Alwaght- United States police are suppressing pro-democracy and ant-corruption protesters in the country's capital, Washington DC.
US police arrested over 80 protesters who were calling on Congress to end the role of money in politics and elections. Police have so far detained hundreds of peaceful pro-democracy activists since a coalition of civil rights groups called "Democracy Spring” began their rally on Sunday.
On Monday, police said over 400 protestors were arrested. We spoke with one woman who had been released after her arrest.
“Our message is definitely getting out,” said Noel Marshall. “The energy and the consciousness are building because it has to. We cannot go this way. We can't go farther.”
Democracy Spring protesters spent their second day at the US Capitol protesting what they call big-money political corruption in Congress. Each day, the protesters will focus on different issues. On Tuesday, the group focused reclaiming Democracy for elders.
“Tomorrow is going to be a day focusing on racial justice and centering black lives within this movement and this country and the fight for Democracy,” said Kai Newkirk, the lead organizer for Democracy Spring. “On Thursday, it will be a labor and worker-focused day. On Friday, youth students as well as making the connection with the struggle for equal representation in DC On Saturday, a climate and environmental movement-focused day.
“But all of these days are about lifting up this common struggle that we have to win a government that works for us all and not just for the billionaire class, not just for the 1 percent. To change the way our elections work.”
According to Newkirk, this protest event has been the largest civil disobedience in the history of the U.S. Capitol.
Elsewhere protesters calling for pay of $15 an hour and a union were at McDonald’s restaurants around the United States on Thursday as part of an ongoing push targeting the world’s biggest hamburger chain.
The “Fight for $15” campaign says low-wage employees including airport workers, adjunct professors and home care workers turned out to show their solidarity with fast-food workers.
