DC Activists Crash Mayor Fenty's Birthday Party

A COLD RECEPTION FOR FENTY & FRIENDS
Dozens of labor and community activists defied snow and below-freezing temperatures Saturday night to protest Mayor Fenty's record of exclusion and Grinch-like behavior towards workers and the DC community. "Wealthy developers are throwing the Mayor a birthday party across the street, but he has not given the residents of this city a reason to celebrate," said Metro Council President Jos Williams. "While they feast on champagne and caviar, there are people going hungry and homeless tonight because of Mayor Fenty's greedy decisions." Protesters picketed across the street from the party for several hours, holding signs and chanting "Adrian Fenty, one-term Mayor" and "DC libraries are not for sale. Workers rights are not for sale. Adrian Fenty is for sale." "There was a time we thought we could work with Mayor Fenty," said AFGE District 14 National Vice President Dwight Bowman. "But Fenty has turned his back on the residents and workers of DC...we will not stand for it." Activists also performed a three-act street theater piece called The Adrian Fenty Contemptorary School of Dance focusing on the Mayors cozy relationship with developers, attacks on workers, and lack of accountability. "The Mayor has done nothing to address the ills of this community," said AFSCME Council 20 Executive Director George Johnson. "The folks in there don't run this city, we do. We have to come together and fight...and take what is rightly ours." Tenant and community activists also voiced their concern for Mayor Fenty's moves to sell public property, close homeless shelters and refusal to work with community groups. "There's a group of thieves over in those tents across the street, said Oscar Mayer of The Peoples Property Campaign. They are taking our schools, libraries and shelters and who's been helping them? Mayor Adrian Fenty."
- report by Adam Wright; video by David Perez (David@Production6.com)

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Mayor Adrian Fenty
• DC
• Michelle Rhee
• Union busting
• Anti-union
• privatization
• Washington DC
• Grinch
• protest
• cutting public services
• homeless

[nawmmbr]

Did any of these people make an earnest attempt to go and talk with the mayor, or did they all just decide to get drunk and make up silly dances! I just askin'....

[SajjMan]

fortunately beemer, you have no idea what you are talking about.

[bmw325ii]

Mayor Fenty is is taking a bold chance in trying to fix DC's schools. Putting the kids first instead of the job security of poorly performing teachers, whom have been protected by the corrupt teacher's unions. GO Fenty!

[mpjproducer]

Brillant!! I only wish that circumstances would have allowed me to have joined these dedicated activists!! Right on to the right ons. ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE - Let's spread the word on how Mayor Adrian Fenty is destroying the lives of poor and working class people with his policies that favor rich, corporate, greedy, lecherous, land-lusting developers!!