Councilmember's Corner: How DC is responding to Trump’s attacks and how we must move forward
/(stock photo Colin Lloyd)
by Janeese Lewis George
Ward 4 Councilmember
The last two weeks have been a deeply scary and dangerous time in our history as a District. Last week, President Trump issued a series of executive orders deploying the National Guard into our communities and exerting control over the Metropolitan Police Department.
Despite clear evidence showing local crime rates declining in DC over the last two years, the President has chosen to deploy troops from across the country — sending servicemembers away from their families and communities to occupy and police their fellow citizens in the absence of any real evidence supporting an emergency.
I have been horrified and outraged by the conduct perpetrated by federal law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, targeting our most vulnerable neighbors — especially unhoused and undocumented residents who are simply trying to live their lives. This cruelty is the opposite of who we are as a District and as a community who has long stood up for those who need protection most.
As our students prepare to return to classes, I’ve heard heartbreaking accounts from families who are afraid to send their children back to school. In dozens of neighborhoods across the District, we have seen residents detained, unmarked vehicles surveilling our streets, and neighbors harassed and assaulted by federal law enforcement. These attacks — in schools, workplaces, and community gathering spaces — are making our community less safe, undermining our right to autonomy, and diverting resources away from real needs in our communities.
As Ward 4 Councilmember, my goal is to support, inform, and advocate for our community. And while our lack of statehood makes us particularly vulnerable to the President’s attacks, now is not the time to back down or give in to this administration’s threats. Now, more than ever, we need to keep showing up for our community, looking out for our neighbors, and holding the federal government accountable for its conduct.
One of the most important things we can do as neighbors is stay informed and look out for one another — in our schools, parks, places of worship, and across our neighborhoods. I recently launched an online reporting form for neighbors to report and document any concerning incidents involving federal agents. This information will be critical as we build our case, ensure organizations working on the ground are informed, and continue to hold this administration accountable.
At the same time, we need to stay safe and mindful as federal activity increases in our community. That means traveling with others when possible, carrying ID when away from home, and being mindful on public transportation and federal land. This especially applies to Black and brown communities across the District who have been historically targeted by law enforcement and borne the brunt of aggressive policing tactics.
DC is starting to fight back — both through legal action and community mobilization. On Friday, DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, an important step I have been calling for since the administration’s actions were first announced. Since then, I’ve been calling on the Attorney General and every official in District leadership to deploy every legal tool at our disposal to challenge this unconstitutional overreach.
I’ve been inspired and motivated by our community’s response. Last week I held a webinar town hall and was moved by over 300 neighbors who came ready to learn how they can support one another during this crisis (if you weren’t able to make it, you can watch the recording).
Organizations like Free DC are doing incredible work by holding regular Ward 4 meetings to educate neighbors on how to resist attacks on DC autonomy, while groups like Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid are providing essential services to immigrant neighbors who are at risk of being targeted by federal law enforcement. This is the DC I know — a community that shows up when it matters most and stands up for moral integrity.
There’s no question our continued lack of statehood and self-determination makes us vulnerable to Trump’s attacks, but we are not powerless in the face of his threats. We have our community, we have legal avenues at our disposal, and we have the strength that comes from knowing we are fighting for what is right. We will continue to stand up for our values, protect our neighbors, and demand the respect and autonomy we deserve, and I will be with you every step of the way.
