Thousands protest for a 'Free DC' on the fourth week of federal control in Washington
Share this @internewscast.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — A significant protest took place in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, as thousands marched against President Donald Trump’s federal control over policing in the capital city.

With a prominent red banner proclaiming “END THE D.C. OCCUPATION” in both English and Spanish, the demonstrators walked over two miles from Meridian Hill Park to Freedom Plaza near the White House. Their protest was against the ongoing presence of National Guard troops and federal agents in D.C.’s streets, which has persisted for four weeks.

The protest, named “We Are All D.C.” and organized by advocates for Home Rule and the American Civil Liberties Union, marked one of the most structured demonstrations opposing Trump’s federal intervention in the city. The president had touted the intervention as necessary last month to combat crime and homelessness, despite local authorities highlighting that violent crime levels are lower compared to Trump’s first term.

Trump’s focus on D.C. follows the earlier deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles in response to immigration enforcement and protest suppression. Washington provided a unique backdrop for Trump to emphasize his stringent crime policies due to its distinct relationship with the federal government.

The visible presence of armed military personnel has unsettled Washington and sparked ongoing protests, with particular intensity in local neighborhoods. Trump’s emergency declaration assuming control over D.C. police is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday.

Mark Fitzpatrick, a former U.S. diplomat and a decade-long resident of D.C., expressed concern to The Associated Press on Saturday about the “authoritarian manner” in which the administration is handling D.C.

“Federal agents, national guards patrolling our streets, that’s really an affront to the democracy of our city,” he said, adding that it’s worse for D.C. residents due to their lack of federal representation. “We don’t have our own senators or members of the House of Representatives, so we’re at the mercy of a dictator like this, a wanna-be dictator.”

Among the protesters Saturday were also former D.C. residents like Tammy Price, who called the Trump administration’s takeover “evil” and “not for the people.”

Jun Lee, a printmaker artist living in Washington, showed up with a “Free DC” sign that she made on a woodcut block. She said she came to the protest because she was “saddened and heartbroken” about the impact of the federal intervention on her city.

“This is my home, and I never, ever thought all the stuff that I watched in a history documentary that I’m actually living in person, and this is why this is important for everyone, this is our home, we need to fight, we need to resist,” she said.

Also on Saturday, Trump repeated threats to add Chicago to the list of other Democratic-led cities he wants to target for expanded federal enforcement. His administration is set to step up immigration enforcement in Chicago, similar to what took place in Los Angeles, and deploy National Guard troops. Like the District of Columbia, Chicago’s recent crime data does not reflect the war zones Trump has repeatedly compared it to.

Violent crime in Chicago dropped significantly in the first half of the year, representing the steepest decline in over a decade, according to city data. Shootings are down 37%, and homicides have dropped by 32%, while total violent crime dropped by over 22%.

In response to Trump’s threats, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, called the president a “wannabe dictator,” who is “threatening to go to war with an American city.”

“This is not a joke,” Pritzker wrote on X. “This is not normal.”

___

Amiri reported from New York.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Suspect Keon King charged with murder in death of Philadelphia woman Kada Scott; new details revealed

Philadelphia Tragedy: Keon King Faces Murder Charges in Kada Scott’s Death – Latest Updates Unveiled

PHILADELPHIA — Keon King, the man initially arrested in connection with the…
Carlson and Greene Outline Five Pillars for America’s Renewal

Carlson and Greene Unveil Five Key Strategies for Revitalizing America

In their explosive discussion, journalist Tucker Carlson and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor…
Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance denounces driver's license checkpoint plan for Green Cove Springs

Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance Criticizes Proposed Driver’s License Checkpoint Initiative in Green Cove Springs

A proposed driver’s license checkpoint in Green Cove Springs, Florida, has sparked…
Oswego, Illinois Chick-fil-A: Darryl Lee Jr., 19, charged with murder in stabbing attacks at restaurant on Route 34, officials say

Tragic Incident: 19-Year-Old Charged with Murder in Oswego’s Route 34 Chick-fil-A Stabbing

OSWEGO, Ill. (WLS) — Authorities have charged a suspect in connection with…
Alphonso Joyner found guilty of murder in 71-year-old Woom Sing Tse's Chinatown, Chicago shooting death on 23rd Street

Alphonso Joyner Convicted in Fatal Shooting of 71-Year-Old Woom Sing Tse in Chinatown, Chicago

In a significant development from Chicago, a jury has convicted Alphonso Joyner…
Miami Heat's Terry Rozier, Portland coach Chauncey Billups arrested in FBI probe

FBI Investigation Leads to Arrests of Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier and Portland Coach Chauncey Billups

Charges against Rozier and Billups are tied to two significant cases: one…
Man accused of killing teacher wife after wandering shirtless and warning of ‘too many cops’ nearby: police

Shirtless Man Arrested for Allegedly Killing Teacher Wife, Claims ‘Too Many Cops’ Were Close: Police Report

A Texas man has been taken into custody following allegations that he…
Chicago CTA riders brace for weekend work halting of trains on elevated Loop tracks on Brown, Green, Orange and Pink lines

Chicago Transit Alert: Major Weekend Disruptions on Loop Elevated Tracks for Brown, Green, Orange, and Pink Lines

CHICAGO (WLS) — This weekend might pose difficulties for CTA riders as…
Son learns fate years after brutal family murders in wealthy coastal enclave

Son Discovers Verdict Years After Grisly Family Tragedy in Affluent Coastal Community

A 34-year-old man from California has been found guilty of brutally murdering…
President Donald Trump says he's terminating all trade negotiations with Canada over anti-tariff television advertisement campaign

Trump Halts Trade Talks with Canada Following Controversial TV Ad Campaign

WASHINGTON — Late Thursday, President Donald Trump declared the termination of “all…
Coast Guard nabs 50 tons of cocaine bound for posh coastal enclaves as cartel ops ‘rival Amazon’: expert

Coast Guard Seizes 50 Tons of Cocaine Destined for Luxury Coastal Areas, Says Expert

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) recently declared a significant triumph in the…
Manhattan, IL news: Vigil held after 2 junior high students die within days, including boy on bicycle killed in semi-trailer crash

Community Gathers in Manhattan, IL to Honor Junior High Students After Tragic Losses, Including Fatal Bicycle-Semi Trailer Incident

MANHATTAN, Ill. — A close-knit community in the southwest suburbs is grappling…