South of Memorial Circle
1 Memorial Drive

(5 minute walk from the Arlington Cemetery Metro)

Why now?  

The Trump regime is defacing our nation’s capital with illegal, large-scale projects that have not been authorized by Congress, including construction of a giant arch at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, and the closure and possible demolition of the Kennedy Center. Americans strongly oppose these projects. We are preparing to use non-violent direct action (NVDA) to draw national and global attention to the abuse of power that these projects represent.

What will be covered?

The training covers time-tested techniques for opposing abuses of power, including: Theory and Historical Power of NVDA; Commitment to Non-Violence; De-Escalation Skills; Group Agreements; Action Roles; Levels of Risk; Jail Support, Legal Backup; and What to Expect If You are Arrested. Training is highly participatory and includes a role-play exercise involving a simulated non-violent sit-in to block construction of the vanity arch.

What's next?
The time and place of future actions will depend on what moves the regime makes to advance these unconstitutional and illegal projects. Training participants will be equipped to decide whether and how they wish to participate in future actions, and will be connected with information resources to receive updates and alerts.  

Suggested Readings

If you are interested in learning more about the history, theory and practice of NVDA, here are some readings you may find useful:

NVDA Toolkit for Elders and Others: The Toolkit collects in one place information, links, tips and best practices about Nonviolent Direct Action(NVDA).

Civil Resistance Tactics in the 21st Century, by Michael A. Beer. A compendium of civil resistance techniques from the International Center of Nonviolent Conflict.

Streetwise & Steady, A Workbook for Action Peacekeepers or Event Marshals, by Daniel Hunter and Eileen Flanagan. This workbook stresses that effective protest depends on disciplined nonviolence, where trained peacekeepers model a calm focus and de‑escalation skills.