Shut Down DC

Shut Down DC Logo

Shut Down DC is a coalition of organizers that engages in militant tactics such as blocking streets and doxxing / going to the homes of political opponents., They utilize the Action Network and work closely with Our Rights DC, Reproaction, Movement Catalyst and Harriet's Wildest Dreams.

'Core Members' of 'Shut Down DC'

An article posted May 10, 2021 titled "The New Way to Protest in DC: Go to a Politico’s Home. Bring a Crowd. Party." at the Washingtonian states that "Core members (of Shut Down DC) include lifers and newbies in DC’s lefty activist scene. From L-R: Bill Ragen, Daniel Dixon, Kaela Bamberger, Kathleen Brophy, Patrick Young, Nadine Bloch, Nee Nee Taylor"

Core members of Shut Down DC

'Forced Pregnancy Fetishists'

Shut Down DC mass email 1/14/2023 screenshot

Shut Down DC sent a mass email on January 14, 2023 organizing a "counter protest" to the March for Life to be held on January 20, 2023 along with Reproaction:

Unfortunately, January is when thousands of forced pregnancy fetishists come (or, in the case of high school students, are dragged) to town for the so-called March for “Life.” Here are a couple of things you can do to show them that DC – and the U.S. as a whole – does NOT support their fascistic agenda.

1) Before the march, download and print out these pro-choice posters and put them up around town (especially around the National Mall, Capitol Hill, and Brookland). These posters were created by DC area artists leading up to last year’s march. The folder also contains a document with wheatpasting instructions. Please exercise caution and watch for cops.

2) Join our friends at Reproaction for a counterprotest during the march on Friday, January 20. Sign up here.

Yours in bodily autonomy,

ShutDownDC

Target Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center

Shut Down DC sends mass email bragging about targeting event hosted by Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center December 1, 2022

On December 1, 2022, Shut Down DC and associated group Our Rights DC targeted and infiltrated a banquet hosted by the Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center.

Vincent Vertuccio bragged about disrupting the event, saying on Twitter (and retweeted by Patrick Young):

Tweet dated December 2, 2022 by Patrick Young, retweeting Vincent Vertuccio

"Tonight, I joined friends (@ShutDown_DC) in disrupting the "Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center"'s anti-abortion banquet in Crystal City. This clinic, a so-called "crisis pregnancy center" lies to patients, endangers pregnant people, and is part of a national anti-abortion network."

Shut Down DC bragged about disrupting the event in a mass email and on social media:

...last night we and our friends Our Rights DC protested both inside and outside the Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center's swanky fundraiser (which featured a wild video recorded by Erin Hawley, a lawyer who played a key role in the overturn of Roe v. Wade and who is married to anti-abortion and pro-insurrection Senator Josh Hawley).

You can watch a video of part of the inside disruption here or here. Photos from outside are in this thread.

Like our work? If you can, donate to Our Rights DC and Shut Down DC.

[...]

Expect resistance: That’s our message to the forced birthers who think they get to say what we do with our bodies.

The Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center – an organization that lies to pregnant people in an attempt to keep them from terminating their pregnancies – is hosting a holiday bash this Thursday. Their guest of honor is Erin Hawley, who works for the far-right, anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ Alliance Defending Freedom and is the spouse of insurrectionist-in-chief Josh Hawley.

Activists from Our Rights DC and Shut Down DC will be gathering to protest this event and show that we will give no quarter to those who would deny us our rights and freedoms. Please join us!

'Shut Down the Capitol' 2021

Shut Down DC advertised a “Shut Down the Capitol” event using "street blockades surrounding the Capitol" in December 7, 2021, when Congress returned to session. Groups that participated included Arm in Arm, Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund, The DC chapter of Extinction Rebellion, SPACES in Action, FIRM, CASA Action, and CODE PINK.

“Most of us don’t identify as Dems but we ARE angry – and we’re shutting down the Capitol on 12/7,” Shut Down DC tweeted.

Target Hotels for 12/12/2020 March for Trump

Shut Down DC collaborated with fellow Antifa groups designed to target Trump rally attendees in Washington, D.C. and intimidate hotels from hosting Trump supporters on December 11/12, 2020.

The list of organizations taking part in the action:

• Black Lives Matter DC
• All Out DC
• Autonomous Liberation Collective NYC
• Baltimore Liberation Front
• DC Youth Liberation
• Front Fairfax Smash The Fash
• Frederick Socialists
• Generation Ratify
• Liberty Union Party of Vermont
• Maryland Youth Liberation Front
• One People's Project
• Shut Down DC
• RichmondStrike
• Showing Up For Racial Justice DC
• United Against Racism and Fascism-NYC
• Wake Up 301

Shut Down DC Mass Mail

On October 27, 2020, Shut Down DC sent a mass email advertising the Feds for Democracy call scheduled for October 28, 2020.

On October 27, 2020, Shut Down DC sent a mass email advertising the Feds for Democracy and Democracy Kitchen call scheduled for October 28, 2020. Nadine Bloch and Bill Ragen were identified by journalist Millie Weaver as being Shut Down DC members on the call.

"Federal workers play a key role in upholding democratic values for the entire country. Millions of workers across the country are in the federal service and take an oath to uphold the US Constitution, and millions more support federal government efforts as support staff, fellows, and researchers.

On Wednesday, October 28 at 7:30pm join Feds for Democracy and Democracy Kitchen for a workshop on Democracy Defense Options for Federal Workers.

This is a workshop for federal employees, contractors, and others working in the Federal Government who are concerned about their rights as citizens and about their roles in the workplace to defend the Constitution and protect a fair election. Through discussions with experts and an interactive action planning session, participants will know what their options are for defending democracy in the workplace if Trump refuses to concede the election and will leave with specific, actionable plans for different scenarios. We will focus on the 2020 election but may also address other topics such as recent executive orders.

Zoom Call Before the 2020 Election

Shut Down DC described the Feds for Democracy and Democracy Kitchen call:,

"Have you ever wondered how you would defend the US from unconstitutional power grabs? A coup? As we approach the 2020 election, it’s important to be aware of what election norms exist and what behaviors constitute a deviation from democratic norms. Federal workers play a key role in upholding democratic values for the entire country. Millions of workers across the country are in the federal service and take an oath to uphold the US Constitution, and millions more support federal government efforts as support staff, fellows, and researchers. All are welcome to attend this webinar to learn about federal worker rights to defend democratic institutions from unconstitutional power grabs and how to take action to choose democracy.

Petition to 'enact emergency ban on tear gas before election'

Shut Down DC promoted a petition to enact an "emergency ban on tear gas before election." Supporting organizations included:

• Black Lives Matter DC
• Calvary Episcopal Church
• CASA
• Collective Action for Safe Spaces
• Center for American Progress Union
• DC Jobs With Justice
• Delicious Democracy
• Nonprofit Professional Employees Union
• Shut Down DC
• The DC Center
• The Democratic Coalition
• Women's March
• Occupation Free DC

"Force Trump out of the White House"

In an invitation to sign up for an “organizing call” that took place on September 10th, Shut Down DC said in part:

"…it’s going to take all of us to create an uprising powerful enough to defend democracy and force Trump out of the White House."

Shut Down DC further stated that their followers should "be in the streets before the polls even close [on November 3rd], ready to adapt and respond to whatever comes our way."

Target 2020 RNC

Shut Down DC was present at protests at the Republican National Convention at the White House on August 27, 2020.

Earth Day to May Day

Shut Down DC's initiative "Earth Day to May Day" in 2020 was featured on their website:

"Throughout the week of April 27th we'll take bold direct action online AND in person to shut down business as usual and create space for a healthier and more sustainable world. Each day of the week will focus on a theme to highlight the ways that the climate crisis threatens our communities and lifts up our opportunities to build resilient alternatives.​

April 27 - Environmental Justice Right Here Right Now

April 28 - Bail Out the People and #CancelRent

April 29 - Hold the Corporations Accountable

April 30 - Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground

May 1 - International Workers Day

Patrick Young Facebook Post dated May 3 2020

Fellow organizer Patrick Young wrote about the action on Facebook:

"Earth Day to May Day is in the books. It was definitely not the mobilization that anybody was imagining three months ago and this is one of the most challenging organizing landscapes most of us have ever seen. But right now bold direct action is just as essential as it's ever been.

"Plans came together, got scrapped, started over, and somehow we made something pretty powerful happen. I'm so incredibly grateful to be in struggle with such a brilliant, creative, resilient, supportive network of people.

"Katie Donnelly, thank you so much for being my partner in crime through all of this. I love you so much and I'm so lucky to have you in my life.

"Kathleen Brophy, Bill Ragen, Liz Butler, Daniel Dixon, Alix Davidson, Michael Beer you're some of the best co-conspirators I've ever had the privilege of working with. Nadine Bloch, I learn so much every time I get the opportunity to work with you and this was certainly no exception.

"Avi S. Li, @Sara, Barbara Elizabeth Dale, Farzona Comnas, Will Flagle, @Rahsaan, @Nathan, Anna Dell'Amico, ya'll did so much to make sure that bikes, cars, trucks, and paint rollers were all moving when they needed to. Your work and commitment made all this happen and your energy and creativity made it beautiful.

"Helen Luryi the way you plugged into logistics and kept things on task (even when we really didn't want to be on task) was incredible and this scale of activity could not have happened without you.

"Laura Beth from the beginning, your design work tied this sprawling project together and made it into something coherent. And when the world changed those images told the story when our numbers in the streets couldn't.

"NeeNee Tay, April Renee Goggans, Makia Green, I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be in struggle with Black Lives Matter DC and hope that we can continue to be in solidarity with the vital work that you do every single day.

"Hope Neyer, everything turned upside down on you when school closed and you headed back to Ohio... but you stayed plugged in and you were a key part of making all of this happen!

"Kaela Bamberger you bounced back from such a hard time and then jumped right back in to turning our muddled ideas about actions into a coherent narrative.

"Drew Hudson as always you came through from afar to fill in so many gaps and help us connect with the voices from the front lines.

"Mike Warburton and the crew from Sunrise Movement - DC Hub, ya'll did an incredible job of pivoting as the pandemic set in and still organizing a strong, rooted action.

"Danny Cendejas it was great to get a chance to start working with La ColectiVA and For Us, Not Amazon ... and I'm looking forward to throwing down with ya'll a whole lot more!

Liz Butler (a.k.a. Liz Paulson) is a long time activist and an organizer for Shut Down DC and vice president of organizing and strategic allegiances for Friends of the Earth Action. Liz Butler was an organizer of the Shut Down DC initiative "Earth Day to May Day" in 2020.

"Bring the City to a Standstill"

Liz Butler was featured in a Washington Post article dated September 23, 2019 by Hannah Natanson discussing mob action "timed to coincide with the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York."

From the article:

"The traffic shutdown is meant to send a particular message to D.C.'s powerful political elite, according to Liz Butler, an organizer for Shut Down DC and vice president of organizing and strategic allegiances for Friends of the Earth Action.

“It’s Washington, D.C. The decisions that are made in this town don’t just affect the people in the U.S., they affect the globe every day,” Butler said Sunday. “I think people around the world are counting on us to be able to stand up in D.C.”

[...]

"Organizers hope to bring “the whole city to a gridlocked standstill,” according to the group’s website. To do so, they will target “key infrastructure” likely to have the biggest impact on District residents’ and commuters’ ability to get around, according to the site."

"Participants are targeting heavily-trafficked intersections and streets, according to Butler, though she declined to say which ones. Shut Down D.C. has published several maps detailing information about traffic volume, levels of employment downtown and sites where prominent oil and gas lobbyists work.

“Our goal is to bring the city to a standstill … there will be people throughout the city focusing on making that happen,” Butler said.

[...]

"The Shut Down DC coalition includes activists from a wide range of climate and social justice organizations — more than two dozen at last count, according to Butler. Participating groups include Black Lives Matter DC, Code Pink, Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America and Werk for Peace.

Movement Strategy Center

Liz Butler served as a Senior Fellow for the Movement Strategy Center, which is close to the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.