Skip to content

Gun violence is a D.C. epidemic disproportionately impacting Black and low-income neighborhoods. The artistic pulse of D.C. is our rich legacy of Black protest art that combats this systemic issue and inequity.  

Protest art is an artistic medium that actively addresses a sociopolitical moment—and public space is often part of the protest! For example, 16th St NW proudly boasts a Black Lives Matter mural that spans two blocks on the pavement.

Manuel and Patricia Oliver’s anti-gun violence activist organization, Change the Ref, will join this generational legacy of protest art, a vessel for social change that’s beautifully D.C. Change the Ref will take over Woolly Mammoth’s lobby with DEMAND, a protest art exhibit that cloths our entire theater with unconventional, visceral art installations. On display are interactive art pieces, like a motorcycle that started as a father-son project with Manuel and Joaquin.  With Change the Ref, our lobby is the protest.

Gun violence is our uniquely American nightmare, our long-standing local issue, and an ongoing source of traumatic grief for many of us. Our patrons and community members who visit Woolly Mammoth for Guac are welcome to utilize our curated resource guide designed for any impacted by gun violence and community grief.

We also invite patrons who may be activated by the content of Guac to use our recharge space.  

Global Action on Gun Violence(GAGV) is the only organization working with countries and people around the world to reduce the global harm from guns by using litigation and human rights strategies to reform dangerous gun industry practices. Go to actiononguns.org to learn more.

GAGV filed the “Lawsuit for Survival” on behalf of Joaquin, Manny and Patricia Oliver against the U.S. government for violating human rights law by failing to protect people’s right to live free from gunfire and causing Joaquin’s death in the Parkland high school gun massacre. This landmark case, Joaquin Oliver v. USA, asks the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to request the U.S. to implement strong gun policies to prevent mass shootings and other gun violence.

We need your help. Please sign the Olivers’ petition urging the IACHR to move their case forward. Thank you!

https://actiononguns.app.neoncrm.com/forms/14 (If you need this link to the petition separately)

RESOURCE GUIDE