It's the year of our Lord 2019 and Washington, D.C. is reclaiming their time.
After fighting back against go-go music silencers and melanin-deficient elites who want to walk their pups through The Yard at Howard, D.C.'s Black community joined forces on another protest: Moechella.
The Save Chocolate City Protest occurred at the iconic Washington intersection of 14th and U street northwest Tuesday night and had the District rocking. A combination of the annual Coachella music festival and "Moe," a local term Washingtonians use to describe friend, Newsone reports that around 3,000 people were in attendance to use Moechella as a way to combat against those who see fit to alter the cultural landscape of Washington.
Moechella is another response to a complaint filed by individuals living near the famous Metro PCS store on Seventh Street and Florida Avenue NW in April. Per an earlier Blavity report, tenants at the Shay filed a complaint against T-Mobile, which owns Metro PCS, about the incessant playing of go-go music from the shop's speakers. Protestors didn't take too kindly to their efforts at silencing something so recognizable to D.C.'s historic Shaw-Howard neighborhood and consequently launched the #DontMuteDC movement to stop city officials from banning the playing of the recognizable funk and R&B beats.
Moechella marks the third protest since those grievances were initially filed in early April.
#MOECHELLA was classic. Three thousand people singing Pretty Girls ???????? #DontMuteDC ( via @BackyardBand) pic.twitter.com/lNljH31ifI
— DC Maryland Virginia (@DMVFollowers) May 8, 2019
A simple Twitter search of the hashtag #Moechella reveals how both city natives and transplants thoroughly enjoyed the celebrations.
Illegal ATV & dirt bike riders showed up at Moechella (Save Chocolate City Protest at 14 & U St.) Some residents who live nearby in expensive condos told me they want @DCPoliceDept to make arrests. Cops tell me they aren’t allowed to chase: “There’s nothing we can do.” #Moechella
pic.twitter.com/tITwyLs1oA— Shomari Stone (@shomaristone) May 8, 2019
#MOECHELLA was a movie! The city really showed out last night in the best way ❤️???? #DontMuteDC
pic.twitter.com/3dHVatm2ZP— This is an Arya Stark stan account. (@ImagiNAYti0n) May 8, 2019
#MOECHELLA is the perfect response to those who gentrify our spaces, while refusing to embrace the culture of our neighborhoods. Natives shouldn't be required to accommodate those who have no intentions on fully understanding the area's history. We stand w DC in Oakland pic.twitter.com/FOJ5lmafoM
— ShavaughnB (@shavaughnceo) May 8, 2019
MOST DC THING: #Moechella
#DontMuteDC
#GetUpDC
pic.twitter.com/CL3jluKhmo— Reese Waters (@reesewaters) May 8, 2019
Reporter: Some residents who live nearby in expensive condos told me they want cops to make arrests.
MPD:”There’s nothing we can do.”
Me:
#Moechella
pic.twitter.com/EWwZXUGId5— G II (@MisterNickel) May 8, 2019
In an interview with WUSA 9, go-go artist Yadiya spoke on longevity of go-go music's influence in D.C.
"I feel like the music is the glue to the city," Yadiya told the outlet. "The music is the common ground — A vehicle and a tool to basically create a platform for people to have their voice heard."
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DOMO, another popular go-go artist, added that hopefully this will inspire city officials to make changes to laws around public safety, healthcare and other initiatives that have been plagued by gentrification.
D.C.'s so-called elites, should gear up for a long summer.
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