Hundreds of Washington, D.C. residents gathered in Dupont Circle on Saturday to protest the President Donald Trump‘s federal takeover of local policing, marching 1.5 miles to the White House behind banners reading “No fascist takeover of D.C.” and “No military occupation.”
The protest was organized by the ‘Free D.C.’ movement, which advocates for full self-determination and statehood for the District of Columbia, building on their 2023 “Hands Off DC” campaign that successfully mobilized against congressional intervention in local criminal justice reform.
Why It Matters
Trump’s intervention represents an unprecedented federal overreach into local governance of the District of Columbia, using emergency powers to justify what city officials and protesters view as a political power play.
The move signals a broader federal approach to urban crime policy that could extend to other cities, particularly concerning given that violent crime in D.C. is currently lower than during Trump’s first presidential term.
What To Know
The demonstration comes as three states—West Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio—announced they would deploy hundreds of additional National Guard troops to the nation’s capital, adding to the approximately 800 D.C. National Guard members already activated under Trump’s executive order federalizing local police forces.
Federal agents have appeared in high-traffic neighborhoods throughout the city, while National Guard members patrol landmarks like the National Mall and Union Station. The administration initially attempted to place the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as an “emergency police commissioner,” but reversed course Friday after the district’s top lawyer filed a lawsuit.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has since directed the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement regardless of city law.
What People Are Saying
A White House spokesperson told Newsweek on Saturday: “As part of President Trump’s ongoing effort to make DC safe and beautiful, additional National Guard troops will be called in to Washington DC – the National Guard’s role has not changed. The National Guard will protect federal assets, create a safe environment for law enforcement officials to carry out their duties when required, and provide a visible presence to deter crime.”
Free DC Project statement reads: “The 700,000 people of the District of Columbia deserve to have the power over our local government. However, for far too long, Congress and federal administrations have interfered in DC communities by overturning our local laws, restricting our local budgets, and imposing their will on the people who live in DC for years and generations.”
“Free DC is a renewed campaign to protect Home Rule and win lasting dignity for our communities. We are no longer willing to accept anything less for our communities, and we are setting out to build the cultural and political movement it will take to win. We want you to be part of it.”
What Happens Next?
Legal challenges to the federal takeover may continue as city officials navigate the complex requirements of cooperating with federal mandates while preserving local democratic processes.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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