WashingtonFollowing the White House’s announcement that the number of National Guard troops in the nation’s capital will grow and that federal cops would be on the streets 24/7, residents of one area in Washington, D.C., queued up on Wednesday to oppose the increased police presence.
Hecklers yelled, “Go home, fascists, and get off our streets,” after police deployed a car roadblock along the busy 14th Street Northwest area. Before the checkpoint, a few demonstrators stood at the crossroads and asked cars to avoid it.
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A few days after President Donald Trump made the historic declaration that his administration would take over the city’s police department for at least a month, the activity grew more intense.
The Democratic mayor of the city walked a tightrope in politics, at one point calling the takeover an authoritarian push and then portraying the influx of officers as an improvement in public safety, albeit one with few clear indicators of success. Even when District of Columbia leaders cited data showing violent crime at a 30-year low following a significant increase two years ago, the Republican president claimed that the city’s violence was at emergency levels that could only be resolved by such federal action.
Small contingents of federal officers had been spotted in various parts of the city for the past two days. However, there were more in prominent places. A National Guard spokesperson, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the planning process, said troops were anticipated to begin conducting additional operations in Washington on Thursday.
Homeland Security Investigations officers patrolled the well-traveled U Street corridor on Wednesday. Members of the National Guard were parked close by, while Drug Enforcement Administration officers were spotted on the National Mall. FBI agents stood along the busy Massachusetts Avenue, and DEA agents accompanied Metropolitan Police Department officers on patrol in the Navy Yard district.
Compared to roughly two dozen the previous evening, 43 arrests were made by hundreds of federal law enforcement and local police officers who patrolled the streets Tuesday night.
Christina Henderson, a councilwoman from D.C., dismissed the arrest records as a series of traffic stops and claimed the government was attempting to hide the needlessness of this federal involvement.
Henderson remarked, “I’m looking at this list of arrests, and they sound like a typical Saturday night in any big city.”
In contrast to other states and localities in the United States, the legislation grants Trump the authority to assume control of Washington’s police force for a maximum of 30 days. He would need congressional approval to extend his control over the city for a longer period of time, which would be difficult given Democratic opposition.
Trump said he might ask Congress to take control of city rules that his administration believes are too lenient on crime, or he may ask for a longer term of power. We will do this as soon as possible. However, we will desire extensions. A national emergency is not something I want to declare. “I will if I have to,” he responded.
Trump then reaffirmed his statements regarding the capital on his Truth Social website, stating, “D.C. has been under siege from thugs and killers, but now, D.C. is back under Federal Control where it belongs’.”
Before she ran for the D.C. Council, Henderson, a former employee of New York Senator Chuck Schumer, claimed to be in contact with contacts on the Hill to mobilize opposition to any Trump extension request. “He’s already saying he’s going to need more time on Day Three,” she continued.
focusing on a range of violations
According to the White House, 1,450 federal and local officers arrested people throughout the city on suspicion of driving under the influence, unlawful entrance, and assault with a deadly weapon. They confiscated seven illegal guns.
Since Trump started increasing the federal law enforcement presence in Washington last week, more than 100 arrests have been made, according to White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers. She claimed that President Trump is fulfilling his campaign pledge to revitalize this city and bring back American greatness to our beloved capital.
The president has activated up to 800 troops to assist law enforcement, though it is unclear exactly what form they would take. The president also has complete command of the National Guard.
Officials from the Army and the District of Columbia National Guard have not been able to provide information about the training histories of the soldiers who have reported for duty thus far.
Some members are military police, but others probably work in occupations that would not have provided them with much experience interacting with the public or law enforcement.
According to Trump, the federalization movement also include evicting homeless individuals from encampments. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, U.S. Park Police have taken down dozens of tents since March and will remove two more this week. According to her, people are given the option to visit shelters and receive addiction treatment if necessary, but those who decline risk fines or even jail time.
According to city officials, they are expanding their outreach and providing more shelter space.
The district has seen a decrease in violent crime.
The federal initiative follows a decline in violent crime in the nation’s capital, which has been observed by specialists across U.S. cities since a spike during the coronavirus outbreak.
According to Adam Gelb, president and CEO of the nonprofit Council on Criminal Justice, the average level of violence in Washington is still far higher than the averages in three dozen cities the group examined.
In an interview with the local Fox affiliate, Police Chief Pamela Smith stated that the Metro Police Department had lost around 800 policemen. At least for the time being, she added, the more federal agents on the streets would help close that difference.
During a meeting with top federal law enforcement officials and Trump’s attorney general, Pam Bondi, on Tuesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser claimed city authorities were not given any specific aims for the surge. However, she stated, “I believe they view it as a success to be more visible and remove more firearms from the streets, and we agree with them.
While pointing out that Trump was within his legal powers with relation to the district—which is the seat of the US government but not a state—she had earlier referred to Trump’s actions as disturbing and unprecedented.
The heightened presence of National Guard troops and police officers is unsettling for some locals.
Sheina Taylor, a native of Washington, stated, “I’ve seen them right here at the subway… they actually blocked off my street where I live yesterday.” Even though you’re a law-abiding person, you don’t know here in D.C., especially since I’m African American, so it’s more frightening today.”
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Contributors to this article were video journalist River Zhang, photographer Jacquelyn Martin, and Associated Press reporters Alanna Durkin Richer, Konstantin Toropin, and Will Weissert.
