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Protesters rally in DC demanding federal law enforcement withdrawal over fears of escalating control.
WASHINGTON — D.C. has seen near daily demonstrations since President Donald Trump launched his policing takeover one week ago. On Monday, more than 200 demonstrators gathered for a “Federal Forces Out of DC” rally. The group met at 14th and U Street in Northwest, demanding the withdrawal of federal law enforcement in DC.
The protesters said they believe the federal takeover of DC Police is escalating, as federal officers may now be armed, and are often unidentifiable.
“For the people being targeted, it is an extremely scary time,” said Keya Chatterjee, the Executive Director of Free DC. “I think for a lot of other people in DC, there is a real palpable sense of defiance right now.”
Free DC organized the rally alongside other D.C. activists for immigrants and the unhoused.
“It costs over $420,000 a day to deploy the DC Guard,” said Jesse Rabinowitz, with the National Homelessness Law Center. “It costs $47,000 a year to get somebody off the street and into housing for one year. For one day of DC Guard activation, we could solve homelessness for nine people.”
Demonstrators say they fear the federal take over will continue to escalate and could expand to other cities.
“It’s anxiety filled,” said protestor, Heather Griffis. “You wake up every day and you’re not sure what’s going to happen that day. You’re not sure how it’s going to affect you and affect your family or affect a friend.”
Free DC is asking D.C. residents opposed to the federal take over of police, to bang pots and pans for five minutes every night at 8 p.m.
“It’s a really important tactic for people being able to know just through sound that actually there are so many people out there who are willing to stand up with us,” Chatterjee said.
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