FBI headquarters gets protest over Freedom Road Socialist raids

On September 28, as part of a national series of protests, representatives of a great many groups descended on FBI headquarters to protest the raids on Freedom Road Socialist Organization activists in Minnapolis and Chicago.

VIdeo on Liveleak

It is highly unusual to see the ISO and ANSWER on the same stage at the same time, but they were together at this protest of the FBI’s outrageous act of raw aggression against our entire community.

Representatives of organizations from Code Pink to Black is Back worked together to assemble a protest a FBI headquarters on such short notice.

These raids are an escalation of prior raids on activists here, in Pittsburgh, and Minniapolis/St Paul. This time around, the FBI, the organization behind the fires of Waco, Tx, is going nuclear with grand jury subpeonas and talk of “material support” for “terrorists.”

Well, as Rev Hagler pointed out,all protesters against apartheid in S Africa when he was active on that issue in DC would have been accused of providing “material support” to the African National Congress (if they stood in solidarity with the ANC)under today’s laws. This is because Ronald Reagan declared the ANC to be “terrorists” in his own solidarity with the former racist Apartheid regime.

So it was then, and so it is now-the FBI represents rich bankers and executives who are terrified by people around the world protesting or taking up arms against their “banana republic” model. Protests or armed struggle, no difference to them-ALL opposition is deemed “terrorism!”

A dozen grand jury subpeonas came out of the raids, and here’s my take on that. Every recipient of these subpeonas has two options-appear and refuse to testify, or refuse to appear. Naming names and revealing organizational details is snitching, and nothing can ever justify that.

The Grand Jury meets October 5, and if we make this case hot enough, the recipients of the subpeonas can refuse to appear, go underground, and wait for us to force the courts to abandon these illegitimate subpeonas. It’s up to us to lay on enough heat and vengeance that people with families won’t have to stay underground any longer than they would wait in jail if they appear and refuse to snitch.

This FBI tag was seen outside the protest, on an SUV that disgorged agents who walked through the protest to enter the building

Appalachia Rising: Thousands march, about 100 arrested protesting mountaintop removal mining

On the 27th of September, thousands of opponents of mountaintop removal coal mining converged on DC. Many were from West Virgina, Tennesee, and other areas devastated by this destructive mining practice. After blockading the EPA and PNC Bank, about 100 were arrested at the White House.

Video on Liveleak

Earlier in the morning, activists from DC Rising Tide and several from the Kentucky coalfields invaded an ofice of the US Army Corps of Engineers which must grant permits for MTR mining to take place. Two coalfield residents suceeded in gaining an audience with officials from the Army Corps of Engineers, though nine activsts were eventually removed by force, though without being arrested.

The later arrests were at the White House, requiring a bus, a wagon, and a van to transport the arrestees. Two of the arrests were of support people who had to enter the arrest area to distribute water or pick up arrestee’s property, drawing a furious yet not violent reaction from the crowd.

Mass arrests of civil disobediance protests at the White House are not uncommon, but mass arrests of this many people are rare, and mass arrests of coalfield residents protesting the destruction of their communities at the White House are unheard of until now.

At one point, Obama was reported to be outside on his porch, watching, drawing chants of “You can do it!” from the crowd. Protesters want the EPA and the President to put a total halt to the issuance of valley fill permits and other permits without which destructive, water-poisoning mountaintop removl mining cannot proceed.

Even if Obama is replaced with say, Sarah Palin in two years, a moratorium on MTR mining lasting until Jan 21, 2013 would create enough “political risk” that bankers and investors would want nothing to do with such mines, fearing a second moratorium if Palin, Newt et all could not hold the White House forever. This could prevent any new MTR mines far beyond Obama’s term in office by cutting off access to credit.

“PEPCOAL” gets anti-MTR flash mob

PEPCO got a “Flash Mob” protest against their continuing use of mountaintop removal coal and refusal to address climate change of September 24. Activists from Rising Tide DC and Apalachia Rising collaborated on this action.

Video:PEPCOAL FLashmob

PEPCO, DC’s electrical utility, is notorious for bad service and ever-rising rates. The climate change and violent storms coal use fuels has now contributed to unreliab More..le service, yet PEPCO, or PEPCOAL as some now call them, continue to demand rate hikes. Meanwhile, they continue to buy electricity generated using the very worst form of coal-that mined by blasting away entire mountains and mountain communities in West Virginia and elsewhere.

Murder of dog by DC Police draws protest at MPD HQ

On Adams-Morgan Day,a DC cop shot and killed a dog in cold blood. It want’t enough to get a knee in the dog’s ribs try and choke him out, the cop threw him down the stairs and shot him. A little over a week later, animal rights protesters and dog lovers showed up in front of MPD’s headquarters at 300 Indiana Avenue NW.

One sign showed Parrot, saying “If I were a poodle I would still be alive.” A banner condemned police violence in general.

Protesters demanded that the offending cop be fired, and pointed out that he has a record of killing one of his OWN dogs, and also appears on facebook with a dead deer. A cop like this should be treated as someone working up to shooting people next.

It is widely suspected that Parrot was really killed for being a pit bull. Hmm-seems to me that MPD also shoots people for who they are, especially if they are not white. With an attitude like this, is it any surprise that dogs are shot for who they are as well?

HLS protesters harassed by Capitol Police at Goldman-Sachs

The September 22nd HLS/Fortress protests at Goldman-Sachs,in 101 Constitution ave NW, were harassed by the US Capitol Police, who tried and failed to get permission to search a bag and also were refused ID. Silly cops-animal rights protesters don’t carry ID!

All those cops were not able to drive off protesters from Goldman-Sachs, nor were they able to deter anyone from going to Nomura,1101 Penn Ave NW, the other major Fortress stockholder in DC, afterwards. This time Nomura seemed to be expecting trouble, as protesters were unable to gain entry to the buiding. Their message was still heard loud and clear, however!

The Siege of Fortress is heating up, as Goldman-Sachs turns out more and more security guards and the Capitol Police intervene. Selling only 2/3eds of their shares in Fortress was a big mistake, as that only means activists need to turn up the pressure to finish the job!

Fortress Investment made $100M in loans to puppy-killing Huntingdon Life Sciences or HLS, and is the sole reason HLS is still in business. Until either Fortress dumps HLS or HLS goes bankrupt anyway, any and all investors in Fortress are being treated by activists as Fortress-and treated as HLS puppy-killers. That goes for both at the office and at the home.

Siege of Fortress: HLS home demos hit Goldman-Sachs, Astra-Zenica

The Siege of Fortress continues! On the 18th of September, animal rights protesters returned to the home of Michale Paese, 1630-B 19th st NW, head of government relations for Goldman-Sachs.


(photo-neighbors of Michael Paese object to the police about the disruption having an HLS/Fortress investor exec brings home)

Goldman-Sachs still hasn’t divested of the last third of their stock in Fortress, the investment firm that made $100M in loans to puppy-killing Huntingdon Life Sciences or HLS. HLS is a contract animal research lab where 7 undercover investigations caught “researchers” punching beagle puppies in the face and dissecting live monkeys with no painkillers. Without the loans from Fortress, HLS would not now be in business, due to the economic effect of “tertiary targeting” protests like this one, which drove off all other investors and most customers.

Michael Paese was home, and seen looking out at one point. Neighbors gathered, speaking to cops while cops could do nothing about a legal exercise of First Amendment rights. One neighbor joined the protest instead of siding with Michael Paese and the puppy-killers at Huntingdon Life Sciences.

Kimberly Warden, Executive of goverenment affairs for Astra-Zenica, also received a visit at her 300 Mass Ave luxury apartment. $500 worth of campaign cash with her name on it revealed her address.

Sometimes political corruption and campaign cash carry a heavy price-in this case, revealing the home address of an executive from a corporation that is one of the largest customers of HLS-Astra-Zenica. Again some neighbors complained and some denied Kimberly Warden lives there. Only thing is, she listed that address on forms reporting a $500 campaign cash donation in 2010!

Security tried to order protesters to leave the public sidewalk and called the cops when protesters refused to leave public space. Again the police made no move to violate anyone’s First Amendment rights, and may have spent some time instructing security as to the laws allowing people to protest in public space, First Amendment included.

Protesters against HLS cannot be run off by calling the cops, even with cops defy the law and arrest people for doing things that are not illegal! Only dumping HLS can do that, and I have a feeling Goldman-Sachs will soon dump that last third of their Fortress stock if Fortress doesn’t dump HLS first. In addition, Astra-Zenica may well end up joining the ranks of Merck Pfizer, and other Big Pharmas that recognized that HLS is just not worth the trouble.

Activists protest NCBA bribes to Congress

On the 15th of September, protesters showed up at the Liaison Capital Hill Hotel, protesting 102 years of Congressional bribery and corruption by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. whose annual legislative Conference was scheduled then and there.

Same video on Liveleak if Youtube removes it

After protesters entered the hotel, a worker there claimed the NCBA had left in the middle of the previous night,taking over 100 taxicabs to another hotel on Independance Ave. Didi they really run away from protesters, or was the hotel telling lies trying to get bullhorn and air-horn wielding animal rights activists to stand down?

It would be highly unusual for the cattle lobby-or ANY lobbying organization-to bail out on their hotel, hire over 100 taxicabs at maybe $4 apiece, skulk away at 11:30 PM in the night, and rent additional space in a different. All this to run away from a protest, or were hotel staffers telling lies?

As the entry team was exiting the building, a hotel staffer tried to grab hold of an Indymedia photographer’s camera, but was not successful in holding on to it.

Siege of Fortress: HLS protesters enter Nomura, visit Goldman-Sachs

The Siege of Fortress, the lifeline of Huntingdon Life Sciences continues! Goldman-Sachs and Nomura received protests at the office on the morning of Sep 14th. Protesters managed to enter the lobby of Nomura at 1101 Penn Ave, blowing airhorns and shouting on bullhorns before being forced out.

Goldman-Sachs at 101 Constitution Ave NW was reminded that dumping 2/3eds of their shares in Fortress(who give HLS $100M in loans) is not enough-the punishment continues until they divest of ALL their shares in Fortress.

It is also worth remembering that Goldman-Sachs received billions in taxpayer bailout funds-meaning TAX MONEY was used to bail out puppy-killing Huntingdon Life Sciences, too.

Fortress is the life support system of Huntingdon Life Sciences at this time. Without that $100M in loans, HLS would now be bankrupt, their gates closed and their cages empty, forever. Until Fortress exercises the escape clause in their contract with HLS, the Siege of Fortress will continue!

“PEPCOAL” at Adams-Morgan Day against MTR

At Adams-Morgan Day in DC on September 12, two activists from Rising Tide DC showed up dressed as “PEPCOAL” smokestacks.

Video: PEPCOAL smokestacks at Adams_Morgan Day on Liveleak

They were lampooning DC’s electrical utility PEPCO, hated for unreliable service and skyrocketing rates, while educating passers-by about mountaintop removal coal mining and the destruction this practice causes in Appalachia.

A community activist warned that PEPCO is now seeking legislation (first attempt failed) or other governmental deals to provide a GUARANTEED PROFIT, fearing lower demand from lower-income residents as energy efficiency improves.

NOTE: Liveleak videos will refuse to play in Google Chrome or most browsers based on Chrome(with the spy code removed) until they are converted to Flash format

Seige of Fortress: Air horn wielding HLS protesters storm Nomura

On the 7th of September, protesters blaring an air horn and using bullhorns as well invaded the offices of Nomura at 1101 Penn Ave NW in DC, one of the largest stockholders in Fortress, inc now that Goldman-Sachs has dumped two thirds(but not all) their shares.

Goldman-Sachs at 101 Constitution Ave still received a visit as well, about a half hour earlier, to remind them to dump the other third of their interest in Fortress. Fortress gave puppy-killing Huntingdon Life sciences $100M in loans, without which HLS would have already gone bankrupt and closed their doors forever.

Goldman-Sachs, expecting trouble, set out velvet ropes in an effort to exclude protesters from the building. Nomura, on the other hand, was sucessfully entered for the third week in a row!

After the Nomura protest, protesters moved on the offices of Huntingdon Life Sciences customers Astra-Zenica and Bayer.