Go-Go Protest Had Folks Busting It Open Against Fakin' Gentrifiers

Source: The Washington Post / Getty

D.C. Go-Go Protest Dubbed Moechella Fights Gentrification In The City

The D.C. gentrifiers were no doubt chocking on their newly-opened coffee shop scones when the glorious go-go community of the DMV took over 14th and U Street.

According to News One, a Save Chocolate City Protest was organized outside the Reeves Center in Northwest D.C. and more than 3,000 people came out to beat their feet, keep it gangsta, or shout out their hood against gentrification.

At the event dubbed “Moechella,” honoring the city’s “kill moe” slang, iconic go-go band Backyard Band (BYB) brought the tunes for the evening.

The event acts as the most recent demonstration against gentrification. Things reached a fever pitch back in March when a Metro PCS store known for playing go-go music from their speakers was under attack by soup cookie complainers. The new residents of the Shaw neighborhood complained that the go-go tunes were disruptive. After threats of legal action, PCS’ parent company, T-Mobile, ordered an end to the go-go music coming from the store, which had been playing there for almost 25 years.

An online petition was started to keep the store playing go-go music and eventually a #DontMuteDC campaign was started on social media. This resulted in the first huge protest outside the Reeves Center in April where the go-go band TOB and rapper Wale appeared.

The chief executive of T-Mobile, John Legere, took notice of D.C.’s demands and he eventually tweeted out that the Metro PCS store could continue playing go-go music and they would negotiate volume levels.

Now, it seems D.C. residents are continuing the fight against gentrification with the thousands of people showing up on Tuesday. Hit the flip for more crankin’ clips of the demonstration and the beauty of Black organizing, celebration and fighting back.