Race/Racism

On the 1st of January, DC Mayor Bowser got an unpleasant surprise when she showed up at her very own Freshstart 5K walk. Family members and friends of Javon Hall backed by Black Lives Matter activists showed up. They were demanding she release the police body camera footage from when cops shot and killed Javon Hall on Dec 25, 2016. She turned her back and refused to face them.

Video by J2 originally posted to Twitter

On the 27th of December, about 50 unarmed water protectors approached the barricaded bridge on Highway 1806, possibly checking reports that the police were taking down the razor wire and other barricades. The barricades were still there-and police opened fire with "less lethal" munitions, also pursuing the water protectors. They were then reported to be pursuing the water protectors but apparently couild not catch them in the snow or were to drive them off rather than capture them.

On Dec 21, both Jewish and Muslim activists backed by allies held a "No Hate Groups at 1717 Penn" rally, demanding that the extremist,anti-Muslim Clarion Project be evicted from the building for peddling hate. It is rare to hear of social activists demanding anyone be evicted, but hate groups are an exception to this rule. Tishman Speyer rents space in 1717 Penn Ave to the Clarion Project, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has announced plans to formally designate as a hate group.

Video from the protest against Clarion Project hate

On the 10th of December, the Standing Rock and Beyond march and rally demanded that Obama move to finish off the Dakota Access Pipeline and grant executive clemency to Leonard Peltier. Leonard Peltier's eldest son spoke at the rally on both his father's ongoing political imprisonment and on the dangers of corporate power over water.

Video-Leonard Peltier's son speaks on corporate control of water, marching to the EPA past Trump Hotel