Once a year, the “ten-four DC” trucker rally sets up on the Mall, polishing and showing off their semis and talking to the public about trucking industry issues and concerns. This year they have a problem: the far-right/antivax/1776 movement convoy MAGAts are trying to take it over.

This is a classic example of a strategy known as “entryism” in which a smaller, more radical organization attempts to infiltrate and take control of a much larger group.

From the organizers’ website: “Ten Four D.C. is a neutral ground. We do not promote protests, shutdowns, or strikes” according to this the 1776 Movement is a disruption and can legitimately be removed from the event.

tenfourdc(dot)com/what-we-do

On the 29th of September, protesters outside Supreme Court “Justice” Alito’s home emphasized that he and the Supreme Court are now considered illegitimate by tens of millions if not more. He and Roberts had been whining about this growing realization on social media. This in turn told protesters what to focus on.

On the 28th of September, protesters returned to the homes of Supreme Court “Justices” Kavanaugh and Roberts. At Kavanaughs, one cop hissed threats for clicking drumsticks, another got on the PA and read out a “warning” implying use of “amplified sound” which drums are not by anyone could lead to arrests of everyone. Protesters kept the action going.

First cop in this scene has just shaken his head and hissed a threat

This cop was the only one using sound amplification equipment-the PA in his car

On the 24th of September, J6 insurgents and their supporters returned to DC for the 2nd September in a row. There may have been as few as 80 of them. Two large groups of Proud Boys were spotted outside the city but may have flaked out or othewise not made it in. Cops aggressively fended off and attempted to kettle counterprotesters.

Even though the aggressive kettling attempts and dispersal warnings were the work of Capitol Police, there were reports that coordination of the police reponse (in the rest of the city or including the Capitol unknown) may have been the work of killer cop Jason Bagshaw. Bagshaw is notorious as the murderer of Lazarus David Wilson, whom Bagshaw shot and killed at the Wharf on July 16 2022. It is possible the kettling attempts were fakes aimed at intimidation and dispersal when mass arrests were not authorized, this is a classic Bagshaw tactic.

Photo by Sadie

On the 23ed of September, Harriet’s Dreams showed up to protest at the homes of MPD (DC police) chief Contee. They were there to protest recent shootings by DC cops.

On the evening of the 17th of September, the infamous “Heartbeat of Miami” fake clinic network held a fundraising dinner at Trump National Doral on the outskirts of Miami. While some protesters held a presence outside, two went inside to disrupt the event, got into the ballroom,and raised a ruckus. They were then grabbed by a mixture of Proud Boys, “Trump Police” and actual cops. They were then arrested on spurious charges as seems to be common in Miami.

Heartbeat of Miami has been found to be a major connection between Fundamentalist Christian groups, Fascist groups, and the GOP in Miami. Thus this fundraising ball was a major strategic target. The fact that Proud Boys were mixed with police and “Trump Police” security guards at this event is dangerous. Miami is known for their GOP chapter being effectively captured by the Proud Boys-and for considerable overlap between them and the police. This is much like the KKK in the old South.

The Trump connection is also menacing. If Donald Trump gets back in the White House in Jan 2025, abortion will probably be a felony for both doctor and patient in all 50 states by July 2025. All-out attacks and even police roundups aimed at the LGBTQ community would also be likely. Already parents of trans kids under age 18 in Texas have effectively been made fugitives by TX gov Abbot and his coconspirators.

Protesters got inside too

Holding space outside

On the 14th of September, protesters targetted GOP Senator Lindsey Graham for the seccond day in a row over his introduction of a bill to ban abortion in all 50 states after 15 weeks. This time around, protesters went to his house not far from the US Capitol.

So much for Lindsey Graham’s talk of leaving abortion issues for state governments much less those who can get pregnant to decide-whgat a hypocrite!

On the 13th of September, GOP Senator Lindsey Graham introduced a bill to ban abortion nationwide after 15 weeks. He then showed up at the so-called “Susan B Anthony” ball-a militantly antichoice event that this year is celebrating the Supreme Court legalizaing forced-birth laws w the Dobbs decision. Furious protesters outside made attendees (Graham included) run a gauntlet of screaming activists to get in.

Some of the antichoicers were photographed and warned they could be doxxed as they got out of their cars.

It is unknown what if any is the conmnection between these Christian fascists and feminist and voting rights campaigner Susan B Anthony. Doubt has been cast be review of statements opposing abortion alleged to have been made by her:
susanbanthonyhouse(dot)org/blog/misrepresenting-susan-b-anthony-on-abortion

On the 8th of September, opponents of destructive fossil fuel projects and especially the Mountain Valley Pipeline descended on Capitol Hill. They are seeking to block Senate approval of Manchin’s climate bill side deal to “streamline” permitting for fossil fuel projects and “expedite” the Mountain Valley pipeline. One managed to confront Manchin in person.

Manchin demanded this side deal essentially as payment for his vote to pass the Inflation Protection Act with its climate provisions. Indignous communities and others in the paths of destructive projects like the Mountain Valley Pipeline are furious, and many people have committed themselves to stopping this deal-and the projects in question-at any price. Just in Michigan, twelve Indigenous tribes have signed a letter opposing Manchin’s dirty side deal.

The Inflation Reduction Act (which includes the climate/renewable energy provisions) has already been passed. Manchin’s side deal is still pending in the Senate and his deal was with Schumer, not the entire Senate or even all Senate Democrats. This “sidecar deal” is not within the scope of the “reconciliation” process so it needs 60 votes to avoid the filibuster Manchin has so aggressively defended. Manchin will need 10 more GOP votes than the number of progressives among the Dems who refuse to vote for it. This is no “done deal.” If it is defeated all Manchin can do is suck it up, or resign his seat, taking his ball and going home.

On the 8th of September, the Miami-Dade County school board held a revote on the question of whether to designated October as LGBTQ month. This has been approved before, but now three school board members opposed by Fl Governor DeSantis had been replaced. Both inside and out the far-right hectored them to drop Pride Month. Meanwhile, LGBTQ activists testified inside for keeping Pride Month, and counterprotested Proud Boys and other fascists outside.

The Proud Boys who showed up were some of the least intelligent members of the Proud Boys the author of this piece has ever seen. Big talkers instead of doers too. Counterprotesters at contact range, cops were on the other side of the street. Those cops who did come over palled around with the Proud Boys. For all that, not a single Proud Boy dared to throw a punch and begin the fight-even though the Proud Boys had counterprotesters outnumbered. THere was the sense that the bear mace of Charlottesville or the swirling, pole and knife-armed melee combat of Nov 14, 2020 in DC would have sent these posers running for cover.

Althouth there were concerns for the safety of LGBTQ speakers leaving the meeting inside, precautions were taken to ensure Proud Boys or other attackers (if the Proud Boys were bait) didn’t get any easy oportunities. On top of all else, most of the talk from the Proud Boys took the form of personal attacks on the physical appearance of LGBTQ activists counterprotesting them.

Unfortunately, DeSantis’s thugs inside the school board itself were strong enough to kill Pride Month, which was voted down 8-1. This will not be forgotten and will have consequences.

Proud Boys throw white power hand signs