As the new school year approaches, families in the District are navigating a complex environment, marked by the presence of hundreds of federal law enforcement agents and National Guard troops dispatched from several red states. These forces have focused on marginalized communities, raising concerns about interactions with young people and immigrants.
D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) representative LaJoy Johnson-Law expresses deep concern about the safety of District youth during these turbulent times.
“We need our kids really listening because this is a life-or-death situation,” Johnson-Law stated, emphasizing the state of emergency that the community faces.
As a mother and representative from Ward 8, she articulates the worries she has while traveling, especially regarding students who may resort to self-medicating with cannabis at bus stops or Metro stations, which she believes is an inappropriate time for such behavior.
On August 14, Johnson-Law attended a graduation ceremony for D.C. Public Charter School Board and the D.C. Charter School Alliance, held at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in Northwest.
While celebrating the successes of those completing their high school education, she sought to engage with graduates about the challenges they would face in light of the precarious situation in the nation.
“They’re trying to figure it out,” Johnson-Law said of the youth.
Many students acknowledged her concerns regarding safety without hesitation, indicating an awareness of the issues at hand.
Amid discussions around D.C.’s lack of statehood since the return of President Donald J. Trump, Johnson-Law pointed out the necessity for District leaders to confront the inequities that perpetuate cycles of poverty, illiteracy, and criminality among young people.
“The council went back and forth and they’re passing different laws to address crime but when I look at the proficiency rates in the Black community, for reading and math, how is that not a crisis?” she questioned.
With programs aiming to support Black and brown communities east of the Anacostia River, Johnson-Law pointed out that these communities have historically been deprived of essential resources.
Plans for a town hall meeting are on the horizon, aiming to bring these longstanding issues to light.
Johnson-Law is actively visiting schools in Ward 8, assessing what resources are necessary for implementing safe passage programs this upcoming school year.
As she engages with community members, she encourages adults to support youth in any way possible, including lending a listening ear.
“I think we’re afraid to talk to the youth,” she noted, highlighting the complex realities faced by children, many of whom may be dealing with trauma or assuming parental roles at home.
This complex situation escalated when the MPD designated Navy Yard as a juvenile curfew zone from August 15 to August 18, barring gatherings of more than nine youths under the age of 17.
The citywide curfew established earlier in the summer necessitated compliance from all young people throughout Washington, D.C.
In response to this, members of Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, an abolitionist grassroots organization, canvassed the Navy Yard area to protect youth from aggressive law enforcement actions.
During this effort, an incident occurred where Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) officers pepper-sprayed and detained activist Arianna Afeni Evans after she questioned their treatment of three Black youth.
Frankie Seabron, a comrade of Evans, shared their account of the events leading up to her arrest.
“There was MPD. There was Metro Transit Police. There was Homeland Security. There was FBI,” Seabron recounted to a crowd rallying for Evans’ release outside the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse.
Seabron described the scene including a checkpoint that appeared to target Black and brown individuals.
“Washingtonians have been working to make sure law enforcement officers do not abuse their authority,” Seabron added, noting that awareness helped in shutting down the checkpoint.
Throughout the chaotic night, Evans’ comrades mobilized to secure her release, which included reaching out to their lawyer and counting on support from local officials, including D.C. Councilmember Trayon White and Rev. Graylan Hagler.
By early afternoon the following day, after an outpouring of support, Evans emerged from the courthouse with charges against her, including obstruction of justice, evading fare, and resisting arrest, all dropped.
Upon her release, Evans spoke about the broader implications of her arrest, stating, “Clearly, I’m gonna be fine but the people who are gonna be directly and deeply impacted by this are people that don’t have a large community, that don’t have a bunch of resources.”
She emphasized the need for vigilance, particularly concerning children east of the Anacostia River.
The events surrounding Evans’ arrest coincided with a federal judge’s ruling that favored D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb in a lawsuit against the Trump administration for attempting to exert control over the MPD.
While MPD remains under local control, directives have been made under the Trump administration for the police department to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conflicting with Washington’s sanctuary city status.
Simultaneously, around 700 National Guard troops were deployed to D.C. from states including Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed concern about the National Guard’s presence, stating, “This doesn’t make sense,” and questioning the necessity of such a large federal force in the District based on the current context.
Amidst these developments, Bowser also commented on Evans’ arrest and noted that her office was reviewing the incident to determine potential actions moving forward.
When asked about ensuring youth safety during interactions with police, she outlined existing safeguards and protocols designed to hold law enforcement accountable, including body-worn cameras and complaint mechanisms.
Bowser encouraged youth to use their Kids Ride Free cards, suggesting there should be no negative encounters related to fare evasion.
At a recent press conference, Paul Kihn, D.C. deputy mayor for education, faced questions about communication regarding the federal law enforcement presence as local schools prepare for the upcoming academic year.
Amid concerns about youth interactions with law enforcement, educational leaders appear hesitant to address the situation publicly.
D.C.-based activist Ty Hobson-Powell highlighted the urgency of the current climate, especially for school-aged Black youth who may not be fully aware of their rights in encounters with authorities.
“Young people are less situated to know their rights in a world where we understand that under this current totalitarian regime that we have had federal officials engaging in extrajudicial interactions with civilians,” he explained.
Reflecting on a personal experience where federal agents were stopping a driver, Hobson-Powell described the importance of community monitoring during such interactions.
“I realized that knowledge is power. That maybe in the immediacy of the moment where they are not following the law, that that knowledge won’t be power,” he noted.
Hobson-Powell has expressed that recording police encounters is vital in safeguarding rights, particularly for vulnerable populations who may not have the protection of extensive community support.
As he prepares for public engagements and continues to spread awareness through his newly released book, “The Fire Right Now,” Hobson-Powell believes in mobilizing community action to ensure youth are aware and equipped to handle interactions with law enforcement.
He urges young people to take initiative by documenting any encounters, mentioning, “If you don’t know nothing, know to pull out that damn camera when these folks show up.”
Hobson-Powell acknowledges the challenges of navigating interactions with authorities even under lawful circumstances but emphasizes that knowledge provides pathways to recourse after uncomfortable encounters.
As the school year nears, community members and leaders alike reflect on the pressing need to empower youth in a landscape that increasingly poses risks to their safety and well-being.
image source from：washingtoninformer
