The D.C. COLLAB
THE D.C. COLLAB
Building a People’s Self-Defense Network
WHO ARE WE?
The D.C. COLLAB is a collective of radical grassroots organizations based in D.C. committed to ending capitalism and gender and sexual oppression by focusing on the economic, social, and historical conditions and interests of working-class Black people in DC. Grounded in anti-reformism, The D.C. COLLAB will work to abolish the U.S. settler colonial state’s prison industrial complex and its institution of policing by building Black/African community power and self-determination, including winning freedom for all political prisoners/prisoners of war.
WHAT IS A PEOPLE’S SELF-DEFENSE NETWORK?
A People’s Self-Defense Network is a community-based system of safety, protection, and solidarity led by the people most impacted by state and systemic violence. It’s built on collective skills, shared responsibility, and political unity—not police, prisons, or the state. Our model is rooted in the principles outlined by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement in "Let Your Motto Be Resistance," which calls for organized, community-based self-defense grounded in Black self-determination.
For Black communities in D.C., this is urgent. We live under constant threat from:
Police violence and surveillance
Criminalization of poverty, homelessness, and youth
Systemic neglect of housing, healthcare, and jobs
Intra-community violence fueled by the same systems that oppress us
The Network prepares us to respond to crises, prevent violence before it happens, and create real safety—safety that is by us, for us, rooted in liberation, not punishment.
OUR CORE TRAININGS
Held third Saturday of each month, 12 PM at the ONE DC Black Workers & Wellness Center (2500 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, Anacostia). Free food, ASL interpretation, and children's activities provided.
Street Law 101 - A know-your-rights training rooted in resisting criminalization and exposing the true cost of policing. Through role-plays and real-life scenarios, participants practice asserting their rights and supporting others in the moment. These skills build the People’s Self-Defense Network by giving community members the confidence and readiness to protect themselves and one another from police harassment and violence.
Police Abuse Complaints & Narrative Control - Training on how to file complaints, challenge state-driven narratives, and build community power through documentation and storytelling. Participants engage in hands-on complaint filing, media role-plays, and counter-narrative creation. These tools strengthen our ability to organize collectively, hold institutions accountable, and resist violence.
CopWatch - Tactical training to observe, document, and deter police misconduct as a form of organized community self-defense. Through field practice, team coordination drills, and real-time observation techniques, participants learn to work in visible, organized teams that can respond to police presence and protect our communities from violence.
HOW YOU CAN STAY INVOLVED
Attend all the trainings. Each session builds your skills and deepens your role in the Network.
Use your skills in your community. Practice what you’ve learned in real situations and share your experiences.
Volunteer. Support with set-up, outreach, childcare, food, or documentation.
Become a trainer or facilitator. Once you’re confident, help lead sessions and pass on knowledge.
Bring more people. The Network grows stronger when more neighbors are involved.
Connect with COLLAB member organizations. Learn what they do and see where your skills, passions, and values fit.
MEET THE COLLAB MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
Black Lives Matter DC (BLM DC)
A Black-led, all-volunteer abolitionist organization founded in 2015, organizing to end state violence and systemic oppression in D.C. We fight for Black liberation, build community power, and provide direct support to families impacted by police and community violence.
info@dcblm.org | @DMVBlackLives | @blacklivesmatterdc | https://www.dcblm.org
East of the River Mutual Aid (EORMA)
EORMA delivers free fresh produce, groceries, cleaning supplies, diapers, and hygiene items to neighbors in Wards 7 and 8. They work to meet each other’s needs as equals and fight the root causes of injustice together. EORMA is not a non-profit; mutual aid is grassroots and community-powered.
@EORMutualAid | https://linktr.ee/eormutualaid
Malcolm X Grassroots Movement DMV (MXGM)
A national organization of New Afrikan/Black people fighting for self-determination and liberation, rooted in the legacy of Malcolm X and the call to “Free the Land.”
@MXGM_DC | @MXGMNational | https://freethelandmxgm.org
Stop Police Terror Project DC (SPTP)
A grassroots group committed to ending police violence in D.C. through organizing, policy advocacy, political education, and community defense.
@stoppoliceterrorprojectdc | https://www.sptdc.com
Mark your calendar for the next training. Follow all the DC COLLAB organizations on social media, choose one way to volunteer at the next event, bring at least one new person with you, and keep learning, showing up, and building. We look forward to building with you!
