Two arrested for wearing Guy Fawkes masks at NDAA protest

An “Anonymous” contingent (the protesters, not the master hackers) has been marching out of Occupy DC to protest the NDAA military detention clause every night for the past two weeks at the White House. On the 30th of December two participants were arrested for wearing the trademark “Guy Fawkes” face masks.

Video of protest and one of the arrests

The word we received back at McPherson Square was that the two arrestees would be held until Monday, probably on charges of “piracy!” I can’t vouch for the accuracy of this legal statement, but apparently wearing a mask during an “illegal action” is called “piracy’ in DC.

Protesters in masks staged a civil disobediance style sit-in between the lamp posts in front of the White House, leaving at the second warning, only to stop off the sidewalk, then back onto it in formation, then return to their post. They finally left after a few rounds of this-and cops decided not to let them leacve peacefully, suddenly arresting two for this bullshit “mask piracy.”

Normally piracy means boarding a fat merchant ship full of consumer goods for the wealthy nations off the coast of Somolia and demanding ransom to release the crew and all their consumer trash!

If the new mask law passed because Mary Cheh and Goldman-Sachs were upset with the HLS demos is the law defining wearing a mask as “Piracy,” this is an outrageous law passed by the DC Council. Perhaps if one of them owns a yacht, or just a 4-wheeled land yacht, someone will teach them the true definition of piracy. On the other hand, if the 2011 mask law was NOT used and an obscure old law defining mask waring a “piracy”is being used instead, this marks an outrageous breach of the expected rules of engagement by the Park Police, and could lead in the future to more confrontational relations between protesters and the Park Police.

HD Video: 2011 in DC activism, a year Occupied

2011 is a year that made history, even Time Magazine called “the protester” man of the year!

DC-centered Video on Liveleak

Download HD video in 1080p, 235 MB

Video covers protests and events in DC from early January 2011 through December 2011, focussing on Occupy DC related events after October 1. Occupy has been a breath of fresh air, revitalizing an activist scene that desperately needed to reach new people.

The HD video is compressed fairly hard to keep it under 250MB, but is still better quality than the 360P video sent to Liveleak-and MUCH better quality than the video Liveleak will send back to you. Download it, play it in any media player that can play mp4 files containing the industry-standard H264 codec. You can start playback before the download finishes with many players, it is a “web-optimized” video with the information needed by the video player at the start.

Egyptians ouside Egyptian military office protest killings of protesters

On the 22nd of December, Egyptians plus a few people from the ISO and a few more from Occupy DC showed up outside the “defense” office of the Egyptian Embassy. This office is on L st near Georgetown, far from the Egyptian Embassy.

Video of the General arguing with protesters, then of an attempt to project scenes of brutality in Egypt on the building

This general argued with protesters outside the "defense" office

The protesters were there to protest the recent beatings and shootings of protesters in Egypt. One man came out and argued with protesters, I was told he was the highest ranking general at the office. At first I hoped he was willing to side with Egyptian protesters, but I was told that was NOT the case, and at one point the lond Secret Service officer on the scene told him to stop antagonizing protesters, remining the General that he was the only cop around.

Later, protesters tried to project scenes of the brutality in Egypt on the walls of the building, but it worked poorly due to the shape of the building so a screen had to be used

We’ve all seen the famous image of an Egyptian soldier about to stomp on a partially-stripped woman flat on the ground. Anyone involved in the Occupy movement here needs to keep an eye on what is happening in Egypt. Repeated efforts by the Egyptian military to clear the occupation of Tahrir Square have used tactics that seem to be a cross between the eviction of Occupy Oakland and Kent State.

The Occupy strategy of continuously holding public space began in three places, first Tunisia, then Egypt, and finally in Wisconsin here in the US.

Another lesson for Occupy from Egypt is not to settle for half mneasures. Mubarak stepped down early in the year, now the Egyptian military that stood behind him and did NOT step down is trying to backtrack on the revolution. Porbably they have been planning that all along, expecting wrongly that the protesters would have demobilized by now.

7 arrested at 3ed day in a row of White House NDAA protests

Shortly before 9 PM on December 20, marchers from both Occupy camps converged on the White House, demanding that President Obama veto the NDAA is he wants to be re-elected. The NDAA is the Pentagon funding bill with attached military indefinate detention clause.

Video of the picket and civil disobediance

This was the third day (second night action) of civil disobediance against the NDAA in a row. This time around, 7 people were arrested after refusing to leave the sidewalk in front of the White House.

At one point, police tried to induce the picketers marching in a circle on the sidewalk to talk the sitting protesters out of civil disobediance, saying the CD would force them to close the sidewalk and push away the picketers. This of course assumes the picket is deemed more important than the civil disobediance, a highly unlikely state of affairs!

There was only one demand of the protest: that Obama veto the Pentagon budget (NDAA) containing the military indefinate detention clause. One speaker pointed out that the civil disobediance was a “use it or lose it” proposition, as this same act after passage of the NDAA would risk a lifetime in indefinate military detention if the President were simply to declare that anyone opposing his war effort is to be considered supporting al-Qaeda. Former President Bush made repeated statements coming close to exactly that-statements never repudiated by Obama.

Intermix in Georgetown gets fur protest

Intermix, an upscale clothing shop in Georgetown, has stated that they have not received “enough public pressure” to consider removing fur products from their shelves. From 7:30 PM until closing on Dec 17, animal activists showed up outside to correct this.

The 17th of December may have been the first time animal activsts showed up at Intermix, but it surely won’t be the last unless they do the right thing and stop selling fur.

One of the protest signs displayed a raccoon dog, a small dog native to Russia, with his/her skin removed for the fur trade-and STILL ALIVE. This kind of brutality for fashion will never stop inspiring people to target any business selling the products of the fur industry.

Intermix will not only have to answer to protesters, but to all their neighbors in tony Georgetown who many not appreciate having a neighbor that attracts animnal rights protesters and possibly militant anti-capitalists as well. Surely Intermix’s neighobrs and their landlord remember the October Rebellion in 2007, when upscale chain stores boarded up at 500 IMF protesters marched on Georgetown!

Bradley Manning Solidarity protest at Ft Meade, MD

On December 17, 2011, an estimated 150 supporters of accusedx “wikileaker” Bradley Manning showed up at Ft Meade, marching along Rt 175 from one gate of the base to another.

Video of the protest with clip from “collateral murder” “Collateral murder” courtesy Bradley Manning via Wikileaks IF he did what prosecutors allege!

Bradley Manning is accused of giving Wilikleaks such “secrets” as the infamous “collaral murder” video, is now at Ft Meade, MD for a preliminary hearing on his court-martial. Other “secrets” exposed more torture in Iraq and similar unsavory news from Afghanistan.

You may recall the “Collateral Murder” video-the gun camera footage from a helicopter gunship under the call sign “crazyhorse 1.” The gunner mows down a civilian journalist in Iraq, in addition to the sound of long bursts from the automatic cannon you can hear phrases on the raido like “come on-let’s shoot” and “we’re taking him.” As an ambulance picks him up, the helicopter fires multiple bursts of automatic cannon fire into the ambulance, after recieving “permission to engage.” Both shooting civilians and finishing off the wounded are internationally-recognized war crimes.

Bradley Manning has been in prison 18 months, this is his first court appearance. In addition, December 17 was his 24th birthday.

On Friday, December 16,some of Bradley’s supporters were at his first appearance at a military “court,” despite the hassles of entering the base. Several of the speakers at the December 17 rally saw Bradley on the 16th-and recounted that the support he is getting from activists has been imprtant to preserving his morale under extreme conditions.

Occupy DC protests in front of US Chamber of Commerce GOP Christmas Party

On the 15th of December, Occupy DC marched on a Christmas party for the GOP held by the notorious US Chamber of Commerce.

Video of the “caroling” featuring attendees running a double-line gauntlet of Occupy protesters

The plan was to “carol” the party with Occupy-themes Christmas Carols, but as lines of suit-and-tie GOP big shots passed between lines of protesters, booing and chants of “Shame” quickly took over.

The protest must have struck a nerve, because police ran their sirens at their most obnoxious setting all the way back to McPherson Square afterwards!

Occupy DC,Catholics United march “golden bull” to US Capitol

On the 15th of December, Occupy DC and Catholics United marched a golden bull, symbolizing both the Wall Street bull and the bibilical Golden Calf, from McPherson Square to Capitol Hill

Compilation video including 10 second clip from nasty Daily Caller video, showing attempted entry to the Longworth Building

A note concerning the first video: I refuse to link to the Daily Caller, as they have harassed Occupy DC participants and are NOT welcome at Occupy DC events.

The intention was deliver the bull to House speaker Boehner, but the Capitol Police refused to permit the Golden Bull to enter any of the buildings.

Occupy DC, Planned Parenthoood protest Romney Fundraiser

On the evening of December 14, GOP Presidential candidate and former one-term Massachusetts governor Mitt Romeny had a fundraiser, plates from $100 to $10,000. The event was foolishly held at the Lincoln restaurant, just three blocks from Occupy DC’s campsite at McPherson Square.

Video of the protest

Audio mix from video with added narration, suitable for use by area radio stations

Both Occupy DC and Planned Parenthood showed up to protest, with Planned Parenthood displaying “women are watching” signs. One sign even said “don’t take away my birth control! The two groups worked well together, and attendees/donors to Mitt Romney had to run the usual gauntlet line of protesters.

There was an unusually heavy police presence compared to the usual Occupy DC protests. I did NOT see Secret Service, only MPD, it is unclear if Mitt Romney even showed up for his own fundraiser. The police probably had the mission of preventing Occupy DC from either storming the restaurant or blocking the doors from opening with a contact-range sit-in, the tactic used so sucessfully against the Koch-funded “Defending the American Dream” summit back on on November 4.

Occupy DC “Newters” Gingrich, forces cancellation of book signing

On December 7, after a long day of protests, some members of Occupy DC
disrupted a Newt Gingrich fundraiser at the Williard Hotel. (video below)

Two days later, Newt cancelled a book signing at Union Station, citing “public safety” concerns.

Looks to me like Occupy DC has managed to “Newter” Gingrich, at least so far as public appearances are concerned. One tweet put out by Occupy DC said “Newt apparently scared to show face in DC now due to #OccupyDC!”

Occupy DC had issued a Twitter notice to stand by for an action tonight, Friday, December 9. Apparently Newt, remembering what happened to his $1,000 a plate fundraiser on December 7, decided to wimp out and cancel his book signing. As a result, nobody had to go out for a protest tonight, Occupy DC defeated Newt by default, and the 6PM General Assembly was not disrupted by the need to service a target.