Socialist Red Rabbits are training for national uprising against cops

As its national influence has risen, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has simultaneously grown more extreme.Nowhere is this more apparent than in the group’s “Red Rabbits” initiative.The Red Rabbits Security Commission, a subgroup within the DSA focused on “community defense” efforts, is, according to its authorizing resolution, preparing for a “national uprising against federal agents and police brutality.”In practice, that means training cadres in tactics like armed and unarmed self-defense, blocking intersections, and fighting “fascists” with umbrellas.A recent panel offered an unprecedented window into what the project looks like.

Organizers from Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Tucson, Austin, and Portland compared notes.As the discussion made clear, the DSA is trying to construct a nationwide security apparatus to support its expanding role in street protests and direct-action organizing.And in so doing, it fears drawing the attention of the Internal Revenue Service — likely with good reason.The DSA launched the Red Rabbits Security Commission at its 2025 national convention.Organizers chose the deliberately innocuous name as a nod to the novel “Watership Down,” in which anthropomorphized rabbits are outnumbered and beset by enemies.

Earlier branding proposals, including “National Vigilance Committee,” were deemed too politically stark, with some members concerned that they could be interpreted as an endorsement of vigilantism.The Red Rabbits claim their focus is on five core security skills: de-escalation, Stop the Bleed (a first aid training on bleeding control), firearm safety, unarmed self-defense and protest marshaling (crowd management during demonstrations).The commission has set a goal of having at least five members in 40% of DSA chapters complete these trainings.Since its inauguration, the committee has been a source of internal controversy.

That includes an unsuccessful effort by members of the DSA’s...