GrA Community Voices Update 077; events, boycotts, trainings, gatherings!
Grassroots Alexandria
The West End farmers market. We'll be there to pass out flyers and chat with the community. Let us know if you'd like to help out!
Sunday September 13, 9-10:30am EDT
Where: 4800 Brenman Park Dr, Alexandria VA
Tuesday September 8, 6:45pm EDT, City Council Legislative Session (on FLOCK)
This session, the City Manager will receive an update on FLOCK cameras and similar technology that's been deployed across Alexandria. There's an estimated 77 FLOCK cameras throughout our city, but APD won't publish where they're all located. Show up or write in to say that we do not want mass surveillance in Alexandria!
Where: Zoom (link available in meeting docket, on city website)
Or City Council Chamber at Del Ray Resource Center; 4850 Mark Center Drive, Room 1305, Alexandria VA
Continued Starbucks Boycott
Every day, No Contract No Coffee
From: Metro DC DSA and https://www.nocontractnocoffee.org/
Metro DC DSA has been picketing in support of Starbucks Workers United's No Contract No Coffee boycott campaign. The open-ended strike is to address workers' demands for better staffing, higher pay, and resolution for hundreds of unfair labor practice charges.
Starbucks Workers United: https://sbworkersunited.org/take-action/
Sign the pledge to boycott Starbucks until union demands are met!
Monday September 7, 7-9pm EDT, Harriets Responders Orientation
From: Harriet’s Wildest Dreams
Come learn more about the Responders of Harriet's Wildest Dreams!
Harriets Responders is committed to building local power through transformational direct actions, rapid response & mutual aid. By organizing, strategizing and responding, we work to decrease the power of the carceral state and oppressive systems.
Join this info session to learn how to get plugged in to the DC Safety Squad and Harriets Responders. Come learn about how we are building community and reimagining safety. We are piloting a response team that is going to act as an alternatives to calling the police. We are advocating for harm reduction resources, as we provide community support, perform rapid responses and civil disobedience. #WeKeepUsSafe
Where: virtual
https://www.mobilize.us/hwd/event/1012390/
Monday September 7 (usually the 1st Monday), 7-8pm EDT, What activists can do: Fix Media Now
From: The Media and Democracy Project
Join the Media and Democracy Project to better understand and respond to the factors that influence public opinion, voters and democracy. Each session we will activate on a current information-related subject to help Fix Media Now.
https://www.mobilize.us/mediademocracyproject/event/430177/
Tuesday September 8, 7-8:30pm EDT, Abolition 101: Break the System, Not the Vibe
From: Harriet’s Wildest Dreams
Why Abolition?
As prison abolitionists, we are fighting for a world where the response to social problems does not include prisons, policing, prosecution, or any form of surveillance, supervision, or incarceration.
These systems of punishment rely on, reinforce, and perpetuate structures of oppression; white supremacy, patriarchy, capitalism, xenophobia, ableism, and heterosexism. We aim to undermine and abolish these systems, not reform them.
Where: virtual
https://www.mobilize.us/hwd/event/608453/
Wednesday September 9, 7pm EDT, The Next Journalism: How the Press Must Change to Serve Democracy
From: Politics and Prose
An urgent case that the survival of democracy depends on reinventing the press, with ten pioneering reforms to help journalism better serve the public—from the co-author of the classic The Elements of Journalism.
The crisis in journalism reflects a crisis in American democracy. Faith in news outlets has dwindled, news deserts are expanding, and audiences are turning away from alarmist, partisan, and fragmented coverage.
In The Next Journalism, Tom Rosenstiel—veteran journalist, researcher, novelist, and co-author of The Elements of Journalism—argues that the roots of journalism’s failure are intellectual, not just financial or technological. He outlines ten fundamental ways journalism must change to become more useful, trustworthy, and collaborative with the communities it serves.
Where: Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
https://politics-prose.com/tom-rosenstiel-090926
Thursday September 10, 6:30-8pm EDT, Know Your Rights Training
From: Free DC
Learn about your rights and how to protect yourself, your family, and your community as the Trump regime increases federal enforcement.
Where: virtual
https://freedcproject.org/event-list/know-your-rights-training-september10
For more events, boycotts, and trainings, see our full list posted here!
Events are organized by others and reported here as an expression of support for democracy.
Please send feedback, if any, to grassroots...@gmail.com
Grassroots Alexandria
Tuesday September 15, 9:30-10:30am EDT, AFGE Local 252 Department of Education Press Conference
From: American Federation of Government Employees
Please join us at a AFGE Local 252 Department of Education Press Conference on Tuesday, September 15th at 9:30am at the Senate Swamp on Capitol Hill to stand up for Department of Education employees and the students and communities they serve across the country.
Join your union sisters and brothers in urging Congress to fully fund and conduct oversight of this critical agency delivering essential services to the American public.
Where: Senate Swamp (On the grass across the drive from the east Senate steps of the U.S. Capitol Building)
East Capitol Street Northeast & First Street Northeast, Washington, DC 20004
https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/1031753/
Tuesday September 15, 12-1pm EDT, Hands off Our Elections Rally
From: Organizing Revival Networks
The Organizing Revival Networks (ORN) will come together for a major civic mobilization in Washington, D.C. on September 15, spearheaded by Popular Democracy and People's Action Institute. ORN organizations are invited to join and bring their members, leaders, and organizing power into this collective moment. The event will convene 500+ community leaders, organizers, and directly impacted residents for a day of action and election protection training.
Where: Capitol Grounds, Section 11, Independence Avenue Southeast & 1st Street Southeast, DC 20515
https://www.mobilize.us/peoplesactioninstitute/event/1019092/
Tuesday September 15, 2-3pm EDT, DC: All Out Against War!
From: Summer of Peace and Love
Join CODEPINK and our allies as we mobilize against US wars of terror!
Where: The Hill, Independence Avenue Southeast & New Jersey Avenue Southeast, Washington, DC 20004
https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/1028455/
Tuesday September 15, 2-4pm EDT, Toxics Off the Table Rally
From: Environmental Defense Fund
Come rally with Environmental Defense Fund and other groups in D.C. to oppose blocking state authority on food safety regulation! If passed, a recently introduced bill will wipe out state bans on known cancer-causing chemicals and things like PFAS, or “forever chemicals”, in our food and food packaging.
Speakers will include Chef Andrew Zimmern, EDF’s chemicals policy expert Dr. Maria Doa, Members of Congress, state lawmakers, and more!
Where: Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, Washington, DC 20004
https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/1032385/
Wednesday September 16, 12-1pm EDT, Lunch & Learn: Just say NO to Plaza 500's Edsall Data Center Substation
From: Nature Forward
The opposition to the Edsall electrical substation for the Plaza 500 data center is mounting. Recommendations of denial of the substation have come in from VA Delegate Watts, VA Senator Bennett-Parker, US Congressman Beyer, the Mayor and City Council of the City of Alexandria, and Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez.
Your voice is equally important! Fairfax County's Planning Commission is holding a public hearing on December 2, 2026 (postponed from Sept. 24). This is YOUR chance to add your voice to the chorus, asking for a denial of the 2232 application.
Join this webinar to learn about the (confusingly named) "2232" process of approving or denying the building of a public utility, learn about the ways to testify (via written comments, phone, pre-recorded video, or in-person!), and what you can stay to be most convincing. There will be plenty of time for Q&A.
Where: virtual
https://actionnetwork.org/events/lunch-learn-edsall-substation
Thursday September 17, 7-8pm EDT, Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor — End Times Fascism
From: Politics and Prose
“End Times Fascism” is the ideology of the actors who strive to make the world unlivable and then seek to protect themselves from the fallout—whether by repairing to luxurious private islands, rocketing off to Mars, or bunkering the nation to keep their enemies at bay. The new survivalists have accumulated power, but they are far from impregnable. As Klein and Taylor show via original reporting and analysis, their many internal conflicts and contradictions and their nihilistic inability to envision a shared future, even for their ostensible allies, leave them vulnerable to a new kind of “pro-life” politics—rooted in reverence for our shared existence and regard for the earth we inhabit and must protect.
Where: Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
https://politics-prose.com/klein-taylor-091726
Thursday September 17, 7-8pm EDT, Latino Political Power in Flux: Aspiration, Identity, and the Common Good
From: Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life
As political parties, businesses, and organizations increasingly recognize the changing priorities of this diverse electorate, does the leadership of the Catholic Church in the United States signal any recognition of these patterns? Can the Church help navigate the tensions between Latino grievance politics and aspirational politics? How can Church organizations help ensure that politics maintains a focus on the common good and the continued wellbeing of Latinos while continuing to forefront the concerns of the most vulnerable?
Where: Georgetown University Capitol Campus, 111 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Lower Level Multipurpose Room, Washington, DC 20001
https://catholicsocialthought.georgetown.edu/events/latino-political-power-in-flux
Friday September 18, 5-8pm EDT, Free DC Chocolate City Congressional Black Caucus Reception
From: Free DC
Next week, thousands of Black leaders from across the country will come together in DC for Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) week. This year, this event will take place as DC is under hostile military occupation and as voting rights are under active attack nationwide. At the same time, the midterm elections will have pivotal consequences for Black leadership in Congress. Organizers in DC are working to ensure the nation’s capital is protected from attack in the midst of it.
Join us for a hosted reception with catered appetizers, wine and beer, light speaking program, and opportunities for action. Connect with organizers, leaders, and community members working to protect Black political power and self-determination.
Where: RSVP for location
Friday September 18, 6:30-8pm EDT, Hands Around the Kennedy Center
From: Hands Off the Arts
If you have ever been struck by the Kennedy Center's scale and grandeur;
Been moved by a performance in the Center’s stunning performance halls;
Created memories with loved ones over intermission champagne on the Plaza;
Graced the Center’s stages as an artist;
Worked at the Center as a staff member, union member, or volunteer;
Or if you want to preserve these iconic experiences for our community, Hands Off the Arts invites you to join Hands Around the Kennedy Center on Friday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m.
Tara Hoot and Hands Off the Arts will lead this joyful gathering centered on uplifting the Kennedy Center, her staff, and all the artists past, present and future who have graced her stages. This nostalgia-inspired community action allows those of us who love the Kennedy Center to celebrate the Center’s past and envision its future.
Where: The Kennedy Center, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
https://actionnetwork.org/events/hands-around-the-kennedy-center
Friday September 18, 6:30-8pm EDT, The Elements of Mutual aid
From: Harriet’s Wildest Dreams
A film screening & community discussion with the documentarists of the elements of mutual aid.
A four-part, independently produced documentary series putting a finger on the pulse of community-led survival projects confronting crisis with care.
Weaving together over 60 voices and profiling 15 groups across North America, the series explores the radical values, infrastructure, healing ways, and logistics of mutual aid work.
In this chapter, we will explore some of the mutual aid organizing in DC
Where: RSVP for location
https://www.mobilize.us/hwd/event/1031996/
Friday September 18, 7:00pm EDT, Supremacy: How Rule by the Court Replaced Government by the People
From: Politics and Prose
The Supreme Court claims the extraordinary power to strike down laws passed by Congress—and for more than a century now, it has used this power to undermine democracy. But does the Constitution force us to live under the rule of nine robed lawyers? In this remarkable work, Harvard Law professors Nikolas Bowie and Daphna Renan dismantle “judicial supremacy,” the myth that the Court should have the final say on what the Constitution means. Far from an eternal principle, judicial supremacy gained prominence only in response to Reconstruction, when the Court took it upon itself to safeguard the interests of capital and white supremacy.
Where: Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
https://politics-prose.com/nikolas-bowie-daphna-renan91826
Saturday September 19, 9am-noon EDT, Ward 2 Coffee Hour + Wheatpasting Outing
From: Free DC
Come find out how easy and fun it is to wheatpaste and let the community know about Free DC!
This event has many parts and options:
9 am - 10 am - Coffee hour/Social Hour @ Aslin
10 am - 10:15 am - Wheatpasting Prep
10:15- 12 pm - Wheatpasting outing in the neighborhood
Stop by for coffee with Free DC Ward 2 (and maybe some zine folding). Option to only have coffee, or only do wheatpasting, or come for both. Registering ensures you will get weather-related updates via email to this outdoor, mobile event.
Wheatpasting is fully legal and fully regulated -- we follow the regulations and clean up after those who do not.
Where: Aslin + around Ward 2 on foot 1740 14th Street Northwest Washington, DC, 20009
https://freedcproject.org/event-list/ward-2-coffee-wheatpasting
Saturday September 19, 9am-12:30pm EDT, Camp Democracy: All Souls Edition
From:Indivisible
Whether you’ve been working for years to protect democracy or are just beginning to reflect on the stakes after the Supreme Court decision to gut the 1965 Voting Rights Act, we invite you to gather with us at Camp Democracy. You will learn from seasoned community organizers who know what it takes to bend the arc of history toward justice and gain the tactical skills needed to stand firmly and courageously on the side of love. Camp Democracy will also be a chance to restore your spirit, deepen your connections, and form new relationships with people who share your values and your hope for a more just future. Together, we can strengthen one another for the work ahead.
Where: All Souls Church Unitarian, 1500 Harvard St NW, Washington, DC 20009
https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/1005373/
Saturday September 19, noon-4pm EDT, The People's Budget and Revenue Forum // Foro Ciudadano de Presupuesto e Ingresos Fiscales
From: Fair Budget Coalition
The Fair Budget Coalition is hosting our People's Budget and Revenue Forum this fall! Join us in community on Saturday, September 19th, from 12-4 pm to enjoy refreshments, share knowledge, and begin to co-create the fiscal year 2028 (FY28) budget that DC deserves.
¡La Coalición por un Presupuesto Justo los invita a nuestro Foro Ciudadano de Presupuesto e Ingresos Fiscales de FBC este otoño! Únase a nosotros en comunidad el sábado 19 de septiembre, de 12 a 4 p. m. para disfrutar de refrescos, compartir conocimientos y comenzar a co-crear el presupuesto del año fiscal 2028 (FY28) que DC merece.
Where: Christ Our Shepherd Church, 801 North Carolina Ave SE, Washington, DC 20024
https://actionnetwork.org/events/the-peoples-budget-forum-2
Sunday September 20, 1-5pm EDT, Non-Cooperation Theory + Practice
From: Free DC
Non-Cooperation Theory + Practice is Free DC's advanced training intensive on the key skills involved in effective non-cooperation. This half-day training will teach you what non-cooperation looks like on an individual level, a mass level, and how other movements have used these tactics effectively.
Where: RSVP for location (Location will be in zip code 20009)
https://freedcproject.org/event-list/non-cooperation-theory-practice-sep20
Sunday September 20, 2-4pm EDT, Running for (and Serving on) a Town or City Council: What You Need to Know
From: Metro DC DSA Prince George's County
On Sunday, September 20, the Prince George's County Branch of Metro DC DSA will hold an information session at 2 PM at the Bladensburg Branch Library on what it takes to run for and serve on a town or city council in Prince George's County. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from four DSA members who have served on city councils in Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Mount Rainier, and New Carrollton, respectively. Our hope is that this event will demystify what it takes to run for office. Please come even if you cannot imagine yourself running, both because you might change your mind after hearing from our speakers and because there will also be useful information for socialists who are interested in helping others to run.
Where: Bladensburg Branch Library, 4820 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg, MD 20710