Stop the Federal Militarization of Washington, D.C. — Defend Local Democracy and Civil Rights

Hundreds of National Guard troops have been deployed to Washington, D.C., following a presidential executive order that federalized local police forces and activated D.C. National Guard troops. This unprecedented move, supported by the governors of West Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio, is being justified as a response to crime and homelessness. However, local officials and residents have made it clear that violent crime is lower than during previous administrations, and that such a militarized response is both unnecessary and harmful.

Federal intervention in D.C. undermines the city's limited self-governance and sets a dangerous precedent for the use of military force against civilians. The presence of armed troops in our nation's capital threatens the safety and civil liberties of D.C. residents, and ignores the will of local elected officials. Protests have erupted across the city, with demonstrators demanding an end to this federal overreach and a restoration of democratic norms.

We stand in solidarity with the people of D.C. and demand that the federal government and state governors respect the city's autonomy, withdraw all National Guard troops, and commit to upholding civil rights and local democracy.