Code Pink activists showed up on Mother’s Day to challenge the War Party. They took their case directly to the White House. In a rally that included a mini-parade, speeches, a sing along and the waving of plenty of roses, the Ladies in Pink were in great form. Cindy Sheehan said they are “making a difference.” And, Actress Susan Sarandon read an open letter to Laura Bush, in which she mocked Laura’s husband, “The Decider,” as a warmonger.



Mother's Day Vigil | Pink Blue and Green Blog

A few observations from the minuteklan rally today.

Minutemen Video of Protests this morning and afternoon

A group of House Republicans plan to submit an amendment this week to strike down a 1965 Voting Rights Act provision that includes bilingual ballots and translation assistance at the polls. Supporters of such initiatives say that demanding English fluency unifies the country, but some question whether the government can make those demands without creating and funding services that teach English to non-English speakers. FSRN’s Selina Musuta reports from Montgomery County, Maryland, an area that has seen a boom in immigration and along with it, a demand for adult English classes.

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The Cinco de Mayo Ciclo de Mayo Critical Mass succeeeded in having big fun but failed to attract Mexicans and other immigrants to DC's monthly Critical Mass bike ride.

Recently I had the privilege of spending a day with Joe and Clyde. We rode all over the city, chauffered by JD, a white guy from Ohio. They are all “hardcore” members of the Revolutionary Communist Party. I am not. When the rhetoric got too politically intense, we’d change the subject.
That’s when things got interesting.

May 13th: The RC Tour Calling on Blacks and Others to Join the Emancipators of Humanity

DC Activists concerned with the increasing epidemic of street harasment in Washington, DC organized a Community Education Speak Out on Saturday, May 6, 2006 at 14th and Clifton Street, NW

A group of 70-100 people joined together and demanded an end to this degrading behavior through community education, development of a respectful view of girls & women and much more. The program included stories from people who have been the target of street harasment, role plays on ways to respond to harasment, poetry, drumming, music, a martial arts presentation and basic self-defense training.

In response to mass arrests in San Salvador Atenco, Mexico, protestors went to the Mexican Consulate in DC.

SAN SALVADOR ATENCO, MAY 5, 2006: Around 400 arrested – of which the authorities have only recognized 109, and which include three injured — 18 people disappeared and five women raped. These new figures must be added to the hundreds of injured and one boy murdered as a result of the brutal repression against the flower vendors of Texcoco and peasant farmers of San Salvador Atenco, perpetrated by municipal, state and federal police from May 3 onward. Political prisoner Gloria Arenas Ajís relayed these numbers from her tiny cell in Santiaguito prison (where most of those arrested were taken) to be read to thousands of demonstrators marching in solidarity with the people of Atenco and Texcoco.

Early this morning, long-time environmental and social justice activist Damu Smith passed away from colon cancer.

From the DC Radio Co-op Archives, Ingrid Drake and Ryme Katkhouda bring us Damu’s voice.

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damusmith.org

As Mayor Anthony Williams began his remarks, he was interrupted by citizens concerned about the crisis situation of DC Central Kitchen, displacement of residents, businesses, and clubs in the area of the new stadium, and underfunded DC schools.

Photo by Elvert Barnes

Longtime residents of DC gathered at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday May 2nd, to rally support for rent control.