Dark Money Groups Fund Protests Against Trump’s DC Crime Measures

Multiple left-leaning organizations backed by dark money, including funds from George Soros, have contributed over $20 million to groups organizing protests opposing Trump’s crime enforcement initiatives in Washington, D.C.

One such group, Free DC, affiliated with progressive nonprofits, assembled 150 demonstrators near the White House to protest Trump’s plans to deploy the National Guard and federalize local police. The group promotes principles like “Do not obey in advance” and encourages supporters to make noise every night during the “occupation”.

Since Monday’s demonstration, Free DC has organized additional events, including a “Cop Watch Training,” hinting at ongoing protests. The protests appear coordinated with efforts to increase law enforcement and remove homeless encampments in the city.

Organizations funding Free DC—Community Change and Community Change Action—have received millions from philanthropies linked to Soros, the Arabella Advisors dark-money network, and the Tides Foundation. In total, between 2020 and 2023, these groups accumulated over $12 million from Soros, $5.6 million from Arabella, and nearly $2 million from Tides, allocated for civil rights and advocacy efforts.

Additionally, Community Change received major grants from Future Forward USA Action, a super PAC aligned with the Democratic Party, which supported Vice President Kamala Harris in recent campaigns.

It remains unclear how much of this funding directly finances Free DC’s activities, which claims to have organized since 2023 in response to congressional attempts to oppose DC’s criminal code reforms. Neither Free DC nor Community Change responded to inquiries for further details.