Race/Racism

On the 12th of February, hundreds of people, mostly DC area Muslims, came together to remember three young Muslim students murdered in an apartment near Chapel Hill, Univ of North Carolina. Speakers at the Dupont Circle vigil included several people who knew them. There is considerable suspicion that the three young students were murdered because of their faith. The makes the Chapel Hill shootings a hate crime and an act of domestic terrorism.

Video-a family friend of the three students speaks in Dupont Circle

On the 24th of January, civil rights protesters showed up in Silver Spring, MD next to the outdoor skating rink by the Civic Center. Although this small group was entirely peaceful, heavily armored Montgomery County cops and three cop cars lurked about a block back watching. The music at the skating rink was gradually turned up in an attempt to override the rally speakers and their megaphone. The rally was very visible to all those using the skating rink, and educational in an unexpected place. It was followed by a short march through downtown Silver Spring.

Video highlights of the march and rally

On the 21st of January, civil rights protesters showed up outside the National Mayor’s Winter Meeting at the Capitol Hilton. They were demanding accountability for killer cops and police brutality. DC cops arrested an activist they deemed an organizer as protesters confronted Philadelphia's police commissioner outside the hotel. This was after activists asked how he liked being on the receiving end of a jump-out.

Video of police arresting an activist and using pain holds

Video of street blockade and die-in at National Mayors' Winter Meeting

On the 19th of January,a Reclaim MLK March set out from the White House for the Department of Justice. More than once it was called the Department of Injustice for failing to investigate the continuing police murders of mostly African-American youth. On the way, the march shut down streets, focussing on Chinatown. The mother of a man killed by Montgomery County, MD police spoke out as a classic DC Ferguson square blockaded 7th and H by the Chinatown arch.

Video of the march featuring the mother of a man murdered by Montgomery County police at 1 min 21 sec