ASRA NOMANI: The professional resistance machine behind today’s ‘people’s march’
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As anti-Trump protesters crowded the steps below the Lincoln Memorial Saturday, media outlets painted a moody picture. NBC4 Washington announced On social media: “Grassroots groups are descending on the capital ahead of President-elect Trump’s inauguration. Associated Press reported Anti-Trump “demonstrators” “gathered” in Washington DC under the leadership of the Women’s March “people’s movement”.
The Washington Post It is described The protests highlight the event’s “diverse mix of people” as a “joint effort between civil rights, racial and social justice and reproductive health organizations.”
While this positive media coverage may have energized ordinary protesters, they omitted one crucial detail: the name of the profit-making machine behind the protests.
Thousands of left-wing protesters descended on Washington to protest Trump’s inauguration.
The event is a far cry from an impromptu citizen action. Activity Catalyst LLCA for-profit company based in Silver Spring, MD, and the official licensee for the protest, is owned by A. A copy of the permitI got it from the US National Park Service. In the year In the 1990s, while covering global business for the Wall Street Journal, I was one of the first reporters to put the term “AstroTurf” on the pages of the paper, describing what the auto industry called “grassroots” but actually a tariff on minivans. by an industry lobby group. Protest organizing isn’t much different these days, and today’s “people’s march” is more astroturf than “grassroots.” The march is also planned for Monday, when we can expect, as far as I am concerned, more violent extremists to arrive. reported earlier this week.
Management Catalyst meticulously planned Saturday’s “People’s March on Washington.” (Movement Catalyst LLC website)
Marked “Confidential Document – Not for Distribution” and submitted as part of the permit application, the plan shows the movement’s catalyst and professional protest coordinators coordinated everything from security to dumpsters, “port-a-pot” and more. List “Demo Run”
The classified document reveals the extraordinary precision with which this event was built, down to golf carts, water stations and snacks for staff.
Records reviewed by Fox News Digital show meticulously planned preparations for the “People’s March on Washington.” (US National Park Service)
Why is this important? Because people deserve transparency. When the media portrays events like the one below, it distorts reality as Americans are led to come together to voice their concerns. These are highly coordinated, well-funded and driven by professional organizers. Lack of scrutiny obscures the financial, strategic and political interests behind these activities. It is important to follow the money and understand the players using the image of the base movement to advance their agenda. Too often, media outlets treat conservative events like the March for Life with suspicion and critical thinking, while treating progressive causes as “roots.” We must have transparency of equal opportunity.
So what is Activity Catalyst LLC? As he says Washington DC Public RecordsIn the year It is a limited liability corporation established in February 2021. On its website, Movement Catalysts advertises its for-profit service, which it writes is an “experienced and multidisciplinary team of strategists, organizers, campaigners and researchers” who launch strategic projects to connect. In cooperation with organizations “to create impact and expand the infrastructure of activity.” Officials did not respond to requests for comment.
The consent was all legal, but the public should know that the protest was not spontaneous or organic, writes Asra Nomani. (US National Park Service)
One of those “strategic projects” is the People’s March, and the company’s services include “strategy and campaign development” and “creative protests and events.” Looking at the funding, it shows the scale of the action. In the year In 2021, Movement Catalyst LLC received $592,050 from the New York-based Sustainable Markets Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit for “web campaign development.” Filing IRS Form 990. Then in 2023, Philadelphia-based Workers United paid a total of $319,600 to Movement Catalyst LLC for work on “organizing unorganized collective bargaining.” Tax filing. Services provided? “Advisory” This is far from a mom-and-pop operation run on the kitchen table.
The classified document lists four senior officials in Movement Catalyst:
- Abby Henderson, a partner at Movement Catalyst and the organization’s registered agent, is the “producer and supplier leader” of the protest.
- Bill Ragen, a partner at Motion Catalyst, is a “product and supplier leader.”
- Another partner at Motion Catalyst, Liz Butler, is a “product and supplier lead.”
- Samantha “Sam” Miller, an “associate” at Movement Catalyst, oversees “overall coordination.” On the National Park Service application, she is the “person in charge.” Miller has been Former DC Action Lab director of the Women’s March and others hired to protest during the first Trump administration.
The document also includes a polished map for staff and volunteers, marked “For Internal Use – Staff and Volunteers,” detailing traffic flow and event locations in Franklin Park, McPherson Square and Farragut Square. “People’s March Product Schedule” shows the level of planning: “portable toilets,” “golf carts,” “tents,” “stairs,” tables, “chairs,” “fliers, pamphlets,” signs, banners. “Bullhorns” and the activation of the movement “Paid group cleaning”.
Nomani writes that the “people’s march on Washington” was carefully orchestrated by a for-profit company. (US National Park Service)
“Miscellaneous” items include walkie-talkies, “500 cardboard trash cans,” “5000 masks,” hand sanitizer, headphones, “volunteer and staff snacks,” “coffee and staff refreshments,” sweatshirts, scarves, t-shirts, “office supplies.” ” and “for staff badges.”
Mortel Industries He supplied the restroom trailers, the “Metro Golf Truck” supplied the golf carts, and Bell Visuals handled the live broadcast. The license lists “site security” as “Omni Ranger Solutions”. Bell VisualA DC company has quietly been listed among the vendors for the live broadcast, behind several counter-message projects around the nation’s capital.
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The “PRODUCTION SCHEDULE” and “RUN OF SHOW/RALLY PROGRAM” have been scripted with leaders and performers of many large funding organizations including the Women’s March, Popular Democracy in Action, Stand Up for Racial Justice, Harriet’s Wild Dreams and Dream Lawyers. Movement Catalyst has promised to provide at least 750 “known marshals”, each wearing “Hi-visibility vets and voluntary credentials”.
This level of professionalism is not new in modern protests, but the details are rarely clearly defined. The public has a right to know when funded organizations use the guise of grassroots activism to advance their interests. Transparency ensures accountability and fosters a more informed discussion about the role of professional activity in shaping public discourse.
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Behind the music, speeches and banners is a concerted process far removed from the images projected by the media. This concerns democracy because it thrives on truth and understanding who is pulling the strings is important for an informed citizenry. Professional organizing is certainly legitimate, but in this day of misinformation, it’s important to examine who is driving the movement so that the public is not misled.
Sunday morning’s plans, from 4 a.m. to 5 a.m., include one last imperative: “Install trash cans and portable toilets.”
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