Defend Local Democracy: Stop the Federal Takeover of D.C.'s Police Department

In a sweeping assertion of federal authority, President Trump has activated National Guard troops and is seeking to replace D.C.'s police chief with a federal appointee. This action disregards the will of D.C.'s elected officials and residents, who have already achieved historic reductions in violent crime without federal intervention.

Washington, D.C.'s unique status as a federal district does not justify the erosion of local self-governance or the imposition of federal control over community safety. The move to install the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration as police commissioner, coupled with the deployment of military vehicles and troops across the city, represents a dangerous precedent for federal overreach into local affairs.

Such actions threaten to undermine public trust, escalate tensions, and disproportionately impact Black and marginalized communities. The use of emergency powers and militarized policing to 'move homeless people far from the city' and support mass deportations is unacceptable and contrary to the values of democracy and justice.

We demand an immediate end to this federal takeover and the restoration of local control over D.C.'s police department. Congress must act to protect the rights of D.C. residents, and the courts must uphold the principles of local democracy and civil liberties.