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April 14, 2016

Police in D.C. Arrest over 400 People—Where is the Media?

Democracy Spring

In Washington, D.C., police are arresting more people than they know what to do with as protestors keep arriving in the name of #DemocracySpring. 

The Democracy Spring movement has mobilized, launching a 10-day march. They started at The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, PA, and landed on Capitol Hill three days ago. No sooner did the protestors land in D.C. than the police began arrests.

Naturally.

The movement aims to end corruption of big money in politics. They are calling for a Congress that will represent the people fairly, ensure free and fair elections and put a stop to voter suppression.

Sounds pretty reasonable to me.

Today, on the third day of protests, with the focus on racial inequality, the Black Lives Matter movement has joined the group, resulting in even more arrests. This is the most people ever arrested at once in the capital, and we are hearing crickets from the media.

#DemocracySpring via Twitter is providing constant updates as thousands at the scene tweet the events. Most arrests have been peaceful, as the movement trained those interested in how to peacefully participate in civil disobedience.

The movement aims to see these key acts passed:

The Government by the People and The Fair Elections Now Act, which would get money out of politics and call for public funding for candidates.

Voting Rights Advancements Act of 2015, which would update the gutted Voting Rights Act of 1965 (conveniently gutted to allow for the voter suppression we are seeing in this year’s primaries) and protect voters from state laws that make access to polls difficult.

Voter Empowerment Act of 2015 which would make access to voter registration easier for all, as well as bring in punishments for officials who suppress voters.

The group’s website states:

Every American deserves an equal voice in government. That is our birthright of freedom, won through generations of struggle. But today our democracy is in crisis. American elections are dominated by billionaires and big money interests who can spend unlimited sums of money on political campaigns to protect their special interests at the general expense. Meanwhile, as the super-rich dominate the “money primary” that decides who can run for office, almost half of the states in the union have passed new laws that disenfranchise everyday voters, especially people of color and the poor.

They call for peaceful sit-ins to demonstrate that the people want their power back. The government needs to be reminded that they serve the people.

I agree 100 percent.

In acts of “civil disobedience,” they have vowed to sit in demonstration until something gets done.

In response, Washington police are rounding them up in mass arrests so quickly that there isn’t enough space to hold them. Yet we barely hear a peep from mainstream media.

If this were something they could exaggerate and sensationalize to cause fear and terror, they would be all over it. It would be shoved down our throats 24 hours a day so we could stay in fear. But peaceful demonstrations of diverse groups of citizens coming together to speak with the voice of a nation that wants change? Barely a whisper.

I have a problem with this for so many reasons. As Malcolm X said:

“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”

Once upon a time, the media was also a servant to the people. Once they were the watchdogs that held our politicians accountable, letting them know we were watching.

Now? Mainstream media are the lapdogs of a corrupt and damaged government system—one which is stripping us of our rights more and more.

I’m sure the protesters for Democracy Spring are prepared for arrest. They are well aware they are in civil disobedience. I don’t have a problem with this. The problem, and what I ask you to think about, is this:

If over 400 people can be arrested in a day in the U.S. capitol and barely register on mainstream media, what else do we not hear?

It scares me that our media promotes hatred, blame and violence rather than citizen empowerment and government accountability.

What’s are your thoughts? I would love to hear!

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Author: Lindsay Carricarte

Editor: Toby Israel

Image: Democracy Spring

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