Soros-linked DC activist group teaches how to be ‘skeptical jurors’ to combat Trump admin policies

Free DC, along with the black activist group Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, have been hosting "Juror Information Project" meetings in DC, with an upcoming date of the "teach-in" being described as a discussion on "what it really means to serve on a jury and how we can use that role to protect our people especially those with marginalized identities who are disproportionately targeted by the criminal legal system."

"Jury duty is not just a civic responsibility; it’s a powerful tool for ensuring fairness and justice. As community members, our participation in juries is vital to safeguarding the rights of those who are most vulnerable to systemic biases. By serving on a jury, we can influence outcomes and help create a more equitable legal process," Free DC continued. "Come and engage in meaningful conversations, learn from legal experts, activists, and fellow community members, and find out how you can play a pivotal role in shaping a more just society. This session is open to everyone."

The latest session is set to take place on January 12, 2026, however, the group has hosted similar events in December and August. Following the December session, the Washington Post reported, "The organizer of the meeting, a group known as Free DC, encouraged the attendees to be skeptical jurors, particularly as the Trump administration has increased the federal law enforcement presence in the District." Alex Dodds, a co-founder of Free DC, told the outlet, "As jurors, we have an enormous amount of power to decide whether this administration and its agenda are right — or wrong."

Free DC is listed on its website as a "fiscally hosted special project of Community Change and Community Change Action." Per Influence Watch, Community Change is a "nonprofit that focuses on issues of poverty, race, housing policy," while Community Change Action is the organization’s affiliated 501(c)(4) that lobbies for progressive policies.

Efforts headed by Community Change Action have received large donations from Soros, including the Super PAC Immigrant Voters Win, which was set up for the 2016 presidential election. The largest single donation received by the PAC was $3 million from Soros.

Soros’s Open Society Foundations has donated to Community Change’s Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) project, which advocates for blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants in the US. Per the Open Society Foundations’ website, Community Change and Community Change Action have received nearly $25 million in grants and awards from Soros’ foundation since 2016 for efforts including policy advocacy on immigration, organizational support, and building "a long-arc, cross-movement strategy by forging a strategic practice among an aligned cadre of cross-movement leaders."