Free DC: Inside the women-founded movement opposing Trump’s militarized takeover

August 18, 2025

Free DC is a grassroots movement founded by Keya Chatterjee, Kelsye Adams, Nee Nee Taylor, and Alex Dodds to resist federal interventions in Washington D.C. during President Trump's second administration. The organization mobilizes residents around three key principles: showing solidarity, taking up space, and prioritizing joy, with the ultimate goal of achieving statehood for the District of Columbia. Free DC builds on previous campaigns like Hands Off DC, broadening the movement for D.C.'s autonomy by centering voices of marginalized communities through a highly organized structure of advisory councils, working groups, and ward-based teams.

Who is affected

The 700,000 residents of Washington D.C.
Marginalized communities including people of color, immigrants, unhoused people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and disabled residents
Federal workers who have been fired
Youth in the city who may face "overpolicing"
The broader American public (as the article notes that "when the capital of the country has dissent silenced, that is... a problem for the entire country")

What action is being taken

Free DC is organizing rallies to support fired federal workers
The organization is distributing call sheets for contacting members of Congress
They are sharing requests from organizations supporting unhoused residents
Free DC is distributing hotlines for reporting ICE and other federal law enforcement activity
Adult volunteers are being stationed at public transit stops and near schools to protect youth
Residents are participating in nightly pot-banging demonstrations at 8 p.m. as a sign of solidarity
The movement is conducting virtual and in-person trainings for new participants

Why it matters

Washington D.C. has a long history of struggling for autonomy from federal control
Despite having a larger population than Wyoming or Vermont, D.C. lacks voting representation in Congress
All city-passed policies must be reviewed by Congress
According to research cited in the article, civil resistance increases the chance of avoiding authoritarianism from 7% to 50%
The movement represents resistance to what organizers perceive as federal overreach and "occupation"
Jeanine Pirro, Trump's U.S. attorney for D.C., is reportedly struggling to obtain grand jury indictments for people charged with ICE interference

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The 19th