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Hope Neyer
Kaela Bamberger
Ira Arlook

Alive, awake, alert: massive election day watch party doubles as demonstration to defend democracy

Washington D.C., November 3 -- In a true show of democratic tradition, ShutDownDC, along with over 10 other groups, is planning a large demonstration in Black Lives Matter Plaza to uphold a free and fair 2020 presidential election. The rally will celebrate election organizers across the country, as well as remain vigilant for the desperate actions of a Trump administration that is aware he will likely lose.

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The epic 8-hour demonstration will include a jumbotron projecting election results as well as live check-ins from around the country, including from GOTV organizers in Texas, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. There are also several bands, DJs, and dancers lined up to perform. DC’s Metropolitan Police Department has already made moves to try to prevent activists from gathering this week, attempting to break up gatherings in BLM Plaza in the lead up to November 3rd. 

Jen Nik, who served in the Navy for four years, said, “I am taking action today because I want to ensure that the election process is followed.” Nik is a member of one of ShutDownDC’s partner groups Continue to Serve, which is made up of veterans committed to upholding their oath to the Constitution by working for social justice. She called Trump’s attempts to cheat the election so far “absolutely unacceptable.”

The demonstration on November 3rd is the first of several days of action the activists are ready to deploy, depending on the actions of the Trump administration. On Wednesday, November 4th, more demonstrations are planned to spotlight the enablers of Trump’s attempts to subvert the election so far. On the afternoon of Wednesday November 4th, the coalition will regroup at McPherson Square to join a Protect the Results Coalition rally at 3pm. That evening the organizations will hold an open organizing meeting and spokes council at 6pm in Black Lives Matter Plaza to decide how to move forward the next day.

“As a historian of social movements in the United States, I understand that ordinary people are powerful when they come together to demand change,” said Sara Matthiesen, Assistant Professor of History at George Washington University and an organizer with ShutDownDC. “It is imperative that we take action to defend democracy and start building the world we all deserve.”

ShutDownDC is an organizing space where individuals and groups can come together to organize direct action in the fight for justice. The group is working in partnership with 350 DC, Arm in Arm DC, Beautiful Trouble, Black Lives Matter DC, Casa Action, Continue to Serve, Democratic Socialists of America DMV, Extinction Rebellion DC, Long Live GoGo, The Palm Collective, Rising Tide North America, Spaces in Action, and Sunrise Movement DC, among others.