Seven Days in D.C.
Demonstrators at Seven Days in D.C. Photo from a Mass 50501 volunteer.
In the week leading up to the United States Semiquincentennial, thousands of people participated in Seven Days in D.C., a weeklong series of civic engagement activities, public demonstrations, and cultural events designed to encourage direct participation in the democratic process. This was a massive undertaking organized by dozens of organizations and individuals and Mass 50501 was proud to head to D.C. and spend the holiday week fighting for our country.
The thing that struck me the most about this event was how it kept community as the core focus. Most of us who do this work do it because we care deeply about the well-being and safety of our local communities. We have studied authoritarianism. We know their goal is to divide us, oppress us, and make us feel powerless so they can control us for their own political and financial gain. That is exactly the opposite of what this country was founded for. We were founded as a country governed by and for the people. Over time, many of us have become complacent and have stopped participating. People have stopped showing up to town meetings, stopped holding their elected officials accountable, and have even stopped participating in the sacred right of voting—a right that someone of my gender and anyone who wasn’t white had to fight tooth and nail for. Corruption has seeped in over decades and this current regime is taking full advantage of that. It is time for all of us to claim our We The People spirit. It is time for us to lean into community and democracy and that is exactly why we went to D.C.
Organizers with a large copy of the U.S. Constitution at Seven Days in D.C. Photo from a Mass 50501 volunteer.
With over 30 actions throughout the week, there was something for everyone. Groups lobbied Congress. Workshops and panels happened every day to strengthen civic knowledge, organizing capacity, and to help us learn to care for and work with our most marginalized communities. At night, entertainment in the form of creative resistance brought the community together so we can unwind through acts of community self-care. Let me tell you, as someone who has been organizing for a year and a half straight, I can confidently say this work is hard and stressful and burnout is real. It’s imperative that we find time to unwind and it is so rare we get to do that with our fellow organizers. To be able to dance, sing, chant and just have some unstructured conversation with both our fellow Mass 50501 activists and organizers from all over the country, who most of us only knew as a screenname or a face on Zoom, was beyond affirming. It recharged our batteries and emboldened our spirits.
Then, there were the large visible events. At the Veterans Rally on July 3rd, we stood at the FLARE encampment across from the Capital Building, cheering on the many Veterans who bravely stood up to tell their stories. Many had the same thread—they took an oath to the US Constitution and risked their lives to defend us from fascism, only to now be fighting it on our own shores.
On July 4th, the week culminated with a march called “We The People 250.” It was the perfect juxtaposition to Trump’s Freedom 250—the heavily partisan grift he created to replace America 250, which was the original nonpartisan celebration being planned as part of the Semiquincentennial Commission Act. Hundreds of people from all races, ages and walks of life carried a 700-foot Constitution Preamble from the Capital to the National Archives of The United States. This epic banner, created by Backbone Campaign, has been touring the United States and has tens of thousands of signatures from individuals who are committed to fighting (nonviolently) for our Constitution. Mass 50501 volunteers were proud to add our signatures. We also added joy to the event with our 10’ JD Vance “Memecrime” which is now proudly on wheels!
Mass 50501’s “Memecrime” art installation at Seven Days in D.C. Photo from a Mass 50501 volunteer.
For me, the march was incredibly moving on many levels. It was my first time in D.C. and thanks to Trump opening the gates of hell the heatwave, it was truly a time when the community had to come together so we could brave the feels-like temps well over 110º. Organizers ensured there were plenty of wagons loaded with ice, sunscreen, water, electrolytes and snacks. The safety team prepped the crowd with tips ahead of the march and ensured there were several medics to help anyone struggling. Our contingent had a buddy system and checked in regularly to make sure we were drinking enough and were fit to go on. It was already incredibly powerful to be marching down the historic streets of D.C., and we did it in a way that reflected the values we want to see enshrined in our country by keeping community care front and center.
There is a chant that you hear at most of our rallies: Who Keeps Us Safe? WE Keep Us Safe! I saw that ripple through every event of Seven Days in D.C. The climate in D.C., especially around the Semiquincentennial, was not like our normal crowd in Boston. MAGA influencers tried to infiltrate and agitate. The heat was oppressive. The days were packed. And through it all, we cared for each other, learned from each other and grew with each other. We kept us safe and we will continue to because this country belongs to US. All of us. Let’s keep pushing forward, together!
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