Residents of a neighborhood in Washington, D.C., gathered in large numbers on Wednesday to voice their opposition to the heightened police presence in the city. This protest follows the announcement from the White House that the number of National Guard troops in the capital would be increased, and that federal officers would be deployed around the clock.
As law enforcement established a vehicle checkpoint on the busy 14th Street Northwest corridor, protesters expressed their anger, chanting slogans such as, “Go home, fascists” and “Get off our streets.” Witnesses reported that more than 100 demonstrators were present, with some urging drivers to turn away from the checkpoint.
Uniformed officers from the D.C. police were seen alongside personnel from Homeland Security Investigations, as well as several plainclothes agents at the scene. However, attendees noted that members of the National Guard were not present at the checkpoint.
During the protest, one vehicle was towed away, and eyewitnesses claimed that the driver was arrested after being removed from the sedan. As the crowd began to grow, local and federal officers slowly dispersed without any reported incidents.
In the aftermath, the Metropolitan Police Department did not respond to requests for comments regarding the checkpoint or the arrests made.
The protests intensified just days after President Donald Trump made the controversial announcement that his administration would be taking control of the city’s police department for a minimum of one month. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, found herself navigating a complex political landscape, describing the federal intervention as an “authoritarian push” while also portraying the influx of officers as a necessary measure for public safety, albeit one lacking specific metrics for evaluating its success.
The Republican president justified the federal takeover by asserting that crime in Washington, D.C., had reached emergency levels that required federal intervention, despite local leaders pointing out that violent crime rates were, in fact, at a 30-year low following a brief spike two years prior.
In the days leading up to the checkpoint, small groups of federal officers had been observed in various locations throughout the city. However, on Wednesday, the federal presence expanded significantly, particularly in high-profile areas, with plans for troops to take on additional missions starting Thursday, as per a National Guard spokesman who spoke anonymously.
Homeland Security Investigations agents were spotted patrolling the popular U Street corridor, while Drug Enforcement Administration officers maintained a presence on the National Mall—where National Guard members were stationed nearby. DEA agents were also seen alongside Metropolitan Police Department officers in the Navy Yard area, and FBI agents monitored the heavily traveled Massachusetts Avenue corridor.
Reports indicated that on Tuesday night, there were 43 arrests made by the multiple law enforcement agencies working together, in contrast to the previous night’s total of just two dozen arrests. Councilmember Christina Henderson downplayed these reports by characterizing the arrests as “a bunch of traffic stops,” arguing that the federal intervention was unnecessary.
“I’m looking at this list of arrests and they sound like a normal Saturday night in any big city,” Henderson remarked, reflecting on the situation.
In a unique situation compared to other states, the law grants President Donald Trump the authority to take over the police department in Washington, D.C., for a period of up to 30 days. If he wishes to extend this control beyond that timeframe, he will require approval from Congress, which could prove challenging given the Democratic resistance he faces.
During his statements, Trump suggested that he may seek a longer time frame for his control and hinted at potential intervention to manage city laws perceived as lax on crime. “We’re gonna do this very quickly. But we’re gonna want extensions. I don’t want to call a national emergency. If I have to, I will,” he stated.
Subsequently, on his Truth Social platform, Trump reiterated his views about Washington D.C., declaring, “D.C. has been under siege from thugs and killers, but now, D.C. is back under Federal Control where it belongs.”
Henderson, who previously served as a staffer for Senator Chuck Schumer, noted that she was already in contact with colleagues in Congress to mobilize opposition against any requests for extensions made by Trump. “It’s Day Three and he’s already saying he’s going to need more time?” she remarked, emphasizing her concerns regarding the ongoing situation.
image source from：nbcwashington
