The 2016 Democratic National Convention will take place in Philadelphia July 25-28.  There will be lots of events, rallies, protests and more happening both inside and outside of the Convention.  We’ve started compiling a list of the progressive events happening outside of the Convention for all those interested in attending.  This list is in no way complete!  Please email interns@washingtonpeacecenter.org with any additions or corrections and we’ll do our best to keep this accurate. 

The DNC Action Committee is compiling a calendar of events that will be happening in Philadelphia before and during the DNC as well, in addition to providing information about local housing and other resources. Please visit their pages to stay updated about the events they are aware of as well.
https://www.facebook.com/DNCActionCommittee/ 
https://dncactioncommittee.com/

March for Our Lives
July 25, 3:00 – 5:00 pm; Philadelphia City Hall
Organized by: Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign

The March for Our Lives 2016 is a call upon all victims of poverty and their allies to demand real economic change from the Democratic Party.  March down broad street to challenge the Democratic Party to earn its label as the poor people’s party by reaffirming the people’s right to accessible, affordable housing, higher education, healthcare, a living wage, full restoration of city services, and more.  This historic march has taken place over the past several conventions with turnout exceeding thousands of frustrated-but optimistic-Americans; join them and remind the Democrats that the people remain united to end poverty with or without their help.

For transportation options: https://march4ourlives2016.org/plan-your-trip/
For more information: https://march4ourlives2016.org/

Black DNC Resistance March against Police Terrorism & State Repression
July 26-28; Philadelphia
Organized by: Philly Coalition for REAL Justice

The Democratic Party has consistently betrayed their promises to the Black community and the 2016 presidential election is not going to be any different. The presidential election is the largest electoral process in the country, and the Black community can no longer watch a few control the lives of many. Black communities have been underfunded for centuries. Black communities are under siege with militarized police terrorism, assault and murder; public schools are underfunded and do not properly educate our children; economic development means black displacement through gentrification; prison privatization and the school to prison pipeline; raising the minimum wage to a living standard; the right to proper access of quality healthcare, food, shelter and the essential means of life; protection and inclusion of the LGBTQ community, as well, the releasing of all political prisoners and the right to self-determination and control of our communities. This can only come from the unification of our voices, understanding the intersectional connections, education and support of one another and not the democratic process.

The people will introduce our own Declaration of Independence and the People’s Constitution, one that liberates us from the corruption of American politics. If you’re interested in organizing and or developing the march email: phillyrealjustice@gmail.com or dncphillyorganize@gmail.com

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/246214785733796/?active_tab=highlights

Power Shift Northeast
July 23 – July 24; Philadelphia, PA
Organized by: We Are Power Shift

Power Shift brings young climate leaders together as a movement—building the organizing skills, shared excitement, and strong relationships needed for a long-term commitment to the grassroots work that will help us realize a just, clean energy-powered future.

Since 2007, Power Shift convergences have trained, connected, and inspired tens of thousands of young people and propelled the growth of the youth-led climate movement. Thanks in part to Power Shift, the youth climate movement has evolved from a chorus of advocates to a formidable political force.

Now, ahead of a critical election year in the United States, Power Shift is hitting the road in 2016, with four regional convergences from coast to coast.

In a critical year for our democracy and our climate, Power Shift 2016 will be a space to train young leaders in the fight for climate justice, help amplify the voice and power of our local communities, and leverage that power to help the climate justice movement win at the national level.

To apply for a scholarship: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/power-shift-2016-scholarship-application-form
For more information and tickets: https://actionnetwork.org/ticketed_events/register-for-power-shift-northeast

March for a Clean Energy Revolution
July 24, 12:00 – 4:00 pm; Philadelphia City Hall
Organized by: Food & Water Watch

On July 24, outside the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Food & Water Watch will stand with our allies from around the country and demand a sustainable future for our families and communities. And we want to see you there!

The effect of fossil fuels on people and the environment is clear. From fracking poisoning our water, to aging oil infrastructure causing spills, to greenhouse gases warming our precious climate — we must have a quick and just transition from fossil fuels to 100% clean renewable energy.

Getting to the march: Once you sign up to join us, we’ll follow up soon with more information on transportation from your area and other ways for you to get involved. We’ll have buses from dozens of cities in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Maine, Washington, D.C. and more.

For transportation and carpool options: http://www.cleanenergymarch.org/transportation
For housing options or to host: http://www.cleanenergymarch.org/travel/housing
For more information and registration: http://www.cleanenergymarch.org

Summit for a Clean Energy Revolution
July 23, 9:00 am – 6:30 pm; Friends Center, Philadelphia
Organized by: Food & Water Watch

Join us at the Summit for a Clean Energy Revolution on Saturday, July 23 (the day before the March for a Clean Energy Revolution).

Be a part of this gathering of people working to ban fracking, keep fossil fuels in the ground, stop dirty energy infrastructure and justly transition to 100% renewable energy. 

The day will have a mix of educational workshops, organizing skills trainings, and strategy development sessions. Come prepared to acquire new skills and strategies to take back to your local campaigns and to meet people working on similar efforts in their communities across the country.

Tickets are free, with an option to purchase breakfast and lunch.

For transportation: please email lchamberlain@fwwlocal.org  (include your phone number, city and state) to learn more about hosting or joining a carpool
For more information and registration: http://act.foodandwaterwatch.org/site/Calendar?id=120632&view=Detail

RideDNC – Broad Street Ride!
July 27, 6:30 pm; Elkins Park, PA

Let’s take the stage while our potential leaders are in our city. Let our voices, our issues, and our opinions be heard!

This is a peaceful ride. We want this to be a fun, moving event. Bring your glowsticks, your lights, and your music!

We are riding down Broad Street, from Cheltenham Avenue, passing the convention center, and finishing at the Wells Fargo Center with a party in FDR Park. If you can’t join up at the start, join up as we go down Broad Street, we’ll be posting location updates as we go! Here’s the official route: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1074083992

Bikes, skates, boards, scooters, sneakers, all are welcome. If it’s human-powered and you can keep up, you’re welcome! Invite as many people as you can!

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1402575663101149

UnFrack the D.N.C.: The March to Ban Fracking and Build Renewables 
July 24, 12:00 – 6:00 pm; Downtown Philadelphia
Organized by: Americans Against Fracking, Food & Water Watch

On July 24, 2020, as the national spotlight shines on Philadelphia, PA, on the eve of the Democratic National Convention, thousands of Americans will gather to demand bold action to end fracking, keep dirty fossil fuels in the ground and immediately transition toward a truly clean, renewable energy future. Will you be there too?

Together, we will march through downtown Philadelphia to call for:

  • a ban on fracking, acid fracking and other unconventional, extreme fossil fuel extraction methods
  • a halt to the rapid and reckless expansion of gas and oil pipelines, frack sand mining, wastewater injection wells and other dirty fossil fuel infrastructure across the United States
  • bold government policies to build solar, wind and other clean energy sources and energy efficiency measures in order to transition quickly to a 100% renewable energy economy

For more information and registration: http://act.foodandwaterwatch.org/site/Calendar/1248799705?view=Detail&id=118441

The People’s Convention
July 23, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; Arch Street Meeting House, Philadelphia
Organized by: The People’s Revolution

In July, TPR will convene The People’s Convention in Philadelphia, a grassroots attempt to reclaim our democracy by uniting behind a common policy framework, rather than a personality or party. Leading up to our first People’s Convention this summer, grassroots organizers from around the country will work together to formulate a People’s Platform: a unifying set of ideas, beliefs, and values that will help define the movement.

This platform will also serve as a critical mechanism to hold elected officials accountable; public representatives who pledge to uphold this platform, but fail to do so through their votes and other public behaviors, will no longer be eligible to seek endorsement or support from The People’s Revolution.

As a growing movement, there will be space for grassroots organizers and organizations to network and strengthen relationships for future partnerships and expansion. This powerful collaboration will establish the foundation for a growing movement seeking to transform American politics by reigniting the power of the people!

For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1005112132871397/ or https://thepeoplesrevolution.org/the-peoples-convention/

SHUT DOWN the DNC! Build the Movement to Smash Capitalism & Racism
July 26, 4:00 pm; Philadelphia City Hall
Organized by: Various organizations

Progressives, socialists, peace activists, feminists, environmentalists: Let’s build a united front to take on the racist, capitalist Democratic war machine!

The Presidential elections that take place every four years bring about only cosmetic changes: different faces running the government while the same billionaire masters still call all the shots. Whether it’s Clinton or Trump, Democrat or Republican, police will still terrorize us and low wages will keep us in or near poverty. That is, unless we fight back!

WE’VE HAD ENOUGH! No more fake “democracy” in our city! NOT while racist cops run wild. NOT while our public schools go criminally underfunded. NOT while our people suffer some of the highest poverty levels in the country.

We demand self-government, not super rich capitalists. Free Mumia and all political prisoners! Reparations now! Women’s and LGBTQ liberation now! Abolish capitalism and oppression NOW! It’ll only happen if we FIGHT FOR IT!

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1637521486470450/

Socialist Convergence — Carrying Forward the Political Revolution
July 25-28; 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia
Organized by: Various organizaions

“What’s next for the movement? How do we make a political revolution in this country?” These and many other questions are likely to become even more pressing this July.

In recognition of the historic opportunity afforded by this political moment, a number of socialist organizations are planning a series of “Socialist Convergence” assemblies: meetings, panels, and workshops to take place concurrently to the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia, from July 25th to July 28th.

The convergence will include panel discussions on questions of strategy and what’s next for the movement, workshops on the nuts-and-bolts of how to build socialist organization in your hometown, and space for collective deliberation on how / if to relate to each other’s work after July.

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1531565457152888/

Calling on the DNC to End the Drug War and Legalize Cannabis
July 25, 4:00 pm; Dilworth Park, Philadelphia
Organized by: East Coast Cannabis Coalition

We demand that the war on drugs and mass incarceration must end. We must also end cannabis prohibition and legalize cannabis and hemp. It is clear the DNC has played a key role in orchestrating and carrying out the war on drugs. Additionally, they continue to fund the war on drugs with every federal budget they pass. They are responsible for funding private and federal prisons as well as allowing lawful slave labor in prisons.

Furthermore, the DNC actively pursues an agenda that restricts, prevents, and outlaws any profits made from cannabis despite 4 states and, ironically, the District of Columbia having made over a billion dollars from cannabis economies in 2015. These policies do not represent the will of the American people, as a majority of Americans now favor more progressive measures for drug policy reforms, including an investment in drug treatment and legalizing cannabis. Even more egregious is that the DNC’s policies are not reflective of its own party members. How can the DNC say it represents Democrats when it passes laws that are marginalizing people of color, working class, and youth? This is unacceptable and the people will not stand for this without a fight.

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1033741426691872/

Progressive Central, The People’s Convention
July 25-27; William Way LGBT Community Center, Philadelphia
Organized by: Progressive Democrats of America

For more information, contact Mike Hersh mike@pdamerica.org or 301-602-9388

It Takes Roots to Change the System: The People’s Caravan
July 26; Philadelphia
Organized by: Grassroots Global Justice Alliance

This July 2016, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance (GGJ) is organizing a People’s Caravan from Cleveland to Philadelphia of 20-50 frontline community leaders from the US and Honduras. The caravan will begin in Cleveland on Thursday 7/21 at the closing of the Republican National Convention and end on Tuesday 7/26 with Justice for Berta Cáceres actions in Philadelphia during the Democratic National Convention.

This is a call to action from communities of color and white folks to confront the growing acceptance and public condoning of racism and xenophobia; from women and trans people to reclaim feminisms for the grassroots; from communities living on the frontlines of polluting industries to build a new economy; from veterans and organized communities around the globe to end U.S. military intervention.

For more information, please visit: http://ggjalliance.org/ittakesroots2changethesystem

Migrant Rights March at the DNC
July 25, 10:00 am; 9th and Federal St
Organized by: Juntos & Not1More
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1011000742341026/

The day the Democratic Party starts its convention, we’re marching for migrant rights from the neighborhoods of Philadelphia to City Hall where delegates gather to head to their meetings. As Clinton accepts her nomination in Philadelphia, 60 miles west of the city refugee mothers and their children will still be jailed in the Berks Family Detention Center and more than 600 people will still be deported each day. The next President will inherit that cruel system unless President Obama reverses the massive enforcement apparatus that he’s built, unless he closes down family detention and dismantles the deportation machine.

Join Juntos, the #Not1More Campaign, and other groups to march for migrant justice and to raise the standards for what it means to be considered a “champion” for immigrant rights. Future promises aren’t enough when our loved ones are suffering now.  

In the wake of the Supreme Court decision, there’s more the current administration can do and Candidate Clinton must echo that call.

DNC Freedom School
July 23, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm; Arch Street United Methodist Church, 55 N. Broad Street
Organized by: POWER, Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence, The Up Against the Law legal collective, Training for Change, Fire Fly Medics, the DNC Action Committee, and others
Fore more information: http://archstreetumc.org/events/

Arch Street United Methodist Church, in cooperation with POWER, Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence, The Up Against the Law legal collective, Training for Change, Fire Fly Medics, the DNC Action Committee (a local collaborative supporting protesters) and other great groups committed to non-violent, peaceful social change, presents the DNC Freedom School. Included in the schedule for Saturday, July 23rd is the Reverend Gil Caldwell, veteran of the Civil Rights Movement and current advocate for the intersectionality of racial justice and gay rights, showing a portion of his film From Selma to Stonewall: Are We There Yet? Sacred and Spirit songs of resistance will be shared by world renowned United Methodist composer and musician, Mark Miller. Songs from his most recent book, Roll Down Justice: Sacred Songs and Social Justice will be featured. 

Others (affiliated with a candidate or not finalized):

March on the Democratic National Convention
July 25, 11:00 am; Philadelphia City Hall
Organized by: unaffiliated Bernie supporters
Also organizing transportation and housing
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/248664418802949/

We the People Restoration Rally
July 27-28; Thomas Paine Plaza, Philadelphia
Organized by: Black Men for Bernie
For more information: http://blackmenforbernie.com/feel-the-bern-to-the-dnc/

Occupy DNC Convention
Pro-Bernie Sanders mobilization, planning, transportation, and housing for Bernie supporters.
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/occupydncconvention/events/

“The American Dream Project” Art Installation
More information TBA

“Race to Zero” by Global Zero (art installation and gathering)
For more information: http://www.globalzero.org/race-to-zero