FLARE: A New Kind of Protest in Washington - Part 1

How a Small Encampment at Union Station Became a Constant Presence

On May 1, 2025, a handful of activists pitched several white tents on the grounds surrounding Columbus Circle at Washington's Union Station. At first glance, it looked like many of the temporary demonstrations that have come and gone in the nation's capital for generations. But the organizers had something far more ambitious in mind.

Their goal was not a single march, a weekend rally, or a one-day demonstration. Instead, they announced an unprecedented commitment: to maintain a peaceful, around-the-clock presence within sight of the U.S. Capitol until they believed fundamental political change had been achieved.

The organization called itself FLARE—short for For Liberation and Resistance Everywhere. Its members describe the movement as a volunteer-powered, nonviolent campaign opposing what they characterize as authoritarianism under President Donald Trump. Their principal demand has been the impeachment and removal of the President through constitutional means, while also organizing congressional lobbying, public demonstrations, coalition building, and educational events.

Unlike many protest organizations that mobilize for major demonstrations before dispersing, FLARE chose permanence. That decision immediately distinguished it from virtually every other protest movement in modern Washington.

Why Union Station?

The choice of Union Station was highly strategic.

Every day, thousands of commuters, tourists, congressional staff members, journalists, and visitors pass through Columbus Circle on their way to or from Capitol Hill. The location sits only a few blocks from the Capitol itself while remaining one of the city's busiest public gathering places.

Organizers believed visibility mattered. Rather than asking people to come to them, they positioned themselves where America—and much of the world—would inevitably pass by.

The encampment also became the starting point for one of FLARE's signature activities. Every Monday, volunteers walked from Union Station to the House office buildings to meet with congressional staff, deliver petitions, and encourage citizens to participate in lobbying visits advocating impeachment proceedings.

More Than Tents

As weeks became months, the small encampment evolved into something resembling a community center for activism.

Volunteers rotated through the site twenty-four hours a day. Educational discussions, music performances, art projects, guest speakers, and organizing sessions became regular features of camp life. Supporters from across the country visited Washington specifically to spend days—or sometimes weeks—working alongside the permanent volunteers.

FLARE also developed what it called its Resistance Action Center, using the encampment as a headquarters for organizing demonstrations throughout Washington. The white tents became recognizable to frequent visitors to the Capitol area.

Endurance as Strategy

Perhaps the movement's most distinctive characteristic was endurance.

Maintaining a legal, continuous public protest requires volunteers, fundraising, food, logistics, permits, medical planning, and constant coordination. According to FLARE, participants endured blazing summer heat, heavy thunderstorms, winter storms, and repeated confrontations with opponents while keeping the encampment operating.

Whether you agree with the movement's political goals or not, the logistical commitment required to sustain a twenty-four-hour protest for months represented one of the more unusual demonstrations seen in Washington in recent decades.

A New Model of Protest

Historically, Washington has hosted countless marches—from civil rights demonstrations to anti-war rallies, women's marches, Tea Party gatherings, and the March for Our Lives.

Most have shared one characteristic: they eventually ended.

FLARE deliberately rejected that model.

Its organizers sought to create a permanent reminder of political dissent—a place where anyone opposed to the administration could immediately find fellow activists, receive information, join congressional visits, or simply know that someone remained visibly engaged every hour of every day. That approach transformed what began as a modest protest into one of the capital's most recognizable continuous demonstrations.

Looking Ahead

As FLARE's visibility increased, so did public attention—and official scrutiny.

Questions surrounding permits, public space, law enforcement, and the limits of continuous protest would eventually bring the movement into direct conflict with federal authorities.

And those confrontations would become the defining story of FLARE's second chapter.

Next in this series: Part Two: Holding the Line—Life Inside FLARE's 24-Hour Protest and the Challenges of Sustaining a Permanent Movement.