DC 4 Celebrate Declined Charges, Resolve to Continue Resistance to Marcos Jr.
Released May 26, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC — Calls for “Justice for the DC 4!” echoed throughout the U.S. this week, amplifying the messages of four Filipino activists who were arrested for protesting a lavish dinner attended by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his cabinet secretaries, and billionaire entourage earlier this month in Georgetown, Washington D.C..
On Monday May 22, the DC4 learned that the arraignment was no longer set for Tuesday May 23. The DC prosecutor declined to press charges.
At Black Lives Matter Plaza, blocks away from Lafayette Park and the White House, the DC 4 were joined by community members gathered in celebration, sharing statements, chants, and calls for the fight for genuine social change to continue.
“We claim today is a victory. No matter the outcome of our actions earlier this month, we will stand by the decision to continue to speak out against the misuse of funds by both the Philippine and US governments to host war criminals and continue to perpetuate their crimes by funding violent projects like former President Duterte, his drug war, the red tagging of our activists and the Anti-Terror Law,” shared Kaloy, one of the DC4 and member of Anakbayan USA.
During the press conference Tuesday evening at MLK Library in Washington DC, the DC 4 shared reflections about their experience confronting President Marcos Jr and his cronies. They wanted to highlight the huge disparity between Marcos and the working class in this act of civil disobedience:
“While Marcos and the wealthy elite were dining, people were struggling to make ends meet. Marcos is so detached from the average Filipino. The legal system deems us criminals but who are the real criminals? Those who act above the law, to be opportunists, to steal money from the people, to get away with these HRVs” said Jay of the DC4
Brittany of the DC4 expounded, “Some of the dishes at Fiola Mare were $50-200. This is enough to feed a family of four in the NCR. There were bottles of alcohol that were $1800. That’s more than a worker can make in ten months.
Sadie Stone of ICHRP US spoke in support of the DC4 at the press conference. She shared: “we continue to uphold that sacred truth that activism is not a crime. We know that when activism is criminalized, it sets a dangerous precedent. We see the danger of this red tagging as... Brandon Lee was shot for his work with indigenous land defenders”
Brandon Lee was shot by state forces in the Philippines in 2019 where he had been working for several years as a paralegal. He now continues his work in San Francisco to demand the passing of the Philippine Human Rights Act.
In New York City, BAYAN Northeast held a rally in Queens on Monday to continue educating the Filipino community on Marcos’ intentions in DC and the righteousness of the protest staged by the DC4.
Across the US, the arrest of the DC 4 and their now-declined charges have been resoundingly condemned by BAYAN USA, Anakbayan USA, and allied organizations as an attempt to silence opposition to the Marcos-Duterte administration's ongoing human rights violations. A week of action was launched for support for the DC 4 through solidarity statements, a selfie campaign, holding local protests, and donating to the activists’ legal defense fund.
Link to press kit here. More photos and videos available upon request.
Link to Press Conference
###
