The first week of President Trump’s federalization of Washington DC’s police force, deployment of federal agents, and activation of National Guard troops has brought immediate pushback from residents and activists.
“Trump must go now!” chanted protesters led by Refuse Fascism in Washington DC Monday evening, demonstrating against President Trump’s federalization of Washington DC police and deployment of the National Guard into the district.
“Danger, danger, there’s a fascist in the White House! It’s up to us to drive him out!”
The Refuse Fascism activists took a long route throughout DC, beginning at Dupont Circle and marching through Columbia Heights, Adams Morgan, and residential neighborhoods before returning.
“ICE must go now!” they chanted. “No troops on our land!”
On Trump’s orders, a homeless encampment between the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Memorial was cleared Thursday morning.
Residents were told Wednesday of the clear out, which happened with the oversight of only a couple (now federally commanded) DC Police Officers.
In addition to city workers, volunteers and activists for the unhoused showed up.
While some held signs condemning Trump’s treatment of the homeless, others assisted them in packing their belongings for wherever they’d go next, rather than having them trashed by city workers.
“Don’t let them do this to you!” a man yelled at National Guard troops patrolling Washington DC Thursday afternoon. “These are your own citizens! These are homeless people!”
Hundreds of troops, along with federal agents, have been deployed to the streets of the nation’s capital following President Trump’s directives to suppress crime. Trump also federalized Washington DC’s police force, effectively placing them under his command.
“You have an obligation to refuse unlawful orders!” a man outside Union Station told soldiers. They drove by, saying nothing.
Additional National Guard vehicles and soldiers were visible outside Washington DC’s Union Station Friday afternoon, part of Trump’s initiative to suppress crime in the district.
“They’re all fenced in” like “monuments” one passerby noted. “It’s so stupid, I mean they’re tourist areas. If they wanna be busy they can pick up the trash.”
Editor’s note: As myself and other press on Friday begin filming Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) federal police on U St in Washington DC amidst Trump’s federal takeover of policing in the nation’s Capitol, an officer asked me: “The places that we’re going, just give them privacy.”
I told him that “I’m never gonna not film something” on a public street [at the request of feds].
Throughout the week since Trump’s Monday announcement, federal agents from HSI, FBI, DEA, ICE, and others have patrolled Washington DC, performing typically law enforcement functions.
For example, FBI and HSI federal agents were active in Columbia Heights region of Washington DC Saturday night, as captured by passerby Sam Harp, whose understanding is there was one person arrested. The reason for the arrest was not immediately clear. Officers left the scene just as media arrived.
DC Police formed a circle around the National Guard and one of their armored vehicles to protect them from protesters marching Saturday afternoon around the White House.
Hundreds marched against Trump’s federalizing of DC police and deployment of National Guard.
“Troops on the corner, feds on the block, the fascist takeover must be stopped!” chanted protesters marching to the White House.
One carried a loaf of bread, referencing the sandwich recently thrown at a federal agent.
“Danger, danger, there’s a fascist in the White House! It’s up to us to drive him out!”
“Release the files! Release the files!” chanted protesters, one of whom held a sign reading “Don’t use DC to distract from your crimes Trump. Release the Epstein files!”
A printout of a naked President Trump in bed with Satan as portrayed on South Park made it to White House fence as protesters chanted “Trump must go now!” and “Free DC!”
Protesters put their fists up and echoed the Refuse Fascism chant “In the name of humanity we refuse to accept a fascist America.”
They pledged to return to DC and “surround the White House,” Capitol, and Supreme Court in November to demand Trump’s removal.
A handful of protesters yelled at National Guardsmen outside Washington DC’s Union Station and even attempted to physically block their vehicles from driving Saturday night.
“Free DC! You’re following orders from an insurrectionist!” shouted DC protester and former elected official Patricia Eugenio. “Do you really want to follow the orders of a white supremacist? Like, c’mon dude.”
Eugenio was physically pushed away by officers with the Metropolitan Police, which is currently under the command of President Trump under his initiative to federalize DC’s policing.
A man holding a banner reading “TRUMP EPSTEIN PUTIN BFF” also blocked a line of heavy military vehicles for several minutes. He negotiated with an MPD officer who ultimately gave him a small water bottle in exchange for getting out of the road willingly.
Protesters continued to yell at National Guardsmen as they left Union Station for the night.
