It appears that over $20 million has been funneled by left-wing donors, including the infamous George Soros, to aid progressive groups in organizing protests against President Trump’s law enforcement measures in Washington, D.C. These protests have been largely orchestrated by Free DC, a project backed by the progressive nonprofits Community Change and Community Change Action. Just this past Monday, around 150 demonstrators gathered near the White House, voicing their disapproval of Trump’s move to federalize the D.C. police and deploy the National Guard.
Free DC is more than just a protest group; it’s a movement with a set of guiding principles and catchy slogans like “Do not obey in advance” and “Take up space.” Every night, the group encourages people to make noise, literally, by banging pots and pans and chanting for five minutes. These actions are part of what they describe as a protest against an “occupation” by the federal government.
The group isn’t stopping at noise-making. They’ve planned events like a “Cop Watch Training,” signaling their intent to keep challenging Trump’s efforts to boost policing and tackle issues like homelessness in the capital. Community Change and Community Change Action fund Free DC, with significant backing from Soros’ Open Society Foundations, the Tides Foundation, and the Arabella Advisors network. According to research by Americans for Public Trust, these funds have been crucial in sustaining Free DC’s activities.
Caitlin Sutherland, the executive director of Americans for Public Trust, pointed out the irony in the situation. She noted that a protest claiming to “Free DC” is actually funded by vast amounts of outside dark money pushing a pro-crime agenda. While D.C. struggles with a spike in shootings, carjackings, and assaults, groups like The Pritzker Foundation, George Soros, and the Arabella Network continue to pour millions into protests that could potentially destabilize communities.
Financial records reveal that Community Change and Community Change Action received $4 million from Soros’ Open Society Foundations just in 2023. The Arabella Advisors network contributed $680,000, while the Tides Foundation chipped in $145,000. From 2020 to 2023, these groups amassed $12.6 million from Open Society Foundations, $5.6 million from Arabella’s network, and $1.9 million from the Tides Network, with grants labeled for “civil rights, social action, advocacy,” and “social welfare activities.”
Arabella Advisors, based in Washington, D.C., manages several funds that have supported Community Change and Community Change Action since 2020. These funds include the Sixteen Thirty Fund, Windward Fund, and New Venture Fund. Free DC has certainly benefited from this financial backing, fueling their protests against President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and the federalization of the D.C. police.
Moreover, Community Change received an extra $1 million in 2021 and 2022 from Future Forward USA Action, a super PAC aligned with the Democratic Party. This PAC is associated with Future Forward PAC, a major political committee supporting Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. It seems that Democratic-aligned entities have played a significant role in sustaining these protests.
Free DC’s website claims that the group began organizing in 2023 as a reaction to congressional attempts to block revisions to the D.C. criminal code. Despite repeated inquiries, neither Free DC nor Community Change has responded to requests for comment on their activities or funding sources.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s approach to law enforcement in D.C. has sparked a lot of controversy and debate. His decision to federalize the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and bring in the National Guard has been met with both praise from his supporters and criticism from his opponents. The ongoing protests are a testament to the deep divisions in the country over issues of policing and public safety.
Supporters of President Trump argue that these measures are necessary to curb rising crime rates and restore order in the capital. They see the protests as an unnecessary disruption fueled by left-wing agendas and outside influences. In their view, the involvement of foreign money in these protests is a cause for concern.
Conversely, the protesters and their backers claim they are fighting for civil rights and social justice. They argue that Trump’s policies are an overreach of federal power, infringing on local governance and personal freedoms. They see their actions as a necessary resistance against oppressive measures.
Despite these differing viewpoints, there’s no denying that the protests have drawn significant attention and resources. The involvement of high-profile donors like George Soros has only intensified the spotlight on these demonstrations. With millions of dollars at play, the stakes are undeniably high.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the protests show no sign of slowing down. Both sides remain firmly entrenched in their positions, with each new development only adding fuel to the fire. The coming days and weeks are likely to see more demonstrations and discussions about the future of law enforcement in the nation’s capital.
