A whole lot of protesters march to White Home on Aug. 16, 2025.
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Brian Mann/NPR
WASHINGTON — A whole lot gathered peacefully within the nation’s capital on Saturday afternoon to protest President Trump’s tried takeover of town’s police division and deployment of Nationwide Guard models alongside federal brokers.
Beginning with a rally within the northwest neighborhood of DuPont Circle, protesters chanted, “Disgrace” and “Trump should go now!” whereas demanding an finish to the “crime emergency” that Trump declared in an govt order on Monday.
Protesters later marched to the White Home, persevering with to chant, as D.C. Metropolitan Law enforcement officials and Nationwide Park Service police seemed on from a distance.
Mason Weber of Maryland advised NPR he attended the march as a result of he was involved that the deployment of troops is a “critical moral and authorized breach.”
“Essentially the most regarding factor about it’s there’s been no examine and stability of the techniques of energy,” Weber stated. “Congress, if it involves it, we anticipate to authorize it for longer.”
A protester stands in entrance of Metropolitan Police Division officers and Nationwide Guard troops in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 16, 2025.
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The demonstration passed off two days after Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi tried to nominate Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole as an “emergency police commissioner” who would assume full operational management over D.C. police. Trump officers backed off that effort on Friday after D.C. Lawyer Basic Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit in federal courtroom.
“The hostile takeover of our police power just isn’t going to occur — an important win for dwelling rule right this moment,” Schwalb advised reporters late Friday.
However individuals who marched on Saturday stated the profitable effort to stop the White Home from appointing an emergency police chief managed by Trump does not go far sufficient.
The deployment of the Nationwide Guard and Trump’s rising affect over D.C. police actions are being decried by D.C. residents — together with John Smith, who stated Trump is exaggerating concerning the metropolis being riddled with crime.
“I feel he does not know what he is speaking about,” Smith stated. “I am slightly outdated white man and I stroll round safely on a regular basis.”
Catherine Ernst advised NPR she’s lived within the D.C. space for seven years and thinks it is essential to indicate opposition. She was additionally hoping for a bigger turnout.
“It is loads higher than mendacity down and letting it occur. We want extra individuals within the motion to cease what’s occurring,” Ernst stated.
Sam Goldman, organizer of Saturday’s march and spokesperson for Refuse Fascism on Aug, 16, 2025.
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Sam Goldman, spokesperson for Refuse Fascism, a gaggle that helped set up the march, advised NPR that it is time for extra individuals to make their voices heard.
“We now have to show the tide. We now have to get up all of the first rate individuals on this nation, together with in Washington, D.C.,” Goldman stated. “Hundreds of thousands and thousands and thousands in our bones hate every thing that Trump and MAGA symbolize, every thing they’ve accomplished and every thing they’re doing.”
Goldman additionally stated her group is planning for extra protests in D.C. within the coming weeks.
Abigail Jackson, a spokeswoman for the White Home, advised NPR in an announcement Saturday, “Solely D.C. liberals could be upset about efforts to cease violent crime — hopefully they have been paid effectively to beclown themselves in public like this.”
Protesters collect in entrance of the White Home on Aug. 16, 2025.
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In the meantime, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, stated on Saturday he has agreed to ship 300 to 400 of his state’s Nationwide Guard troops to D.C. to help Trump’s crackdown. Earlier within the week, Vermont’s Republican Gov. Phil Scott denied an analogous request for Nationwide Guard troops to help the Washington deployment.
