In the long history of protest movements in Washington, D.C., activists have often sought new ways to keep public attention focused on issues they believe are being ignored. Marches, rallies, vigils, sit-ins, and encampments have all been part of the city’s political culture.
In 2025, a new activist organization called FLARE emerged as one of the most visible protest groups in the nation’s capital, attempting to create something unusual: a permanent, around-the-clock protest presence just blocks from the U.S. Capitol.
FLARE, which stands for For Liberation and Resistance Everywhere, describes itself as a volunteer-powered, nonviolent, antifascist movement dedicated to opposing President Donald Trump and what it calls his “regime.”
The organization’s central demand has been the impeachment, conviction, and removal of Trump from office, though it has also embraced a broader range of causes involving immigration, democracy, civil rights, and resistance to authoritarianism.
What made ( and still makes) FLARE noteworthy was not merely its message, but its strategy. Rather than organizing occasional demonstrations, FLARE sought to establish a continuous physical presence in Washington, creating a protest encampment that would remain active twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The effort represented one of the most ambitious attempts in recent years to create a permanent resistance headquarters in the heart of the nation’s capital.
The Birth of FLARE
FLARE began operating in Washington during the spring of 2025. Activists established a camp outside Union Station, strategically located within walking distance of both the Capitol and major federal office buildings. The location allowed organizers to place themselves directly within the symbolic center of American political power.
The organization's founders argued that traditional protests often generate headlines for a day or two and then disappear from public consciousness. They believed a permanent occupation would force policymakers, journalists, tourists, and residents to confront their message every day.
FLARE members described their operation as a “Resistance Action Center,” functioning not merely as a protest site but as an organizing hub. Volunteers rotated through the encampment, maintaining a constant presence while coordinating demonstrations, educational activities, and outreach efforts.
Their model drew inspiration from previous Washington protest traditions, including the decades-long White House Peace Vigil and the Occupy movement's encampments. Like those predecessors, FLARE sought to transform public space into a permanent forum for political dissent.
A 24-Hour Occupation
The defining feature of FLARE was its commitment to maintaining an uninterrupted occupation.
Volunteers staffed the site day and night beginning in May 2025. Tents, signs, banners, information tables, and gathering spaces transformed a portion of the area into what supporters viewed as a living demonstration of civic resistance.
The occupation served several purposes:
- Maintaining visibility for anti-Trump activism.
- Providing a gathering point for visiting activists.
- Hosting rallies and educational events.
- Coordinating rapid-response demonstrations.
- Serving as a symbol of sustained opposition rather than episodic protest.
Organizers frequently emphasized the idea that democracy requires constant engagement rather than occasional participation. Their encampment became a physical manifestation of that philosophy.
Marches and Demonstrations
Throughout 2025 and into 2026, FLARE organized or participated in a series of marches through Washington. One highly visible action involved a march from the encampment area toward the Capitol, drawing activists carrying signs and banners while calling for accountability from elected officials. Organizers framed these marches as efforts to remind Congress of what they viewed as threats to democratic institutions.
FLARE also partnered with broader activist coalitions. The group became involved in demonstrations concerning immigration enforcement and federal policies, including protests directed at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In January 2026, FLARE joined with the activist organization 50501 DC in organizing a large demonstration at ICE headquarters following a controversial fatal shooting involving an ICE officer. The protest drew more than a thousand participants and remained peaceful.
These partnerships reflected FLARE's effort to connect its anti-authoritarian message with a wider range of social justice causes.
Conflict with Federal Authorities
The most dramatic chapter in FLARE's story came when federal authorities moved to dismantle its encampment late last year.
Federal officials argued that the protest was violating the terms of its permit (they weren't) and announced that the permit had been revoked. The National Park Service and U.S. Park Police subsequently cleared the encampment.
Government representatives stated that the action was based on regulatory and permit concerns. FLARE supporters, however, viewed the removal as an attack on free expression and political dissent. They argued that authorities were attempting to silence a protest movement that had become increasingly visible and influential.
The dispute echoed long-standing tensions in Washington over the use of public space for political demonstrations. Throughout American history, authorities have often struggled to balance public order, permit requirements, and First Amendment rights. FLARE's confrontation with federal agencies became the latest example of that ongoing debate.
The Broader Tradition of Washington Protest
To understand FLARE's significance, it helps to place the organization within Washington's broader protest tradition.
The city has long served as the nation's principal stage for political dissent. Major civil rights marches, anti-war demonstrations, women's rights rallies, climate protests, and social justice movements have all converged on Washington because of its symbolic connection to federal power.
What distinguished FLARE was its effort to make protest permanent rather than temporary.
The organization's strategy resembled earlier occupations such as Occupy D.C., which attempted to create ongoing protest communities rather than one-day events. Like Occupy activists, FLARE sought to build an alternative political space where organizing and activism became part of everyday life.
Its approach also echoed the White House Peace Vigil, (which Trump authorities also took down after 44 years of 24/7 protest) whose activists maintained a continuous presence for decades before federal authorities dismantled much of the display in 2025.
Supporters and Critics
Supporters regard FLARE as an example of democratic engagement at a time when many Americans feel disconnected from political institutions. They argue that the group's willingness to maintain a physical presence day after day demonstrates commitment and civic participation.
Critics, meanwhile, contend that permanent occupations can create conflicts over public space, permits, and safety. Some also argue that FLARE's rhetoric is overly confrontational and politically polarizing. (It's not). The organization's explicit goal of removing a sitting president ensured that it would attract both passionate supporters and equally passionate opponents.
Legacy and Continuing Impact
A much-smaller version of the FLARE encampment has been reestablished on Pennsylvania. There are reports that the organization is considering legal action aimed at getting them re-established once again on the Union Station grounds.
Of course, it's still way too early to determine FLARE's long-term historical significance. Whether it ultimately becomes a lasting institution or a temporary chapter in Washington's activist history remains uncertain.
But what is clear is that FLARE represents a distinctive experiment in modern protest politics. By establishing a continuous occupation near the Capitol, the organization sought to redefine what resistance could look like in the 21st century. Rather than measuring success by a single rally or march, FLARE measured success by endurance.
In doing so, it joined a long line of Washington protest movements that have used the nation's capital not only as a backdrop for political expression but as a living arena in which Americans debate the meaning of democracy, citizenship, and dissent itself. And, in that debate, Americans should always champion freedom and protest over authoritarianism and restraint.
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