Numerous left-leaning organizations, including those backed by George Soros, have contributed over $20 million to groups supporting protests against President Trump’s legal actions in Washington, D.C.
The initiative, known as Free DC, affiliated with a progressive nonprofit, rallied around 150 protesters near the White House on Monday. They were expressing opposition to Trump’s plans to send National Guard troops to the district and to federalize its police force.
Free DC promotes ideas such as “Don’t follow in advance” and “Take Space.” They encourage participants to gather nightly at 8 PM to make noise—be it through pots, songs, or chants—in support of their cause.
Since that initial protest, Free DC has been scheduling follow-up events, like “Cops Watch Training,” hinting at further demonstrations as Trump aims to transform D.C. into “the safest, cleanest, and most beautiful city in the world.”
Community Change and Community Change Action are among the organizations funding Free DC and have received millions from various donors, including the Open Society Foundation and the Tides Foundation, according to an analysis shared with the Post.
It’s somewhat ironic that a protest ostensibly against “free DC” is organized by Community Change, which receives substantial funding from outside, often opaque sources.
Given the rising crime rates in D.C.—including shootings and carjackings—critics argue that progressive groups like the Pritzker Foundation, Soros, and the Arabella Network are wasting resources on protests that could harm the community.
This year alone, Community Change and Community Change Action have gotten $4 million from Soros’s Open Society Foundation, along with $680,000 from the Arabella Network and $145,000 from the Tides Foundation.
Since 2020, Arabella Advisors, a D.C.-based consulting firm, has managed funds that support numerous left-wing initiatives, like the Windward Fund and the New Venture Fund, which have contributed to Community Change and its actions.
Likewise, Soros’s Open Society Foundations and Tides Foundation play a significant role in funding both progressive and right-leaning initiatives.
From 2020 to 2023, Community Change and Community Change Litigation received around $12.6 million from the Open Society Foundation, along with $5.6 million from the Arabella Network and $1.9 million from the Tides Network, focusing on civil rights and social advocacy.
Moreover, Community Change secured an additional $1 million in 2021 and 2022 through Future Forward USA Action, associated with the Democratic super PAC that backed former Vice President Kamala Harris in her 2024 campaign.
It’s not entirely clear how much funding directly supports Free DC. The group claims to have started organizing in 2023 in response to congressional attempts to block updates to D.C.’s criminal law.
Both Free DC and Community Change have not issued responses to inquiries for comments.
