In case you missed the news, Donald Trump has ordered the National Guard to head to our nation’s capital. Claiming emergency powers from the Home Rule charter due to crime, he’s taking control of the Capital’s police, too.
DC’s Mayor Bowser struck a conciliatory and yielding position. “We have a responsibility to support the executive order and one of the roles I have is to ensure that we work very collaboratively with our federal partners.” Her only clear push back was Trump’s excuse, citing the city’s statistics showing violent crime generally is at a 30-year low (the FBI has slightly different numbers, but all show the trend downwards — and all agree that the most recent single day of violence was from the current President on January 6th).
Thankfully, a crew of people from Free DC were ready. Early on Monday they held a press conference and rally — pre-empting both Trump’s announcement and Mayor Bowser’s compliance.
Free DC makes clear, “No single event or protest will fix this. What works is disciplined, connected organizing’ — but they are already showing the way forward. Here’s some things to learn from Free DC’s rapid response:
1. Plan Ahead
It won’t help if we’re stuck in shock. So months ago, in a church packed with over 500 people—neighbors, activists, friends—Free DC led a role-play that resonates now: the National Guard trying to seize control of the D.C. Council. (I was one of the trainers.)
That was Free DC in action—ready before this crisis struck. Despite dissenters who thought their role-plays too extreme, they got a crew ready and their crew has led dozens of trainings and oriented thousands for action.
You can develop role-play scenarios for your own community. Get a crew together and practice now what would you do—and feel—not only if federal forces took over your city, but any of the many unfolding situations now. Doing this planning alone makes us feel alone — we need to be connected with others to make our best plans.
If you’re not in DC, consider coming to the One Million Rising training — perhaps the largest single trainings in noncooperation — with over 170,000 participants already participating in learning how to refuse to comply with injustice. You can watch the sessions here. And they are encouraging people to host house meetings to grow the movement locally. This Wednesday’s will be the 3rd in that series: you can register now.)
2. Lead With Values
In their now viral instagram post laying out what to do in the immediate aftermath, they wrote “remember what works.” It’s not only a list of calls to action, it’s an statement of principles and values:
“Do not obey in advance.”
“Prioritize joy.”
“Take up space.”
“Be in solidarity.”
“Organize.”
In times of crisis, great leaders use the moment to deepen values. It’s why amoral businesses capitulating needn’t surprise us — but schools undermining the value of free speech to appeal to a wannabe King should. It’s why Veterans groups like Chamberlain Network have forcefully rejected Trump’s use of the military on their values of getting “military out of our communities.”
Consider what is most high and cherished in your beliefs. Let your actions be guided by shared values. And yes, infuse some joy into your resistance.
3. They Told Institutional Leaders What to Do
I was a little shocked to watch the Mayor casually describe the situation and urge DC residents to act normally. “Schools will open as usual,” she asserted. It was another institutionalist showing us that their playbook is not up to snuff with the times.
Free DC didn’t rely on politicians or other pillars of support — but it doesn’t give up on them either — it aims to move them. Over the weekend, Free DC sent a letter to politicos telling them what they needed to do:
“Remaining silent will tell this administration we consent to their actions. We do not… Please speak out against what is happening as soon as you are able.”
It gave a variety of suggestions. But the key: Don’t act normal. That’s the opposite lesson from our great social leaders who taught noncooperation as an active practice. Gandhi said:
“If people withdraw their cooperation in every detail, the government will come to a standstill.”
Dr. King called it out too:
“We can no longer lend our cooperation to an evil system.… [One] who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as [one] who helps to perpetrate it.”
When someone does something awful, acting normal normalizes it. Noncooperation from different pillars of support is the antidote.
(A tool to that Free DC has been teaching is the “pillars of support” tool, which describes how regular folks can work to bring down an unjust regime. Today we just released a brand new video teaching that pillars of support tool.)
4. They Give Clear Instructions for Involvement
“Starting tonight — get loud.”
Free DC offered clear actions that people could do right away: an 8pm banging of pots, singing, and chanting for 5 minutes (and encouragement to talk to your neighbors why).
They’re offering Cop Watch trainings and Campaign Orientations.
And they’re spreading the “Free DC” message — encouraging signs, posters, banners, tshirts, patches, and flags all over.
If you’re not in DC, they’re asking allies to send a letter to shore up support from Members of Congress at FreeDCproject.org/allies.
(If you’re feeling a little lost about what to do generally and not in DC, Choose Democracy helped support the One Million Rising training and that may be a place to get plugged in to the national anti-authoritarian work: you can register now!)
5. They’re Building for the Long Haul
Free DC’s trainings, mutual-aid work, and cross-neighborhood networks aren’t just for today—they’re preparing for the next crisis, and the one after that.
If you want to learn the Free DC model, they are happy to proliferate it to other cities. They’ve got a structure to build fast-moving groups to support mutual aid, create emergency response plans, and keep meeting after the headline fades. Democracy defense isn’t a sprint—it’s a practice.
Free DC is showing us how to fight authoritarianism: plan ahead, lead with values, push institutions, give clear steps, and prepare for the long fight.
Warmly,
Choose Democracy
Want to know more about Free DC?
Get connected at FreeDCProject.org.
Want to know more about the national One Million Rising training?
🔵 Watch the recordings
🔵 Host a house meeting
🔵 Join Session 3 in two weeks
Want to watch our video about the pillars of support?
Watch the: We Hold More Political Power Than We Realize – Pillars of Support Explained