Hundreds protested in Washington, D.C. against President Trump's moves to control the police department and deploy National Guard troops. Protests began in DuPont Circle, with chants demanding Trump’s resignation amid concerns over his executive order declaring a "crime emergency." Attendees like Mason Weber expressed fear over ethical breaches and a lack of checks on power. The protests followed an attempt by Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint a police commissioner under Trump's control, which was thwarted by a lawsuit from D.C.'s Attorney General. Protesters believe more needs to be done to oppose Trump's influence over D.C. police.
Mason Weber of Maryland told NPR he attended the march because he was concerned that the deployment of troops is a "serious ethical and legal breach." "The most concerning thing about it is there's been no check and balance of the systems of power," Weber said. "Congress, if it comes to it, we expect to authorize it for longer."
The demonstration took place two days after Attorney General Pam Bondi attempted to appoint Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole as an "emergency police commissioner" who would assume full operational control over D.C. police. Trump officials backed off that effort on Friday after D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit in federal court.
The hostile takeover of our police force is not going to happen a very important win for home rule today," Schwalb told reporters late Friday.
People who marched on Saturday said the successful effort to prevent the White House from appointing an emergency police chief controlled by Trump doesn't go far enough. The deployment of the National Guard and Trump's growing influence over D.C. police activities are being decried by D.C. residents.
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