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Tech

There’s a Dance Party Tonight at the FCC to Save the Internet

With pizza.
Shake your ass, shake your fist. Image: Shutterstock

There are some decent places to dance in Washington, DC—the 9:30 Club, the Black Cat, the Wonderland Ballroom. But tonight that scene is headed to the Southwest quadrant to take over the steps of the Federal Communications Commission.

The protest, hosted by the nonprofit Fight for the Future, is meant to be "a party with some teeth," according to Evan Greer, a campaign director for the organization. "The whole net neutrality movement is celebrating because we've been fighting for months to get recognition for Title II reclassification, and we just got Obama endorsing the position," Greer said. "It's a moment to celebrate, but the fight is not over yet. We're here and we're not going away until we get full net neutrality."

The DC event has been pulled together in 48 hours, Greer said, complete with all-lady DJ group Anthology of Booty, with parallel events held in nine other American cities. Greer was reluctant to estimate how many people would attend the event, but said she has consistently been "pleasantly surprised" by the turnout.

There will be pizza and coffee at the event, but no booze will be served. "This is a low key event that is about getting the message out," Greer said.

People will be laughing and smiling—no protest signs necessary—but Fight for the Future intends to show the FCC it means business. "If we can turn people out for a party, we can turn them out for a protest," Greer said. They will cheer the FCC if it makes the right call on Title II, but they will clearly show their discontent if it makes the wrong choice, Greer added.

Catch the livestream of the DC party starting at 6 PM tonight.