The D.C. Council on Dec. 2 extended the juvenile curfew implemented in November until April 2026 in an effort to reduce crime.

However, Navy Yard residents question whether this is a fair public safety measure or will further criminalize Washington, D.C.鈥檚 predominately Black and Brown youth鈥攚ithout addressing root causes.

After a large, chaotic fight on Halloween night, the D.C. Council implemented a juvenile curfew in that prohibited large groups of teens under 17 from gathering on the streets after 11:00pm.听 Just one month into the curfew, and amid further disturbances, council members voted 10-3 to extend the juvenile curfew until spring 2026.

While some residents praise the measure as a step towards increased public safety, others raise concerns about what this may mean for D.C. youth.

Michael Lewis, a Ward 6 resident and father of a 16-year-old daughter, said that just as deploying the National Guard was not about fighting crime, he鈥檚 wary of the curfew.

Brittney Gates, 38-year-old former federal employee who lives in the Navy Yard said, while some residents feel safter, she feels more unsafe by the growing police presence around the kids.

Federal employee Vonni K., who withheld her last name for privacy concerns, has a 17-year-old college son in D.C. She said she鈥檚 not as worried about him because he is less inclined to be out late.听 She said the curfew also deters the kids who are not out causing trouble since they don鈥檛 want the hassle of being stopped by police.

Mixed reactions from residents.

Lewis said he believes the extended curfew is a ploy by the administration to keep residents distracted from the real issues.听 He said they want everyone to talk about this issue and advance the narrative about crime in D.C., but he said the curfew alone won鈥檛 change it.

Gates concedes she is 鈥済enuinely torn鈥� on the curfew issue. As a Navy Yard resident, she said people pay high prices to live in this neighborhood with an expectation of safety.

Gates said she doesn鈥檛 fear for her personal safety, but she has seen large groups of kids congregating around the neighborhood. Around the fourth of July she witnessed teens dangerously igniting fireworks near buildings.

She said it鈥檚 quieter since the curfew, but the city should focus on programs, jobs and spaces to keep kids productively occupied. If the city doesn鈥檛 address the root issues, Gate said, the curfew will be a temporary fix.

Vonni K. said three years ago, in the quiet of the pandemic, she may have had a different, perhaps more self-righteous opinion about the curfew. However, after seeing her son鈥檚 experience with crime in the city, she said she supports an extended curfew鈥攁nd whatever it takes to combat crime.

She recounted how her college-age son and friends鈥攁ll honor students鈥攈ad to hide behind cars to avoid drive-by gunfire after a high school football game. Because of such incidents, school officials moved all sports events to the daytime to reduce late-night alterations.

鈥淭he gut check is that suddenly, when it鈥檚 your kid who comes home telling you about having to dive behind a car, it becomes much realer. What are we willing to do here to make this not happen again?鈥�

As a federal worker, Vonni K. said she鈥檚 lived overseas in some dangerous places and has been evacuated three times because of civil unrest.听 She said her son was taken to school in armored vehicles, yet it wasn鈥檛 until he returned to the nation鈥檚 capital that he personally witnessed regular violence.

She recalled when he witnessed a fight at school in which a kid was pummeled to the ground and stabbed. She said considering the situations they experienced living overseas, she couldn鈥檛 imagine she would need to prepare him for the violence in Washington, D.C.

Vonni K. lamented the perceived absence of parental curfews and said that if parents had set curfews and boundaries in the home, the city wouldn鈥檛 have to.

鈥淚 am positive that the word 鈥榗urfew鈥� does not exist in some houses, and it is the city that has introduced this word,鈥� Vonni said that the curfew may represent the first real restriction some kids have faced.

Profiling is baked in.

According to the Juvenile Curfew Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2025, the Metropolitan Police chief can declare juvenile curfew areas where large youth gathering pose public safety risks.

Some residents said they were concerned about how the curfew would be declared and enforced and the potential for police to unfairly profile Black and Brown youth.

Taking a pragmatic approach, Vonni K. said, 鈥淭hey would have to profile, right? There is a profile baked in, and the profile is someone who appears to be under the age of 18, so there has to be some degree of profiling for police to apply it.鈥�

Lewis, more wary of profiling, said the curfew is merely a means to target teens.

鈥淚 think it really sends a message to young people that they鈥檙e not wanted here鈥攊t鈥檚 a way to corral them and be able to profile them,鈥� Lewis said. He said public trust has been eroded due to the deployment of National Guard and every measure to reduce crime should be met with elevated scrutiny.

Questioning the racial lines of enforcement between predominantly White institutions and historically Black universities, Vonni K. asked

鈥淲ould the young people from Georgetown and American University be treated the same as those from Howard University鈥擨 don鈥檛 know, I would sure hope so,鈥� she said.

Gates, understanding that curfew implementation will lead to profiling, said, 鈥淚 recognize that this disproportionately affects the Black community and our Black youth to be able to congregate in spaces.鈥� Gates said the curfew would create a false sense of security in the community and disenfranchise the youth.

Vonni K., recounted an incident two years ago when an off-duty law enforcement officer shot a and killed a 13-year-old boy who tried to carjack him.听 She said the juvenile had been arrested several times prior, “These are the dire scenarios the city is up against.鈥�

A safer D.C.

Residents remain united in need of a safer D.C.; they debate whether the curfew will reduce crime or criminalize youth.

Gates said kids are not outside as much in the winter, so she is cautious of statistics indicating incidents have decreased since the extended curfew was implemented.

Vonni K. said she鈥檇 like to see the data to understand how the curfew is affecting crime.听 She said if there is a better way to contain crime鈥攕he鈥檚 open, but for now, she supports the curfew to bring crime down.

鈥淔or folks who are, like, adamantly opposed鈥� which I am in principle, but not in practice. What would you suggest?… Because what we’re doing so far is not working,鈥� she said.

鈥淏ut I think sometimes, you know, we forget that we were once kids too,鈥� Gates said.

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Metro unveiled the new lockers Nov. 21, saying they would give cyclists cheaper and more secure options.

The lockers are part of Metro鈥檚 effort to make stations more accessible for riders arriving on foot, by bus, by car or by bike, said Jordan Pascale, media relations manager for WMATA. 

But even as cyclists embrace the new system, Pascale said Metro does not have a schedule for when additional stations will receive lockers.

In its Nov. 21 announcement, Metro said over the coming months it would install 450 bike lockers, 50 oversized lockers for cargo bikes, and 100 at 73 rail stations across the region. In addition, Metro said it would add 75 bike repair stations and 600 new u-racks to the stations. 

Pascale said the agency will update the table on its as new facilities come online through 2027, though he did not provide a detailed rollout timeline.

Cyclists can reserve lockers through the BikeLink app for five cents an hour, capped at $1 per day. Regular units fit standard bikes, while oversized lockers can accommodate larger cargo bikes. 

Riders end their rental by closing the locker door and confirming through the app.

The program is intended to give cyclists a safer and more secure option than outdoor racks, which many riders describe as vulnerable to theft.

鈥淚t definitely feels safer than locking my bike to a pole,鈥� said Andrew Frank, a cyclist who uses the new locker at Foggy Bottom. 鈥淚鈥檝e had my lock cut before. Paying a dollar to keep it secure all day is cheap.鈥�

For riders at the two stations, the new lockers are useful but not without frustrations. 

Several cyclists at Foggy Bottom said the setup process 鈥� downloading the BikeLink app, creating an account and linking a credit card 鈥� felt inconvenient, especially in the cold.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 just walk up and use it right away,鈥� said a cyclist who asked not to be named. 鈥淚 had to stand here in the cold setting everything up, and it gets annoying.鈥�

Others said the lockers are difficult to check without walking directly up to them.

鈥淵ou have to stand right in front of it to see how many are free,鈥� said Kelly Moll, a cyclist who uses the new locker at Foggy Bottom. 鈥淭hat feels a little silly.鈥�

Moll said she expects usage to grow as more people learn about the system, but she questioned whether 10 lockers at each station would be enough.

鈥淚t鈥檚 new, so not many people are using it yet,鈥� Moll said. 鈥淏ut 10 seems too few once it gets popular.鈥�

Not everyone passing by saw the lockers as useful. One pedestrian said the program does not fit her habits and is unlikely to affect riders who do not bike.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 help me,鈥� said Lauren Wilson, who usually rents scooters instead. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good idea, but if you don鈥檛 bike, it doesn鈥檛 change anything.鈥�

The new system replaces Metro鈥檚 older annual-rental lockers, which cost about $120 a year and often required waitlists. The pay-as-you-go model is designed to give cyclists more flexibility and lower the cost for occasional riders.

For now, Foggy Bottom and Eastern Market will serve as early test sites for the new system. Until Metro releases a more detailed rollout schedule, riders say they are waiting to see how quickly the lockers spread to the rest of the network.

鈥淚 really hope more stations get lockers soon,鈥� Frank said. 鈥淚t would make biking to Metro a lot easier.鈥�

The post Metro debuts new bike lockers at two stations, with more expected through 2027 first appeared on 最新蜜桃影像.

Still, both parties are refusing to take the blame for the reasons behind the 36-day shutdown. Democratic leaders say the election day victories are a sign to hold their ground. Republicans say blue wins in blue states are not a reason to cave.

House Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said at a press conference Wednesday that he hopes the elections are a 鈥渨ake-up call鈥� for Republicans. Schumer said Democrats may have won the battle, but they have to keep fighting to win the war. 

鈥淎mericans have been feeling the real-world repercussions of Trump’s policies for months,” said Schumer, who Wednesday sent a letter asking President Trump to meet with party leaders.

Voters “know that Democrats are fighting for them and Republicans are doing nothing 鈥� Last night, Republicans felt the political repercussions.鈥�

Bipartisan Stalemate

The shutdown has persisted because Democrats and Republicans cannot find a middle ground on health care tax credits, which makes insurance cheaper for millions of Americans. Those subsidies are set to expire Dec. 31.

Democrats have refused to reopen the government until Republicans agree to extend the tax credits.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Republicans have always been willing to talk about making health care more affordable, but have been reluctant to do so during the shutdown because they want to reopen the government before negotiating.  

Republicans have been reluctant to do so during the shutdown because they want to reopen the government before dialogue continues, he said.

鈥淚t was in no way necessary or appropriate to shut down the government in order to have bipartisan discussions about the subsidies,鈥� Johnson said.

Mayoral Milestone in New York

In New York City, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani beat former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, becoming the city鈥檚 first Muslim mayor-elect, and its youngest in over a century. 

Mamdani, who calls himself a democratic socialist, started his campaign relatively unknown last year before surging to victory Tuesday against Cuomo. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.,called Mamdani鈥檚 win 鈥渙ne of the greatest political upsets in modern American history.鈥� 

Sanders said Mamdani not only took on oligarchs, President Trump and Republicans in the election, but also the Democratic establishment.  

鈥淚f you have an agenda that speaks for the working class in this country, if you are prepared to take on the oligarchs 鈥� explain to people that it’s unacceptable that the very rich become much richer while working families can鈥檛 even afford groceries or their rent 鈥� and if you put together a grassroots movement you can in fact win,鈥� Sanders said.

Speaker Johnson called Mamdani an 鈥渁vowed, openly proclaimed Socialist鈥� at a press conference Wednesday. He said Mamdani鈥檚 win signifies a shift toward socialism in the Democratic Party.

鈥淢amdani is without a doubt the biggest win for socialism in the history of the country, and it is the biggest loss for the American people,鈥� Johnson said.

Alejandro Medina, a marketer who splits his time between New York and Virginia, said he feels more comfortable living in Virginia now because of the election results, which flipped the governorship to Democrat.

Medina is an immigrant from Mexico who cannot vote because he is not a U.S. citizen.

鈥淚 have to allow people to vote on my behalf,鈥� he said.

Electoral sweep in Virginia

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said Democrats are 鈥減laying politics鈥� with the lives of Americans during the shutdown. Republicans currently have a majority in both the House and Senate, as well as control of the White House. 

The Democratic sweep of Tuesday鈥檚 elections presents a new mainstream for the party, he said. 

鈥淔rom a Communist mayor in New York City to a Virginia Attorney General who said he wanted to murder his political opponent. Pro-terrorist Marxist radicals are now the left鈥檚 mainstream,鈥� Emmer said.

In Virginia, Democrats won the races for Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General in one fell swoop. 

D.C. Tour Guide Lori Cohen, said she wasn鈥檛 surprised that Democrats won the state elections, with the exception of Attorney General-elect Jay Jones. 

On the campaign trail, Jones sent text messages about shooting his political rival, then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, to a Republican state delegate. Jones had apologized but stayed in the race.

Cohen said she wasn鈥檛 too pleased with the messages.

鈥淚 almost didn鈥檛 vote for him, but I didn鈥檛 want to continue Trump policies for attorney general, so I voted for him, and I kind of held my nose while doing it,鈥� she said.

She said she voted Democrat because she disapproved of the shutdown and recent policy decisions by Trump. She said that she believes other democrats voted for similar reasons.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no end to the things to hate about Donald Trump,鈥� she said.

Eric, a federal employee and Republican, who did not want his full name used, also said he was surprised by the election of Jones.

Jones “wanted to shoot his opponent twice and murder his children. I find that kind of extreme,鈥� Eric said.

Eric is a Maryland resident, but he says he would have voted for Winsome Earle-Spears if he could have participated in the Virginia elections.

鈥淚鈥檓 a Republican and she’s a Republican. I kind of go for the underdog,鈥� he said.

Blue voted blue

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La, said the recent elections do not represent most Americans鈥� view of Republicans’ performance during the shutdown. Many of the states that saw Democratic wins Tuesday voted for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

鈥淚s it any surprise that last night, blue states voted blue? We鈥檙e talking Virginia, New Jersey, New York,鈥� Scalise said. 鈥淏y the way, none of those were swing states.鈥�

Pam Henkins, a retired federal employee who voted in the Virginia election, said that the federal shutdown was one of many factors that motivated her decision. 

Her husband is one of the federal employees furloughed as part of the shutdown, though he still works for the DOJ. The government has furloughed about 670,000 employees, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

“I feel like this president is lawless,” Henkins said, “and I relied on the Supreme Court to institute the structure and uphold Congress鈥檚 authority and that鈥檚 just gone dead.鈥�

Scalise said Republicans have worked with President Trump to deliver results on issues, like lowering taxes and securing the southern border.

But Ed Markey, D-Mass., said the elections are a clear call from voters for Republicans to come to the table and negotiate to end the shutdown. He said Trump has given himself 鈥渒ing-like power鈥� and enacted economic policy that is illegal and destructive. 

鈥淧resident Trump is taxing food, and toys, and clothing and even tea 鈥� the last time there was a tax on tea there was a revolution in Boston,鈥� Markey said. 

The post Democratic wins deepen divisions on shutdown first appeared on 最新蜜桃影像.

With rallies and events planned until the end of the year, organizers听are building stronger coalitions听and amping up urgency in听D.C.鈥檚 fight for听self-governance.鈥��听

Just as听Free DC, a grassroots movement that鈥痵upports local鈥痵elf-determination,听mobilized residents听for the听鈥淧ack the Court鈥� demonstration听at the Oct. 24 hearing,听the group鈥檚 leaders听are training, protesting,听building听resistance movements and听strategic coalitions across state lines to underscore鈥痶he urgency of鈥痩ocal autonomy听and D.C.鈥檚鈥痶umultuous road听to鈥痵elf-governance.鈥�听

Free DC听Executive Director Keya Chatterjee听said听the increasing consolidation of power and systemic erosion of democratic norms听has the country making a democratic U-turn.听

鈥淭he U.S. is听a听backsliding democracy transitioning to a competitive authoritarian state,鈥澨鼵hatterjee听said.听

With a听five-year campaign听strategy听for self-rule, Chatterjee said听the goal is to be strategic in every cycle of attack from this administration.听听

She characterized economic attacks, mass firings, National Guard deployment, local funding freezes, and legislative attacks as some examples of irreparable harm the federal government is causing residents. 听听

Chatterjee said,听with every attack on rights and freedoms,听Free DC听gets stronger鈥攇rowing听at double the speed than听in听years past鈥攖o听build unity,听听

鈥淓very effective movement is unified,鈥澨鼵hatterjee said.听

Admitting she is clear-eyed about the challenges, Chatterjee said they have a 7.5% chance of success relying on the traditional electoral process, but by building a unified civil resistance movement, organizers believe they can increase the odds to about 50/50.听

鈥淥ur end goal is to have equal representation under the law for the people of D.C.,鈥� she said.

Pack the Court听Protest听

Free DC organizers听say they have听a sense of urgency, not seen before,听as they describe a democracy that is slipping away to authoritarian rule.鈥�听

Packing the U.S. District Courthouse with D.C.鈥痳esidents was just one of the many protests Free DC said they have planned to express the importance of the moment鈥痑nd the commitment鈥痶o sustained activism.鈥�

The courthouse protest started as a short walk from Constitution Avenue and rallied in front of the U.S. District Court, where they sang songs, chanted and eventually lined up to enter the court hearing.听

Capitol Hill resident鈥疪andy Martin said鈥疻ashingtonians are not accepting this situation, calling it鈥�渃razy鈥濃�痑nd鈥痑dding that鈥痯eople鈥痺ill continue to show up.鈥�听

Katie Henke, a Hill East resident who works in international development, said she has worked in authoritarian countries in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe and the military presence on鈥疍.C.鈥痵treets鈥痳eminded鈥痟er of those regimes.鈥�听

鈥�鈥淚 don’t want to see that in our country, and so I want to stand up for my neighbors,鈥濃�疕enke said.鈥�听

The legal battle in the courthouse鈥�听

Inside the鈥痗ourtroom,听in听,听D.C.听Attorney General Brian Schwalb听 that听the deployment听of the National Guard听undermined the鈥疍istrict鈥檚鈥痳ight to self-govern.鈥疕e equated the deployment to an illegal occupation that is harmful to the city and its residents.鈥��听

Schwalb said that鈥痶he troops were not trained to do the job of law enforcement and made residents less safe.鈥�听

鈥淭oday we again made clear: the U.S. military should not be policing American citizens on American soil,鈥� Schwalb said after the hearing. 鈥淚t does not make us safer to have out-of-state military鈥攎any of whom are not from here and do not know our communities鈥攑olicing our streets, driving military vehicles, armed with rifles and carrying handcuffs.鈥濃��听

Linda Alexander, a protester who sat through the hearings, said she wanted to be fair and hear both sides.鈥� Alexander said even though she felt safer in Ward 7 since the deployment of troops, she recognized that鈥痠t鈥檚鈥痶ime for them to go home and spend time with their family.鈥�听

Eric Hamilton, an attorney representing the Trump administration, argued that the case should be dismissed since the president has broad authorities. 听

D.C.鈥痠s a municipal corporation with limited听authority,听Hamilton听said,听criticizing听the听attorney general听for not aligning with the president鈥檚 position.听听

Accusing Schwalb of political posturing, Hamilton said, 鈥淒.C. is not鈥痑鈥痵tate, however much鈥痶he鈥痑ttorney鈥痝eneral wants to pretend it is, and he is doing damage to the District.鈥濃��听

听Judge Jia听M.听Cobb听is expected to make a ruling听later this year.听

听The voices of the鈥痬ovement鈥�听

听Law student Byron Brooks said he came to the hearing to see how the process unfolds.鈥�听

鈥淲e鈥檙e in an unprecedented time of democracy, or dictatorship, depending how it鈥檚鈥痸iewed.鈥�疭o, today鈥檚 case will鈥痙efinitely set鈥痶he precedence on where we are headed as a nation,鈥濃�疊rooks said.听

Matt Gordon鈥痵aid he saw the issue as a constitutional crisis. He said, as a veteran who has served his country, he sees the deployment鈥痑s an鈥痠llegal abuse of power.鈥��听

Henke鈥痙escribed the impact on her neighbors: 鈥淧oor kids are going to and from school, passing these guards with rifles bigger than their torsos. It鈥檚鈥痙isgusting. This is what you see in authoritarian countries, and I鈥痙on鈥檛鈥痺ant to see that in ours.鈥濃��听

鈥淭his is a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act,鈥� said鈥疓ordon, a self-described angry veteran.鈥�淚t鈥檚 one step closer towards an authoritarian takeover of this country.鈥濃���听

The Posse Comitatus Act generally鈥痯rohibits鈥痶he use of鈥痬ilitary for domestic law enforcement, with a few exceptions, such as protecting federal property and鈥痲uelling domestic violence.鈥�听

After the hearing鈥�

At a press briefing following the hearing, Schwalb鈥痵aid,鈥�淲hen this lawsuit was filed several weeks ago, I said it was鈥疍.C. today. It was going to鈥痓e鈥痮ther cities鈥痵hortly. In fact, that is exactly what has happened. This is fundamentally un-American.鈥濃��听

During the press briefing, Henke chanted and heckled Hamilton while holding a Free DC sign prominently in the backdrop. Chants echoed off the courthouse to disrupt Hamilton鈥檚 briefing, as he referred to protestors as a 鈥渨oke mob.鈥�

Hamilton鈥痵parred with鈥痙isruptive protestors鈥痓ut was鈥痷ltimately鈥痙rowned鈥痮ut鈥痓y chanting鈥痑nd walked away.鈥�听

奥丑补迟鈥檚鈥痑丑别补诲鈥�听

The intensity and frequency of听Free DC听activities听have听surged,鈥痯artnering鈥痺ith Virginia and Maryland affiliates to build local momentum for self-governance.鈥��听

Chatterjee听said that, since听D.C.听lacks听representation,听Free DC听must reach out to states to build political pressure and create a network of resistance.听

Chatterjee said she wants the local D.C. government to stop complying with federal demands and legitimizing illegal actions that harm D.C. residents. 听She said D.C. local government must be on 鈥淭eam Democracy鈥� and prioritize protecting the community over appeasing the regime.听

鈥淲hen you give an authoritarian regime what they want, they just take more,鈥澨鼵hatterjee said.听

With events planned in each ward, every month until the end of the year, organizers鈥痑re conducting extensive and sustained training programs and building coalitions for mass non-cooperation strategies to fundamentally reimagine democracy in the nation鈥檚 capital.听

鈥淲hether it takes ten months or ten years, we must be absolutely resolute in our fight,鈥� said Rig, who used the moniker U.S. Army Overlord.

鈥淎s the government wants to escalate its attacks against the District of Columbia, we will clearly have to take more measures to withhold our support,鈥濃�疕enke said.

The resistance continues and prioritizes joy, community resilience, non-violent strategies, and alternative support systems as the way forward, Chatterjee said. 听

鈥淭here鈥檚 no oppressed people in the history of the world that have ever succeeded without joy,鈥澨齭he said.听

鈥淛ustice looks like the military being off our streets and鈥痮ne step closer toward statehood,” Gordon said.听

The post Beyond 鈥楶acking the Courthouse鈥�: D.C.鈥檚 long road to self-governance鈥� first appeared on 最新蜜桃影像.

According to more than 200,000 demonstrators gathered near the U.S. Capitol for the second 鈥淣o Kings鈥� rally of the year around noon on Oct. 18, one of more than 2,700 protests nationwide.

also said about 7 million people across the country participated in the lawful, nonviolent No Kings Day, 2 million more than the first round in June. At rallies across the country, participants carried signs and chanted messages asserting that the nation belongs to its people, not to a president who acts like a king.

Delonte Gholston, a pastor at Peace Fellowship Church in Northeast D.C., asked: 鈥淲ho will not bow to a kind of religion that wants to be close to power but won’t empower anybody else?鈥� The question marked the official start of the rally.

Participants held signs on immigration, liberty, the Constitution, LGBTQ rights, health care and anti-fascism. But all called for the same thing: No Kings. That included a demand to remove and impeach Trump. Protesters said that, since his second term began, Trump has ruled over the nation like a monarch, a role that has not existed in the United States since 1776.

As the first politician to take the stage, longtime Trump critic Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said the United States was facing a real threat to democracy. No outside force would save the people, he warned, because protecting democracy depends only on the people themselves.

He said Trump had attempted to undermine free speech, fair elections, independent media, and the right to peaceful protest. But the people, Murphy said, could still unite, draw moral lines, uphold the Constitution, and defend the 250-year experiment of self-government, a democracy without kings.

鈥淚鈥檓 optimistic, maybe even foolishly so, about our ability to win this fight, because 400 years ago, in the small but mighty state of Connecticut, we wrote down a simple idea: In America, the people rule. In America, there are no kings,鈥� Murphy said, emphasizing the link between the Constitution and his home state.

As the broadcaster Mehdi Hasan took the stage, the crowd laughed at his sharp wit. He mocked Trump鈥檚 behavior with humor and irony, saying he was 鈥渆verything Donald Trump loves鈥� because he is a journalist, an immigrant, and a Muslim.

He pointed out that Trump himself is the son, grandson, husband and ex-husband of immigrants, emphasizing the value of immigration and joking that immigrants 鈥渨ill do the jobs even Americans won鈥檛 do.鈥�

Behind and in front of the stage, several small groups formed around speakers, moving their bodies to the rhythm of dance music. They waved flags and signs and wore all kinds of outfits: some wore American flags as capes, some dressed as Spider-Man, others holding colorful umbrellas.

Voices from the crowd

During the rally, Julian C., a Maryland resident who requested anonymity, stood for hours on top of the U.S. Department of Labor building waving a Mexican flag in support of Latino immigrants.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 accept the ICE raids happening around the country solely because of people鈥檚 skin color or nationality,鈥� Julian said. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to spread the message that there should be more representation of Latino people and other immigrants in the streets.鈥�

Ten-year-old Jacqueline Hill-Bowling joined the protest with her mother. Though young, she was already experienced and noticed there were 鈥渁 lot more people than [her] last protest.鈥�

Hill-Bowling said one main reason for the protests was that due process was 鈥渕essed up.鈥�

鈥淚 learned that due process is the process in which all Americans or anyone, even immigrants, which apparently Trump doesn鈥檛 agree with, get to defend themselves,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like a trial, but some people don鈥檛 get one, and it鈥檚 unfair, and I鈥檓 pretty sure it鈥檚 illegal.鈥�

Protests began before the rally

The No Kings rally was scheduled to start at noon, but volunteers had been setting up since early morning, laying cables and placing barriers.

Rows of police officers on bicycles stood by, and snipers were seen on the roof of the National Gallery of Art, ready for emergencies. Police said afterward that no one had been detained.

But the demonstrations had already begun two miles away in the U Street Corridor.

The feeder march 鈥淩emove the Regime,鈥� led by grassroots political groups like 50501DC, DC Against Trump, and Refuse Fascism, began around 9 a.m.

The march looked like a modest-sized crowd at first, but within an hour it swelled, becoming few blocks long.

Lelaina Brandt, cofounder of the veterans鈥� group 鈥淩emember Your Oath,鈥� which joined the march from the beginning, said she appreciated people showing up but felt discouraged that many treated it as just a fun day out instead of acting every day, because the rise of authoritarianism and fascism in the country is urgent.

鈥淭his has been a 40-year plan by groups like the Heritage Foundation to usher authoritarianism and fascism into our country,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e can focus on Trump, but the work won鈥檛 be over when he鈥檚 gone. We must keep standing up until fascism is crushed once and for all in this country.鈥�

Warming up at the Lincoln Memorial.

The rally鈥檚 energy built on earlier events Friday afternoon, when organizers began delivering speeches at 3 p.m. to prepare for the weekend.

The most eye-catching was a protest organized by the Backbone Campaign, where activists wore oversized caricature heads of Trump and his three allies Stephen Miller, JD Vance and Kristi Noem.

Dressed in prison stripes, the four embodied what many Americans already assume 鈥� partners in crime, chained by accountability.

Bill Moyer, the group鈥檚 executive director, said, 鈥淭hese people deserve to be ridiculed, and it鈥檚 our job, as citizens, to ridicule tyrants.鈥�

The protest never stopped

The No Kings rally in D.C. ended around 3 p.m., but demonstrators didn鈥檛 stop there.

FLARE, a grassroots political group that camped at Union Station Plaza, prepared to continue into the evening with another protest in Arlington, outside the home of Russell Vought, a key architect of Project 2025, to denounce him as one of Trump鈥檚 technocrats.

On Saturday night, Trump posted an AI-generated on Truth Social showing himself flying jets, wearing a crown, and dropping waste on protesters.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who earlier this month described the rally as 鈥�,鈥� said at a Monday press conference that Trump 鈥渋s using satire to make a point.鈥�

鈥淭he president uses social media to make the point,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou could argue he鈥檚 probably the most effective person who鈥檚 ever used social media for that purpose.鈥�

Matt Gordon, another co-founder of 鈥淩emember Your Oath,鈥� disagreed with Johnson.

鈥淗e doesn鈥檛 care about unifying a nation. He cares about humiliating those he thinks are his enemies,鈥� Gordonsaid. 鈥淗e鈥檒l do that by creating ridiculous AI videos of himself stomping on people protesting him in the streets.鈥�

Gordon also said the next wave of 鈥淩emove the Regime鈥� march begins on Nov. 5.

The post 鈥淲e will not cooperate!鈥� Washington says 鈥楴o Kings鈥� again to Donald Trump first appeared on 最新蜜桃影像.

Once threatened by development, the club鈥檚 recent historic designation now offers it protection and potential partnerships as the 11th Street Bridge Park and the reimagined Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium development transforms the Anacostia waterfront.听

In a prime, almost hidden corner of Boathouse Row, Seafarers was founded by mariner and educator Lewis Thomas Green in 1945 with the support of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. 听At a time when boat clubs were exclusively 鈥渨hite-only,鈥� Seafarers stood as a haven for Black boaters and a symbol of resilience. 听

鈥淚t鈥檚 not about nostalgia. It鈥檚 about protecting what still serves the people,鈥� said Roger Legerwood, Seafarers Yacht Club historian and 30-year member.

Historical designation offers legal protections听

Seafarers gained its historic designation in 2022, sponsored by the D.C. Office of Planning鈥攕hepherding in new protections against emerging developments.听

鈥淲e鈥檙e not scared, we鈥檙e historic. We鈥檙e in partnership with the D.C. government,鈥� said Seafarers Yacht Club Commodore Tony Ford. 听

Seafarers falls within Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires federal projects to assess and mitigate adverse effects on historic properties. 听 听

鈥淚f the review identifies potential adverse effects, the parties will coordinate to resolve them,鈥� the D.C. Office of Planning said.听

Legerwood began documenting the history of the club about 25 years ago, almost by accident. 听He said he found the history fascinating, and his chronicled account eventually became the basis for filing historic preservation.听

鈥淭hey just can鈥檛 run through here without checking,鈥� Legerwood said. 鈥淲hen we see or hear of threats, we look at it as an opportunity to engage.鈥� 听

The designation opens new doors for grant funding and restoration support. Seafarers partnered with the 11th Street Bridge Park team鈥攖he project to transform the abandoned 11th Street Bridge piers into a state-of-the-art park鈥攖o ensure the club鈥檚 legacy is cemented in the future of the waterfront. 听听

鈥淐onnecting to the river has always been one of our key goals,鈥� said Scott Kratz, director of the Bridge Park project.听 鈥淪eafarers started the Anacostia River Cleanup in 1985.听 They鈥檝e been critical to restoring and healing the river.鈥�听

Kratz鈥檚 team secured a U.S. Coast Guard permit to maintain the navigational envelope鈥攊ncreasing visibility for organizations like Seafarers. 听The new park will include an environmental education center, which could feature Seafarers鈥� history and community programming. 听听

Ford, who has led the club for seven years, said he views the Bridge Park partnership as a model for respectful collaboration. 听

鈥淲e鈥檙e already partners,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淲e offer free boat rides during cherry blossom week and talk about the history. 听It鈥檚 not adversarial; it鈥檚 community.鈥�听

Ford is less certain about the RFK Stadium development, a $3-billion project expected to generate thousands of jobs and billions in tax revenue. 听

鈥淲e haven鈥檛 had a mutually respectful conversation with those developers,鈥� Ford said. The club鈥檚 relationship is only through the mayor鈥檚 office, he said.听

Over the years, Ford said developers have used intimidation tactics. In one case, Ford said a developer sent an email alluding that Seafarer would sell its property before even having a conversation. Ford said he is used to the tactics鈥攁nd some have already begun.

鈥淔orming, storming, norming and performing, that鈥檚 how we figure out where we fit in,鈥� Ford said. He added this is a teambuilding process that goes through different stages to understand their relationship and roles in the development projects.听

Despite concerns, Ford said he remains optimistic.听听

鈥淲e are the oldest African American boat club in the country鈥攏ot DC鈥攊n the country,鈥� Ford said. 听

Seafarers started the Anacostia River clean up, and we will continue to do what serves the community, Ford said.听

It鈥檚 about the community听

For longtime D.C. resident and recreational fisherman Derick Jones, this is personal.听 Fishing on the Anacostia River for over 20 years, Jones acknowledged that the RFK development is good for the city.听听听

鈥淚 hope they don鈥檛 mess it up鈥攁 lot of young brothers come here to fish instead of getting in trouble,鈥� Jones said.听

Jones urged developers to protect community spaces.听听

鈥淭his is my fishing spot,鈥� Jones said while laughing. 鈥淭his is my peace of mind.鈥� 听

Seafarers Business Manager Captain Anthony Hood echoed the sentiment.听

鈥淲e are a working club. Members bring their skills鈥攚oodwork, law, electrical鈥攖o keep things going.鈥� 听听

Hood joined the club in 2020 after his wife passed. He said she always had encouraged him to buy a boat. 听听

鈥淚t has occupied my time and helped me heal鈥攏ow I鈥檓 part of something bigger,鈥� Hood said.听

As the business manager for Seafarers, Hood focuses on infrastructure and restoration efforts. 听Partnered with Anacostia Riverkeeper and the Council of Governments, Seafarer received a grant to remove abandoned boats as part of an initiative for cleaner waterways, Hood said.听

With work-in-progress projects all around the club, Hood said the infrastructure needs attention. 听Members are replacing old dock woods themselves, but with development funds, Hood said. 听

鈥淲e could rebuild the docks, the rail system and even the clubhouse,鈥� Hood said.听

Legerwood said the club wants to amplify Seafarers鈥� legacy and make boating more affordable and inclusive. 听

鈥淚nclusivity was our original mission,鈥� Legerwood said. 鈥淢r. Green built boats by hand but couldn鈥檛 find a place to dock because of his race鈥攖hat鈥檚 why this place exist.鈥�听

The D.C. Preservation League, which maintains the city鈥檚 historic inventory, said it added Seafarers to its public database after the designation and is now part of the public record. 听

D.C. Preservation League said, 鈥淭hat visibility matters.鈥� 听

鈥淲e鈥檙e not just a boating club.鈥� said Legerwood. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a living archive of Black maritime history.鈥�听

The post This last Black institution along the Anacostia is navigating development with intention first appeared on 最新蜜桃影像.

What was the groove? 鈥�,鈥� a go-go style, funk track rooted in the D.C. sound. The song, which will serve as the official anthem of the 11th Street Bridge Park, was released Oct. 5 at the Go-Go Museum.

The 11^th Street Bridge Park, a transformational elevated bridge park development, held its song release party to celebrate development and determination鈥攈onoring the city鈥檚 past and future.

The song was written by D.C.鈥檚 own grammy-nominated artist Raheem DeVaughn, produced by the famed Lorenzo Johnson aka Zo Smooth and co-produced by go-go legend, Salih Williams, better known by his stage name Bootsy Vegas, brings local rhythms interwoven with community spirit.

Devaughn and Williams said they took on this project because it was more than just a musical endeavor; it was a community driven initiative to create positive change and celebrate D.C.鈥檚 rich cultural history.

鈥淭hrough music, we can communicate,鈥� Williams said, 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lack of historical understanding about a lot of these projects.鈥�

A bridge like no other.

Thirteen years in the making, the project is now fully funded, is expected to break ground in spring of 2026 and launch in 2028.

A collaboration between the D.C. government and Building Bridges Across the River non-profit, Bridge Park strives to be the model for equitable development鈥攕trategically focused on housing, the arts, workforce and small business development.

Scott Kratz, the president and CEO of Building Bridges Across the River, said Bridge Park is a different kind of project.

鈥淲e鈥檝e learned from projects of the past where residents have been displaced,鈥� Kratz said. Gentrification, emblematic of D.C. evolving neighborhoods, has long plagued well-intentioned projects across the District.

鈥淲e had to be intentional about this work,鈥� Kratz said. 鈥淚t would have been easy to say, gentrification is a serious issue, but that鈥檚 not our job鈥攚e鈥檙e building a park.鈥�

Kratz said before engaging a single designer, Bridge Park spent two years talking to residents, asking, 鈥淲hat did they think about transforming an old freeway into a park?鈥�

The inclusive, community-led development will be the first of its kind鈥攖ransforming the old, abandoned 11^th Street Bridge piers into a cutting-edge, elevated park. The vision is to create a community space that integrates historically disenfranchised neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River and the surrounding communities.

The Bridge Park will include playgrounds, urban agriculture, an Environmental Education Center and a 250-seat outdoor River Amphitheater.

Lovail Long, a Ward 8 resident and owner of DC Black Broadway, said, 鈥淭his project means everything to me.鈥�

Long, who produces stage plays and musicals, said the amphitheater will offer a space where he鈥檒l be able to perform live for the community. Like his fond childhood memories of performances in Anacostia Park, Long said he and his wife wants to create memories through arts and music for a new generation of children.

Kratz said intentional development puts the community at the center.听 Building Bridges has invested more than $100 million in the community鈥攎ore than needed to build the park.听 Through community-based initiatives like Homebuyer鈥檚 Club, 182 Ward 8 renters became homeowners and Bridge Park has secured 230 units of permanently affordable housing.

Bridge Park even worked with local artists and the community to create the anthem song befitting of this visionary park.

And the go-go beat goes on.

The percussion-driven go-go anthem was commissioned and curated by Ronald Moten, co-founder of the Go-Go Museum, along with Bridge Park leaders to symbolize the partnership between the Bridge Park development and the community.

Natalie Hopkinson, co-founder and chief curator of the Go-Go Museum and professor at American University, said, 鈥済o-go music is the official music of the D.C., codified in legislation,鈥� so elevating the music is only natural.

Just as Moten cofounded the museum to preserve the culture and history of his beloved go-go music, he said he partnered with the 11^th Street Bridge Park because of its community-led, community-driven approach.

Through the loud, reverberating music, Moten said, 鈥淲e started differently from most museums鈥攎ost opened with an endowment鈥攚e opened with no money and people banging on the door asking us why aren鈥檛 you open,鈥� noting parallels to the Bridge Park grassroots development approach.

DeVaughn, host of 鈥淭he Original Quiet Storm,鈥� the number one night-time show in D.C., said creating the anthem was a passion project to help the community and elevate go-go music.

After being 鈥渟chooled鈥� on the historical context of the bridge and learning enslaved people walked the original 11 Street Bridge every day, he said the project resonated with is lifelong commitment to the music and community.

DeVaughn said he views the song and performance as a way to bridge gaps and support black-owned businesses and create a platform that celebrates go-go鈥攖he heartbeat of D.C.

鈥淢ost importantly, we鈥檙e about having a footprint in the community and being of service,鈥� DeVaughn said.

A former co-host of the famed Donnie Simpson Show, Williams said he came to 鈥減erform with a purpose.鈥� Co-producing the song not only honors go-go pioneer Chuck Brown鈥檚 legacy, Williams said, 鈥渋t brings people together who might not have been checking for go-go but left with an appreciation.鈥�

In addition to creating music, Williams now dedicates his time to teaching kids broadcast journalism. He said he partnered with the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation to teach journalism and provide scholarships to high school students in Ward 7 and 8.

Williams said creating the Bridge Park anthem with Johnson and DeVaughn was a natural extension of his work supporting his community where he was born, raised and still lives.

It鈥檚 about the community.

鈥淎 community on the river,鈥� Kratz said. 鈥淢any people in the community have never been out on boats.鈥�

Building Bridges works with local boating organizations like Seafarer鈥檚 Yacht Club and Anacostia Boathouse Association to connect the community with the Anacostia River.听 Bridge Park partners to offer free boat rides and to give community members an opportunity to kayak and canoe along the river.

D.C. transplant and American University Alum Jayra Collier鈥檚 employer Plum Good has been a Bridge Park sponsor for eight years.听 Collier said through its partnership, Park Bridge has promoted its teas, spices and sauces.

Collier said she hopes other transplants like herself will get to see 鈥淭he real D.C.,鈥� to promote local businesses and have a space to enjoy and rest.

Residents living along the Anacostia River deserve a waterfront just as beautiful as the residents of Georgetown,鈥� Kratz said.

The song release party symbolizes a celebratory reflection of where the project started. Kratz said, 鈥淟ong term residents who’ve been here through some of the challenging times, through the disinvestment, can be here for the good times.鈥�

Much like D.C.鈥檚 syncopated go-go music, the future of the Anacostia community history must be preserved, said Dr. Deborah Evans, board member of the Go-Go Museum.

鈥淧rogress is good, but we have to maintain the history of the community.鈥�

The post 鈥淭ake it to the Bridge鈥�: Go-go song release party celebrates 11th Street Bridge Park first appeared on 最新蜜桃影像.

鈥淚 never wanted to be an activist,鈥� Widakuswara said Friday at American University. She and Jessica Jerreat, Press Freedom editor at the VOA, are two of the plaintiffs in the case seeking to keep the VOA鈥檚 funding.

On Friday the two spoke about press freedom, censorship, and their ongoing case against the Trump administration at American University as part of the Centennial Speaker Series, hosted by The Eagle. The School of Communication鈥檚 Associate Journalism Division Director, Terry Bryant, moderated the discussion. The lawsuit, Widakuswara v. Lake, is awaiting further action from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Judge Royce Lamberth issued an injunction to restore employees and contractors to their positions, which the government is fighting.

The lawsuit is being brought by Widakuswara and six other journalists, as well as Reporters Without Borders, and a group of unions representing federal workers. A second suit by the director of the VOA was filed five days later. Both challenge the authority of the executive to unilaterally fire all the agencies鈥� workers and contractors without approval of the U.S. Agency for Global Media Board of Directors. The board had been previously disbanded by the president. So far, the courts have issued injunctions, delaying administration actions, stating that the government failed to 鈥榩rovide a single sentence of explanation for the colossal changes that have occurred at USAGM since March 15, 2025鈥�.

The US Agency for Global Media is the parent company of not just VOA, but also Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Middle East Broadcasting Network, and the Open Technology Fund. The networks boast a combined reach of 427 million listeners worldwide in 64 languages.

That was in February. Today, the agency has gone from over 3700 articles and almost 2400 broadcast hours per week down to just 108 articles and 7.5 broadcast hours in 4 languages.

Friday’s conversation was a plea for support. As the September 30 deadline approaches, there is no clear answer on what happens next, and the stakes are high. Numerous diplomats and former VOA employees say that the loss of the broadcaster is a win for America鈥檚 adversaries. The Trump administration describes the broadcaster as a propaganda arm of the Democratic party.

The VOA is a unique organization within the federal government. It began as a CIA project to project American ideals throughout the world. It was later transferred to the State Department, which is where the Trump administration intends for it to return. The VOA charter, which was established in the 1994 International Broadcasting Act, ensures by law that the organization remains neutral in the context of American politics, and stands immune to coercion by any party or politician. It’s this 鈥榝irewall鈥� that Widakuswara and Jerreat are trying to uphold.

According to the Trump administration, the VOA has strayed from that mission.

Widakuswara, the former White House Bureau chief for the VOA, pressed the Prime Minister of Ireland in a March 13 press conference about the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza. President Trump responded by asking, “Who are you with?” Soon after, VOA advocates say the administration launched a targeted campaign against the agency. Through the combined efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency, the CEO of USAGM, Kathy Lake, VOA’s parent company, and a March 15 Executive Order, the agency has been hollowed out.

In an article released by the White House the following day, titled 鈥楾he Voice of Radical America鈥�, the administration highlighted . The order, the statement said, ensures 鈥榯hat taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda鈥�.

The agency has faced accusations of bias and pressure from other administrations and news outlets in the past. In 2001, the agency received pushback from the Bush administration over their intent to broadcast a phone call from a known terrorist after the 9/11 terror attacks.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative leaning think tank responsible for 鈥楶roject 2025鈥�, a conservative playbook for Trump’s second term, wrote in 2020 that 鈥楴ew leadership is exactly what Voice of America needs鈥�. The article also accused the organization of liberal bias.

During the Biden administration, The National Review made claims of pro-Islamic bias when VOA journalists were instructed not to call Hamas a terrorist group unless quoting statements. In 2022, the agency was also sued by the conservative American Accountability Foundation for what they called, 鈥楶ro-Islamic bias in its鈥� Persian reporting鈥�.

Jerreat and Widakuswara rejected accusations of bias in Friday’s conversation.

鈥淥ur journalism stands for itself,鈥� Jerreat said. 鈥淲e know the parameters of our beats, we鈥檙e not critical. We’re factual, and try to keep the stronger emotions out of our work.鈥�

Jerreat said images of Tiananmen Square drove her to be a journalist with a focus on press freedom. She believes Trump is exhibiting the same authoritarian tactics she has studied for years. “I have the privilege to stand up and do this for my colleagues who don’t have that space,” she said.

鈥淚 don’t think about it,” Widakuswara said, when asked about the future. 鈥淚 just try to take it one day at a time. I still have to feed my family.鈥�

Instead, she thinks about the employees they are fighting to protect, many of whom may be forced to return to oppressive regimes if they are not able to keep their visas. She also thinks about her son, a high school senior.

鈥淚 want my son to live in a democracy. This is me doing my part to defend that,鈥� she said.

The post Ahead of looming shutdown, VOA fights to be heard first appeared on 最新蜜桃影像.

Initially deployed to combat crime, the National Guard is now turning to advisory neighborhood commissions seeking a community to-do list; not everyone is on board.

Picking up trash is not the reason they came to D.C., but it鈥檚 now part of the Guard鈥檚 new mission.

With crime in D.C. at a 30-year low, President Trump in August declared a crime emergency invoking the Home Rule Act to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department and activate the National Guard from D.C. and six Republican-led states.听 Just weeks into the deployment, the National Guard is seeking beautification projects across the city鈥攁 move that has sparked mixed reactions from caution to collaboration.听 Leaders and residents are divided on whether to collaborate or stand firm on the Guard鈥檚 departure.

鈥淚f you want people to do beautification projects, why not rehire the people that were just fired from the National Park Service,鈥� Adams said.

A shift in direction happened Sept. 8 when D.C. National Guard Director Marcus Hunt sent a District-wide letter to advisory neighborhood commissioners 鈥渞equesting help identifying projects on neighborhood beautification efforts.鈥�

Hunt, a native Washingtonian and Ward 8 resident, appealed to commissioners with a sense of partnership and urged leaders to work 鈥渁longside鈥� the National Guards as a community.

The response has been mixed. Earlier this month, 93 different ANCs penned a published in The 51^st opposing the deployment of National Guard troops in D.C. 鈥淚t is a direct attack on the freedom and independence every community deserves,鈥� the commissioners wrote.

Commissioners in Ward 8 were among the first to reject Hunt’s request to help, voting unanimously to refuse the offer. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 need the National Guard in the community to help with beautification鈥� they said.

Ward 1 ANC leaders also declined to respond, calling the offer 鈥渦ncomfortable and concerning.鈥�

However, Ward 7 Commissioner John Adams said, 鈥淲e invite and embrace鈥� the help.

ANC 6B, which represents Capitol Hill and Hill East is still pondering the decision.

David Sobelsohn, ANC 6B secretary, said that ANC Commissioner Edward Ryder considered holding an emergency meeting on the request but ultimately decided to wait until the full body meeting on Oct. 15 when the public can weigh in.

The troops will be here until December, so we have time to make a 鈥渕easured decision,” Sobelsohn said.

Sobelsohn said some constituents would like to see the ANCs work more collaboratively with the National Guard. 听He said his commission conferred with the Home Rule Caucus, an informal group of roughly 75 ANCs that advocates for D.C. self-governance.

Sobelsohn said the alternative responses falls into three camps: reject the offer outright, find collaborative ways to work with the troops or ignore the offer and don鈥檛 respond. 鈥淥ne and three are essentially the same,鈥� he added.

While all ANCs agree in principle that the troops should go home, Sobelsohn said there is a school of thought that says, 鈥渋f they are going to wander the streets aimlessly, we should let them do something.鈥�

Former federal contractor Ryan Donaldson, who said he has witnessed crime first-hand, deemed the National Guard as a necessary deterrent and supports its presence for both safety and beautification efforts.

Donaldson, a Capitol Hill resident, said as a federal city, D.C. represents the pride of the nation and 鈥渨e need to put our best foot forward.鈥�

Donaldson said he has had his bike stolen a few times, witnessed a resident assaulted by a homeless person and even found a discarded handgun at a D.C. Metro station.听 鈥淪o yes, I support more police and National Guard presence鈥攏ot just for me but for everyone who lives and works here,鈥� he said.

However, Adams said she sees the beautification efforts as a political move.

鈥淚f this was really about crime, we鈥檇 see the National Guard in high-crime areas鈥攏ot picking up trash near $800,000 homes and monuments,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his feels more like a test of presidential power than a public safety mission.鈥�

Adams, a remote tech employee, added, 鈥淲e don鈥檛 need troops to beautify D.C.鈥攖his money could be going toward schools and school programs, instead it鈥檚 being spent on a military presence we didn鈥檛 ask for.鈥�

Pentagon civilian employee Mark T., who declined to provide his last name due to privacy concerns, has lived on Capitol Hill for 20 years; he offered what he described as a pragmatic approach. 鈥淚f the situation has been imposed on us, let鈥檚 make the best of it,鈥� he said.

If handled correctly and the contributions are meaningful, Mark T. said it won鈥檛 legitimize federal overreach but rather help the community. “If not, we run the risk of sounding like hyper-liberal complainers,鈥� he added.

Home Rule Caucus Chairman Miguel Trindade Deramo coordinates advocacy across the commissions and urged the National Guard to remain focused on its mission of 鈥渞eadiness to respond to security threats.鈥�

On Sept. 18, the Home Rule Caucus published a to Hunt thanking him for his offer but expressing 鈥渃ollective disapproval.鈥� The letter cited a misuse of federal resources and warned of a troubling precedent.

Trindade Deramo told 最新蜜桃影像 there is a lot of work to be done around the city, noting the inappropriate use of the Guards.

鈥淭hey are trained soldiers; we don鈥檛 need them picking up trash and laying mulch, Trindade Deramo said.鈥� The federal government needed to properly fund the National Park Services and the other agencies trained for these matters, he said.

Trindade Deramo said he didn鈥檛 fault wards who accepted the National Guard鈥檚 offer but stressed the principle of local autonomy outweighs the short-term service they provide.

Adams admits her children are amused and curious about the Guards posted in the neighborhood, but she cautioned this political environment is a slippery slope.

鈥淟eaders should be standing up and pushing back and not playing along to make the troops look more useful,鈥� she said.

D.C. leaders are navigating a delicate dance asserting local authority while responding to federal pressure and oversight.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and Council Chair Phil Mendelson spent five hours testifying before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Sept. 18.听 While Bowser did not push back on the National Guard, she emphasized public safety must be managed locally.

鈥淟et us do our job,鈥� she told committee members.

Even with differing opinions on beautification projects, there is consensus that the Guards must be treated respectfully. Adams said, 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 ask for this mission, but they are here to serve.鈥澨� Mark T. added 鈥淟et鈥檚 treat them with the pride and decorum the uniform deserves.鈥�

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, an initiative of the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the D.C. Commission on Arts and Humanities, partners with D.C. public schools and artists to create lively street murals at crosswalks aimed at reducing accidents.

Samantha Hamilton, an artist with Chalk Riot, a mural company specializing in vibrant pavement art, works with two third grade classes from Maury Elementary School, a neighborhood school located in the heart of Capitol Hill.

Through a STEM program that focuses on elements of the environment, Maury  students create images as a class and merge the images into one idea, Hamilton said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a community process and the kids lead.鈥�

As an artist, Hamilton gets to take liberties to bring the images to life on the streets of Capitol Hill.

A graduate of American University, Hamilton鈥檚 art is prominently displayed on the streets of the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

The Color Your Curb program works alongside the city鈥檚 Vision Zero, a Mayor Muriel Bowser-backed DDOT鈥檚 program aimed at producing zero fatalities and serious injuries on D.C. streets.

Greg Billings, DDOT鈥檚 bike pathway branch manager, said he works to implement curb extensions on city streets where pedestrian safety is a concern, adding that the program is data driven. 

Artists like Hamilton, in collaboration with neighborhood schools, then bring art murals to curb extensions.

Without the artwork, the curb extensions are not as visible, said Hamilton.

Hamilton said the science shows that 鈥渆xtending the area where pedestrians walk reduces accidents.鈥�

For 2025, participating schools include Maury as well as Columbia Heights Education Campus and Mary Reed Elementary.

Street art, political flashpoint.

As artists and officials collaborate for safer streets, art remains a political flashpoint. 

In March 2025 Bowser admittedly succumbed to 鈥減olitical pressure鈥� by removing the Black Lives Matter mural from 16^th Street.  The mural stood as reminder of the city鈥檚 racial reckoning after the 2020 death of George Floyd and Bowser鈥檚 defiance at the time against President Donald Trump.

Reflecting on the mural鈥檚 removal, Hamilton said, 鈥淭he removal of the Black Lives Matter mural was terrifying.鈥�  While it didn鈥檛 directly target Hamilton鈥檚 work, she said, 鈥淚t jeopardized the work of all artists鈥� and sent shockwaves through the art community as to what could be next.  

More recently, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a directive urging states across the country to remove street art and murals, citing defacement and driver distraction. 

Erik Salmi, Councilmember Charles Allen鈥檚 deputy chief of staff, said, 鈥淚f the federal approach gains traction, it could roll back safety measures in the name of aesthetics.鈥� 

Salmi pushed back on the federal framing of street art as a distraction, saying, 鈥淲henever a street changes, especially in a way people don鈥檛 expect, it causes people to slow down鈥攊t鈥檚 a safety benefit.鈥�

Salmi said he doesn鈥檛 have any concern that street murals pose a safety risk.

鈥淒DOT has rolled it out, they are doing it with safety in mind. It’s not willy nilly, they follow strict guidelines and data,鈥� Salmi said.

Amid growing concerns of directed art removal, Hamilton and leaders from Chalk Riot met with Rep Maxwell Frost (D-Fla) last week.  Frost, who has introduced legislation to support emerging artists, is taking up the issue directly with local artists in what may be strategic step for further federal directives.

Hamilton said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge concern that there’s going to be legislation coming down the pipeline to make it illegal and cover all of them without warning.鈥� 

Florida Gov. Ron Desantis, a Republican, under the direction of the new Road Safety initiative, removed a painted rainbow crosswalk that served as a memorial for the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Florida. DeSantis and his team removed the painting overnight without notification or consultation, sparking concerns within the art community that it could happen anywhere.  

According to Hamilton, Frost briefed the Chalk Riot team on the developments in Florida and explained there is 鈥榥o law or pending legislation鈥� mandating the removal of street murals.

Despite the federal initiative, D.C. officials are doubling down on data driven public safety measures.   Salmi said in D.C., 鈥渢raffic deaths and major crashes are down considerably.鈥�  

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