District Wire News – April 2010

Saturday marked the seventh anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq.  Anti-war activists flooded downtown Washington to protest the ongoing wars in the Middle East.  Protesters delivered flag-draped coffins to the Haliburton offices and posted a foreclosure notice on the Mortgage Bankers Association building.

There is nothing more important that we could be doing than what we’re doing right now.
-Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, Co-founder, The Partnership for Civil Justice

The march began with a rally at Lafayette Square and ended at the White House.  Eight people were arrested including anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and members of an Iraq war veterans group.

A colorful festival and parade shut down the streets of Chinatown Sunday for the annual Chinese Lunar New Year.  This year, the Chinese community celebrated with dragon dances, martial art exhibitions and a parade.

The parade marked the end of a weeklong celebration.  This year, February 14 marked the start of the Chinese New Year.

Thousands descended upon Washington DC’s Dupont Circle for a massive snowball fight.  The east coast was slammed with a blizzard that dumped more than two feet of powder on the nation’s capital.  Reports estimated anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 participants.

I’m an assassin.  I’m a snowball assassin.  That’s why I’m here.
-Junaid Qureshi

The event, organized on Facebook, had thousands of “fans” before a single flake fell.  Organizers aimed for a battle between the north and south sides of the circle.  As the day progressed, the snowball fight transformed into a dance party.