DC Resident Sheltered 80 Protesters Last Night, This Woman Tweeted What Happened Inside His Home
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When dozens of peaceful protesters were confined by law enforcement on the block around Swann Street in Northwest DC on Monday evening, the street turned into a human tsunami. But amid all the chaos, one person stood up in an inspirational act of kindness, opening his heart and home to those who were the most vulnerable.
44-year-old resident Rahul Dubey opened the front door of his house and rushed around 80 strangers inside. The protesters sheltered there until the curfew lifted at 6 AM, but the night was not an easy one. One protester named Allison Lane was reporting on Twitter everything that was happening for hours, which felt like an eternity. While the police were allegedly throwing pepper spray canisters trying to arrest the protesters, Rahul did everything he could to keep everyone safe. “I know in my heart of hearts that you would open the door, too,” the people’s humble hero said. So let’s take a look at how the tense situation unfolded down below.
After Rahul sheltered 80 peaceful protesters at his house, this woman was tweeting live what was happening there
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This is Rahul. Rahul saved 62 DC protesters who were trapped for hours on his block by police. He allowed them to stay all night, fed them, gave them water, charged their phones, and most importantly kept them safe. This was no party, the police through pepper spray canisters pic.twitter.com/ZDpNkfXsoa
— suckmyunicorn (@suckmyunicornD) June 2, 2020
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Bored Panda contacted one of the protesters who preferred to stay anonymous and was present during the incident on the Swann Street. She recounted what happened there: “When I arrived, there was a low police presence compared to what I had seen from images and video taken by the protesters inside the house all night long. The police seemed to have retreated.”
All of the supporters stood outside the house on the sidewalk, talking to the people inside the house through the front windows until they could safely leave at 6 in the morning. “We passed them Pop-Tarts through the mail slot on the front door,” the protester said.
At around 6 AM, Rahul came out to speak to everyone. “There were about 10 supporters and a barrage of media cameras.”
“Supporters helped exchange rides home for all of the protesters and Rahul gave an inspiring speech to the protesters about keeping up the peaceful fight and protecting their mental health.” Everyone recognized that without Rahul’s support, “they’d have been sent to jail that night just for peacefully protesting.”
Here’s the conversation between Rahul and a protester
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Rahul Dubey told NBC Washington that protesters were “decimated and beaten on the steps of my house” as he himself was among the many who got pepper-sprayed. “The crowd came racing through like a tornado,” Dubey said. “We had to keep the door open and keep pulling them in… it’s the same you would do if there’s a storm.” The people who took shelter in his house ranged from 18 to 50 and were “an amazing group of people that were gathered here peacefully,” according to Dubey.
People celebrated Rahul’s bravery in helping the protesters
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Meanwhile, the DC Metropolitan Police Department addressed the Swann Street incident in a press conference on Tuesday. Chief Peter Newsham stated: “We’ll go back and take a very, very close look to ensure that the police were respectful and responsible, professional and constitutional.” When asked if the pepper spray was deployed inside a house, Newsham replied that he will have to review police cameras before answering. But the police officers who worked on the scene told him the pepper spray wasn’t deployed.
Police have pinned us down at 15th St & Swann St NW. Several flash bangs used earlier to disperse the crowd. Very tense. #dcprotest pic.twitter.com/mZvWKJpFXX
— Ken Duffy (@KenDuffyNews) June 2, 2020
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More people shared updates on the tense situation on Swann Street
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According to Buzzfeed News, when the air cleared, the protesters began talking and trying to figure the whole ordeal out. Dubey ordered five or six pizzas for everyone trapped inside, but the police “hijacked” his pizza order and didn’t allow them to reach the front of his house. The boxes were then delivered to the group inside through the fence. “I had to do a covert pizza operation,” Dubey said.
THE POLICE BOXED IN A GROUP OF PEACEFUL PROTESTERS AND THEN STARTED HITTING AND MACING PEOPLE. A MAN TOOK SOME OF US INTO HIS HOUSE AND THE POLICE HAVE US TRAPPED. THERE ARE PEOPLE STILL TRAPPED IN THE STREET ON 15th AND SWANN pic.twitter.com/H2B2QCup1o
— Meka (@MekaFromThe703) June 2, 2020
Image credits: MekaFromThe703
They shot mace at peaceful protesters is a residential neighborhood. The man who took us in is named Rahul Dubey. He gave us business cards in case they try to say we broke in. pic.twitter.com/gKzmrvCa75
— Meka (@MekaFromThe703) June 2, 2020
Image credits: MekaFromThe703
MPD promised that no one would get arrested if they ordered food for the hungry protesters trapped inside but now cops are refusing to let the driver deliver the food.
Here is the resident of the house who voluntarily took in the protesters negotiating with police for food. pic.twitter.com/2X8iQgztu4
— Alex Taliadoros (@AlexCTaliadoros) June 2, 2020
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WE GOT PIZZA!🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/Y0pfaRHDHw
— Meka (@MekaFromThe703) June 2, 2020
Image credits: MekaFromThe703
still arresting people outside pic.twitter.com/Gf5ICYptjB
— Meka (@MekaFromThe703) June 2, 2020
Image credits: MekaFromThe703
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currently stuffing protestors into a van pic.twitter.com/EibaAhxDXG
— Meka (@MekaFromThe703) June 2, 2020
Image credits: MekaFromThe703
another neighbor just opened their door and let protestors run in, Police followed them in pic.twitter.com/01StC2m8Sa
— Meka (@MekaFromThe703) June 2, 2020
Image credits: MekaFromThe703
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN WASHINGTON DC IN 2020!!! SHOW THEM SHOW THEM SHOW THEM SHOW THEM!!!!! #swannstreet THIS IS WHATS GOING ON RT RT REPOST GO FUCKIN CRAZY!! THEY CHANGED THE NAMES FROM SLAVES TO PROTESTORS PEOPLE HAD TO HIDE US IN THEIR HOUSES IN A FUCKIN PANDEMIC!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/6THd5GuIEG
— Immaculate (@PrettyLotongo) June 2, 2020
Image credits: PrettyLotongo
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So this is the land of the free ?
And, thank God, the home of some very brave people, too.
No gods have anything to do with this.
@Talia, I can thank God for the brave people who stand against this racist BS.
That's the big mistake. This is not a free land. Rules and laws. Look at HOA's. You can't even wash your car at your own home. Hang the curtains you want. etc. This "I woke up in a free country" b******t. No. you have less rights here than you think. But they want you to believe that so you'll do their bidding and keep the status quo of rich stay rich, white stay power, and poor stay poor and working.
@BobBelcher, Yep, we have an HOA. We actually read the stupid HOA regs before we bought. Antiquated, idiotic, and pretty much we all ignore 'em :-D Oh, and you are correct. Not all US states require CC&R disclosures, etc., so....
@Stick Man, find me a neighborhood in an urban area that does not have some form of HOA. And NO, you do not have to receive a copy of the CC&R before buying a home. Many states only require that you be notified of the document and be told where you can get a copy. And NO one is going to read a 200 page document about types of fence wood you must buy and what paint colors you have to use.
@stick so you're willing to admit that we don't have the right to have the half million dollar home that we OWN on property that we OWN be what we want it to be? ANd that if we don't like the LAWS we should move out? How very American does that sound? No one said we don't have more freedoms than other countries. No one was making that comparison. We were talking about the difference between what people THINK they have the right to do, and what they actually have the right to do, and simply shouting this is a free country is idiotic at best, as it is not. Now if you want to shout THis is a FREER country than Iran! ok. See the difference?
Um we have a LOT of freedoms comparedto many countries. Dont like HOA you have freedom not to live in one. You even will receive the CC&R before you buy your home to be sure you are willing to part of them. And if not, you have the freedom not to buy.
It will be again, come November!
I hope for everyone's sake that you're right.
yes!
It's always was land of the free for the descendants of the Wasps who created the constitution of the United States. The Spanish and French were no better.
... I have no words ... I don't think I'll be able to pick up my jaw off the floor for a long time ...
SuperRahul on duty! This man is a legend.
I want to know more about him!
So this is the land of the free ?
And, thank God, the home of some very brave people, too.
No gods have anything to do with this.
@Talia, I can thank God for the brave people who stand against this racist BS.
That's the big mistake. This is not a free land. Rules and laws. Look at HOA's. You can't even wash your car at your own home. Hang the curtains you want. etc. This "I woke up in a free country" b******t. No. you have less rights here than you think. But they want you to believe that so you'll do their bidding and keep the status quo of rich stay rich, white stay power, and poor stay poor and working.
@BobBelcher, Yep, we have an HOA. We actually read the stupid HOA regs before we bought. Antiquated, idiotic, and pretty much we all ignore 'em :-D Oh, and you are correct. Not all US states require CC&R disclosures, etc., so....
@Stick Man, find me a neighborhood in an urban area that does not have some form of HOA. And NO, you do not have to receive a copy of the CC&R before buying a home. Many states only require that you be notified of the document and be told where you can get a copy. And NO one is going to read a 200 page document about types of fence wood you must buy and what paint colors you have to use.
@stick so you're willing to admit that we don't have the right to have the half million dollar home that we OWN on property that we OWN be what we want it to be? ANd that if we don't like the LAWS we should move out? How very American does that sound? No one said we don't have more freedoms than other countries. No one was making that comparison. We were talking about the difference between what people THINK they have the right to do, and what they actually have the right to do, and simply shouting this is a free country is idiotic at best, as it is not. Now if you want to shout THis is a FREER country than Iran! ok. See the difference?
Um we have a LOT of freedoms comparedto many countries. Dont like HOA you have freedom not to live in one. You even will receive the CC&R before you buy your home to be sure you are willing to part of them. And if not, you have the freedom not to buy.
It will be again, come November!
I hope for everyone's sake that you're right.
yes!
It's always was land of the free for the descendants of the Wasps who created the constitution of the United States. The Spanish and French were no better.
... I have no words ... I don't think I'll be able to pick up my jaw off the floor for a long time ...
SuperRahul on duty! This man is a legend.
I want to know more about him!