Race/Racism

on the 15th of September, Unicorn Riot release this footage of militarized police arresting water defenders at Standing Rock, where over 5,000 Native Americans and supporters have gathered in an all-out effort to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. Facebook has blocked some of Unicorn Riot's videos, this one was posted to Vimeo which lacks Facebook's highly politicized in-house human monitor/snitch program. A copy has been saved in smaller 360p resolution in case Vimeo pulls this down.

Water Protectors Arrested by Militaried Police-video by Unicorn Riot(on Vimeo)

On the 14th of September, activists opposing construction of the Dakota Access pipeline shut down two branches of TD Bank. Several of the protesters on Sep 14th drove all the way from Standing Rock, N Dakota, an over 20 hour drive. TD Bank is a major investor in the pipeline, just as they were a major investor in the failed attempt to build the Keystone XL. During that campaign some called them "Tar Dollar" bank. The first branch locked out customers after an advance team of three entered the branch to read out a letter condemning their investments in the pipeline. The second branch was found locked when protesters reached it, it is unknown if they had been locked up all through the protest at the first branch or locked up when activsts departed from there. TD Bank locked down so protesters didn't have to it seems.

Video-marching on and closing two TD Bank Branches plus a warning for Obama

On the 12th of September, DC social activists and religious leaders began holding "Moral Mondays" at the DC Council demanding that miniumum wages be raised, public housing be perserved, schools and public property not be privatized, mass incarceration be ended, and more. Moral Mondays began in North Carolina as a protest against right-wing and racist policies of the state government such as restricting voting rights and cutting social programs. In North Carolina Moral Mondays are known for civil disobedience, DC councilmembers should consider the possibility that failure to address the needs of the people could force the use of civil disobedience here in DC as well.

On the 9th of September, Judge James Boasberg denied the request by the Standing Rock Sioux for a preliminary injunction against further construction of the Dakota Access pipeline. The pipeline builders now have other problems though: The US Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Justice are all calling for a construction halt anyway. Energy transfer has foolishly built a significant part of the pipeline well away from the area being defended by Native America land defenders and now stands to lose a large amount of money if the pipeline cannot cross the Missouri river. In short they will pay for their attempted aggression and their dog attacks by losing their shirts.