Demonstrators demand the discontinuation of federal law enforcement's control over Washington D.C.
In the heart of the nation's capital, thousands of protesters, including students from Georgetown, Howard, George Washington, and American University, gathered on Saturday to voice their opposition to the federalization of the city's police force and the deployment of National Guard troops.
The demonstration, named "We Are All DC," started at Meridian Hill Park and ended at Freedom Plaza near the White House. Participants expressed disapproval of the Trump administration's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, arguing that they are pulling families apart.
Kristine Sieloff, a public school teacher from Baltimore, is among those concerned about the potential deployment of National Guard troops to her city, as President Trump has threatened to send them there. David Reinke, a former government contractor, shares similar concerns about the deployment in the capital.
The surge of federal law enforcement and the National Guard deployment has drawn criticism from many city residents. Stephanie Collins-Stewart, a Howard University student, feels that the presence of National Guard troops in DC is intended to intimidate residents. She stated that she is familiar with the calm nature of DC and finds the current situation relatively peaceful.
Last month, Trump declared a crime emergency and ordered the federal government to take control of DC's police department. The mission is estimated to cost roughly $1 million a day. Tammi Price, a retired teacher, argued that the millions of dollars spent on the occupation of ICE and the National Guard could be used more humanely and diplomatically.
The protesters are opposed to what they perceive as Trump's authoritarian push to control the district. CNN previously reported that DC's violent crime rate has plummeted in the last decades and reached its lowest since 1966 in 2024, suggesting that the city does not require federal intervention.
Some protesters on Saturday held anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement signs, voicing their disapproval of the agency's actions. The protesters marched through the city, calling for the withdrawal of federal forces and greater autonomy for DC.
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