: never yield!

On the 1st of March, several protesters were arrested while blocking a door of the Washington Convention Center during the start of the convention of AIPAC, the "American Israel Public Affairs Committee." At first conventiongoers bypassed the blockade by other doors, leading to a determined attempt tp get into the building. Some protesters managed to sneak in while others tried to re-establish the door blockade on the inside of the doors. They were dragged outside by cops, who the conceded the top of the steps to protesters. Finally several protesters were arrested while blocking a door open so the sounds of the protest could be heard more clearly from inside.

Video of the blockade, attempt to set an inside blockade, and later arrests at a blockade holding door open