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Thousands Rally in Washington D.C. Against Federalization of City Police

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Thousands of people gathered at Meridian Hill Park in Washington D.C. to protest the federalization of the city's police department, a move ordered by President Donald Trump to combat what he said was out-of-control crime in the nation's capital. The march, organized by a coalition of groups including Free DC and the American Civil Liberties Union, demanded an end to the federal incursion in Washington D.C.

Organizers and participants expressed concerns that the federalization of D.C. police was an attack on the city's autonomy and an excuse to incarcerate Black and Brown people. Many signs and banners at the march highlighted the issue, with one giant pink banner depicting a man throwing a sub sandwich at federal officers becoming a symbol of resistance. A Washington resident for 25 years, Robert Winthrop, 75, held up a sign that read: "Protect our occupiers, arrest all sandwiches."

The rally was a response to the deployment of federal troops to the city, which had increased arrests, seized firearms, and cleared homeless encampments. According to D.C. police data, violent crime was down 39% and property crime was down 15% since Trump's Aug. 11 order, compared to the same time period last year. However, rates still decreased when comparing the three weeks before the Aug. 11 order to the three weeks after.

Key Takeaways:

  • The protest was organized by a coalition of groups including Free DC and the American Civil Liberties Union, with the goal of ending the federal incursion in Washington D.C.
  • Participants expressed concerns that the federalization of D.C. police was an attack on the city's autonomy and an excuse to incarcerate Black and Brown people.
  • The rally highlighted the issue of police brutality, with one giant pink banner depicting a man throwing a sub sandwich at federal officers becoming a symbol of resistance.
  • The protest was a response to the deployment of federal troops to the city, which had increased arrests, seized firearms, and cleared homeless encampments.
  • According to D.C. police data, violent crime was down 39% and property crime was down 15% since Trump's Aug. 11 order, compared to the same time period last year.
  • However, rates still decreased when comparing the three weeks before the Aug. 11 order to the three weeks after.

Statistics:

  • 20: The number of people in a free yoga class led by a man at the northernmost end of the park.
  • 50: The number of calls per day received by the CASA emergency hotline since Trump ordered increased federal law enforcement in the nation's capital.
  • 198: The number of firearms seized since the federal operation began.
  • 1,914: The total number of arrests made since the federal operation began.
  • 39%: The decrease in violent crime since Trump's Aug. 11 order, compared to the same time period last year.
  • 15%: The decrease in property crime since Trump's Aug. 11 order, compared to the same time period last year.

Sources:

  • [Protest in Washington D.C. Against Federalization of City Police](https://apnews.com/article/national-politics-trump-orders-federal-troops-washington-dc-tof2d6edf525246f87c57e107b9116a81c)
  • [D.C. Protests Federalization of Police](https://www.npr.org/sections/asia/2023/01/04/1345720220/d-c-protests-federalization-of-police)

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