The Washington Street Liberation Army is a political organization, or maybe just a 300-strong Facebook group, or possibly the disgruntled but high-spirited embodiment of downtown west of Hull Street.

“We feel like liberal people after Obama [was elected], they just went back to everyday life,” said Ryan Lewis, dubbed Minister of Propaganda and one of the most active members of the group. “And we’re saying there shouldn’t be a distinction between politics and everyday life.”

Lewis and “Generalissimo” Andy Rusk are rallying a group whose activities are beneficial, fun and representative of the do-it-yourself spirit that resides in the funkier side of Athens.

As to whether or not the group is an army is a question of perspective – their meetings are group viewings of cult movies like “The Warriors” and “Evil Dead 2″ Fridays at midnight at Ciné.

“You’ve had all of these right-wing groups calling Obama and his policies ‘communist,’ which is ridiculous,” Lewis said. “We’ve sort of adopted the spirit of people like Jon Stewart and pretended to embrace it.”

Group members are given berets, and many have posted pictures of themselves on the group’s Facebook page.

Embracing the sarcastic but informed pose of recent liberal thought extends to events the group holds, too.

“Representative Paul Broun called Obama’s policy-making a ‘steamroller of socialism,’ so we named a food drive we ran recently after that,” Lewis said.

The event wasn’t just a food drive, however. It was also a live show featuring local acts Grape Soda and Bambara labeled as a food drive/disco night.

“We want to make doing the right thing easy and fun. The whole theme of the group is to realize that you are politically capable and have a means to express your opinion instead of feeling politically hopeless,” Lewis said.

Fusing normal Washington Street activities with charity helps to harness what Lewis views as the underrepresented left of Athens, who he feels lacks a central forum for discussion.

After Lewis’ videotaped attempt to ask Broun a question was broadcast on MSNBC, he and others began to wonder: how else can we apply ourselves to the political world around us?

“It’s amazing that I can think about something, just sitting on my couch, and now there is a place to discuss it and plan out some kind of action,” he said. “I have local politicians calling me up and asking me for berets, saying they’d like to sit down and talk about politics.”

After the success of the food drive, the group plans to hold a blanket drive for the local homeless.

“I think it’s ridiculous that Athens is at a 30 percent poverty rate,” Lewis said. “There are people here who have to struggle with winter coming in a tent town just off the Perimeter, and we’re trying to figure out a way to reach out to people no one else is reaching out to.”

Beyond that, the group is aiming to be an active voice in next year’s mayoral race, supporting local businesses and bringing issues back to the people.