WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump’s unprecedented move to seize control of the Metropolitan Police Department is an alarming abuse of power—and a dangerous step toward militarized policing of Black communities across America. Crime in Washington, D.C., is at its lowest level in 30 years, yet the president is flooding our streets with federal forces that local leaders neither want nor need.
Federalizing the D.C. police in this way is unprecedented. It bypasses local governance, undermines community trust, and threatens to normalize the mass deployment of militarized law enforcement in Black communities nationwide.
This latest action is part of a broader blueprint—first tested in Los Angeles—that the administration now threatens to impose on cities across America, including Oakland, Chicago, Baltimore, and New York. Each of these cities has a significant Black population and a Black mayor. And each of these cities is experiencing historic drops in violent crime. This is not public safety. This is a calculated assault on Black communities.
But no matter how many federal officers President Trump sends. Every officer — federal, state, and local — must respect the Constitution.
President Trump can only control the Metropolitan Police for 30 days without congressional approval. That limit is there for a reason: to prevent indefinite federal control over a local police force and to protect the democratic rights of D.C. residents. Congress must refuse to extend this power.
Residents should remember that:
- Under the First Amendment, you have the right to record law enforcement in public as long as you do not interfere;
- Under the Fourth Amendment, officers need probable cause, a warrant, or voluntary consent to search you or your property. You have the right to ask, “Am I free to go?” and “Do you have a warrant?”;
- Under the Fifth Amendment, you have the right to remain silent and walk away if you are not detained and to request an attorney if detained and questioned; and
- All residents are entitled to Equal Protection under the law. Discriminatory enforcement violates the Constitution.
We the people have power. We can resist attempts to govern by fear and intimidation. We can reject the false vision of America as dystopian. And we must acknowledge the progress that has made our nation’s capital the safest it has been in 30 years, while continuing to support local civic and community leaders in their efforts to make their communities safe for all.
