Today hundreds rallied in DC for America to enforce a no-fly zone in Ukraine, effectively promising to shoot down Russian jets in that airspace.
The group played a "lullaby" video with images of babies and lyrics like, "If you don't close the sky, I will die."
Full lyrics:
"If you don't close the sky I will die
IYDCTS mom will cry
IYDCTS he'll lose home
IYDCTS there'll be doom
IYDCTS the sky will still fight
IYDCTS we'll feel the night
IYDCTS he [Putin] might win
Now look in these eyes and think again"
'Defending Democracy Together' Director @BillKristol praised "the people of Ukraine who are reminding us what free men and women can do under brutal assault from an aggressor, from a dictator who is violating obviously all the laws of war and norms of decency."
"I really do hope - we can quarrel about some of the details - but I think we can come. We are coming to the help of those fighting for Europe in the 21st Century."
This is Bill Kristol's full speech on Ukraine today (footage available to license)
"You promised us anti-aircraft weapons."
A video also shown at the #StandingWithUkraine rally featured a soldier calling out allies for insufficiently providing arms.
"You said you would help," he says. "You want another Aleppo?"
"Give Ukraine anti-aircraft weapons, please."
Ukraine-US Ambassador @OMarkarova warned "the world will be overcome by continued aggression and insecurity for decades" if Russia wins.
"Only helped and supported by defensive and offensive military assistance" from the US and other allies, Ukraine is enabled to win, she says.
Here is my full video of Ukrainian Ambassador to US Oksana Markarova's speech at today's #StandWithUkraine rally in Washington DC.
As always, all @N2Sreports video available to license.
The call to action from Ukrainian Pres @ZelenskyyUa was shown at the rally.
"Starting from March 24, exactly one month after the Russian invasion... come with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine, to support freedom, to support life."
"Make yourselves visible and heard."
"Putin's inhumanity is on full display in Ukraine today" said @AdamParkhomenko at the rally.
"Putin must be defeated and driven from mainland Ukraine now. We cannot show weakness now. We cannot compromise with evil. Putin is war and crisis."
Full speech:
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
4K VIDEO THREAD: Federal agents, many wearing masks, oversaw a vehicle checkpoint in the Ivy City neighborhood of Washington DC, part of President Trump's federal takeover of law enforcement functions in the capital city.
Drivers were directed to either carry on or move into one of two lanes where they'd be detained. Several were issues citations for infractions like window tint, while at least four were handcuffed, of which at least three were taken away by police.
Washington DC's MPD officers performed most of the frontline enforcement, while the feds oversaw the operation, assisted, and communicated by phone.
2) "Unconstitutional, go fuck yourselves," a driver yelled after being allowed through the checkpoint without being pulled over.
"Get him, he's on his phone!" fruitlessly yelled an MPD officer in response.
"You lost him!" I noted to the cop, who replied "that was a good one."
3) An unmarked vehicle was pulled into the line for those detained for further investigation.
When it turned out there was a uniformed police officer in the car, he was promptly let through.
Some other drivers were removed from their cars and put in handcuffs. The reasons for most arrests were not immediately clear to onlookers.
3) The posts Stinson allegedly wrote that the FBI say constituted criminal threats against President Trump go all the way back to 2020, and continue on X (then Twitter) until 2022.
VIDEO THREAD: Anti-ICE protesters gathered again outside the loading bay of a federal building in downtown LA on Thursday evening, where police declared an unlawful assembly.
Officers pushed into the crowd, firing a less lethal round and arresting at least one person.
2) A man (not clear to me which agency) pointed a scoped rifle directly into the crowd of protesters and press as police threatened arrest.
The activists celebrated a small victory as a judge temporarily enjoined the National Guard from being deployed at Trump's directive without California's executive approval, a decision which has since been overturned.
Some activists, but one in particular, vehemently instructed the crowd to obey the order to leave, which ultimately fragmented the crowd.
3) A handful of protesters ended up inside of a kettle formation, which closed in on and arrested them.
Two vehicles adorned with pro-immigrant and pro-Palestine symbols were also towed from inside the kettle.
VIDEO THREAD: Protesters assembled Friday afternoon on the National Mall to demand Congress invoke the 14th Amendment to remove Trump from office as an "insurrectionist."
"It's not exaggeration, and it's not melodrama," said the program's MC Cliff Cash. "Donald Trump is a Russian asset."
"Traitor! Traitor!" yelled the crowd, who held a variety of signs condemning Trump as well as Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance.
"Serve no kings," read one banner with a guillotine drawn on it.
2) Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn spoke out, describing that he had a PTSD attack seeing this anti-Trump crowd, many of whom are veterans wearing military gear etc.
"The last time I saw everybody like this, they were beating the s*** out of me and my coworkers at the Capitol," he said, to which the crowd yelled "traitors!"
"November 5th, we had an opportunity," he added. "We f***ed it up!"
"They cheated" an audience member yelled, to which Mr. Dunn replied "maybe."
He says some people with "backbone" need to use the 14th Amendment, Section 3, to get Trump out of office.
3) I spoke to a man wearing a "weed-based ghillie suit."
He says conservatives "need to smoke more weed."
"This whole thing about not smoking weed in the government, they've gotta get over that," the weed man said.
VIDEO THREAD: Hundreds participated today in the Transgender Unity Rally and march from the United States Capitol to the White House.
"Protect trans kids!" they chanted. "Out of the closet, into the streets!"
"Trans rights are human rights!"
2) Bree Taylor, Executive Director of the Trans Unity Coalition, described inviting members of Congress to the rally, but none showed up.
"Where are they?" the crowd asked.
Senator Chris Van Hollen sent a letter which was read out loud: "One of the most despicable things about Donald Trump is that he goes after the most vulnerable members of our society."
"We are all Americans, and we all have the right to live as our true, free selves."
"These are wonderful words, and only that. Where the f*** are you?" asked Taylor, who called him hypocritical over a prior vote on an NDAA amendment defunding trans affirming care for minors.
"We cannot rely on those who have nothing but empty, hollow words," Taylor added.
3) "Hey hey, ho ho, transphobia's got to go!" chanted protesters as they arrived at the White House. "What do we want? Trans rights! When do we want them? Now!"
"This is our place to be free to be who we want to be!" one speaker described, beginning an open mic south of the White House at the Ellipse.