Hi xxxxxx, 

The DC community is under attack, but we got each other and we are keeping each other safe. 

The fascists have not left town since their failed insurrection attempt on January the 6th (read our response here: http://bit.ly/J6SunriseDC) and there are now 20,000 National Guard troops stationed in our city who have been authorized to use lethal force. All roads leading to downtown DC are now checkpoints and the majority of Metro stations are closed. Given the very real threat of an armed standoff between insurrectionists and the military this week, we’re advising everyone to stay off the streets and help us keep our neighbors safe.   

This week we’re witnessing the death throes of the white nationalist patriarchy that has dominated our country since its founding. We know it won’t end next week, and we will continue to fight in the months ahead. But know that we got to this point because we are winning: the future is a coalition of Black, Brown, and white communities creating the world we know is possible, and the fascists really hate that. Remember that we carry a militant optimism for the future and we shine bright even in the darkest times, because we are the ones actively building the world we want to see and it is a joyous process. 

If you need someone to talk to, reach out.

If you need any kind of aid, reach out. 

If you need to feel useful, you can: 

  • Send money for mutual aid: https://bit.ly/DCMutualAidDirectory. We want to highlight the ongoing frontline mutual aid moneypot for organizers who have been on the front lines fighting for justice, Remora House DC which provides supplies to our unhoused neighbors in Wards 5 and 6, and Casa Ruby in Ward 4, which supports LGBTQ+ folks with food, housing, and services.

  • Call hotels and politely ask them to think about the safety of their workers and our community this week. This is working! Shutting down is the only responsible thing to do: 

 

There could be a variety of asks in Slack in the coming days but probably very little on the ground work -- that work is mostly going to be done by those already plugged in to the mutual aid networks and the DC communities. Asks for elevating info, GoFundMe's, phonebanking, etc. are going to be critical so that any organizers or community members in harm's way have the best chance of staying safe, protected, and supported. For security reasons we cannot add any new members to the Slack right now because we don’t have the time to vet everyone, but if you’re already there now is the time to plug back in with the Sunrise DC community! 

We are organizing around the clock to keep each other safe and now is the time to make our people power and community-love known. 

We got each other. We got each other. We got each other.

Sunrise DC