Washington, D.C., September 6, 2025 — A wave of protest swept through the nation’s capital as over 2,000 residents took to the streets in the “We Are All D.C.” march, voicing strong opposition to President Donald Trump’s federal deployment of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement to Washington, D.C.
Demonstrators—including undocumented immigrants and pro-Palestinian activists—carried signs proclaiming “Free D.C.”, “Trump must go now,” and “Resist Tyranny.” Many decried what they described as the “militarization of their city,” and likened the deployment to authoritarian overreach. One protester emphasized the concern: “We’re opposing the authoritarian regime, and we need to get the federal police and the National Guard off our streets.”
The protests coincided with sweeping federal measures imposed by Trump in mid-August. Invoking Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act, he placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and deployed more than 2,000 troops—including National Guard units from six Republican-led states—to patrol the capital.
These moves came even as federal crime data indicated that violent crime in D.C. had reached a 30-year low in 2024, calling into question the administration’s emergency rationale. In a legal challenge, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed suit against the deployment, alleging the federal action undermined the city’s constitutional autonomy.
Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed support for increased federal law enforcement presence, yet urged restraint in troop deployment—highlighting concerns over public fear and civil liberties.
This heightened state of federal control triggered not just open street protests, but also a wave of creative resistance—ranging from nightly cookware drumming to politically charged street art and grassroots messaging—reflecting the capital’s deep unease at this unprecedented assertion of authority.
Source: Reuters
