wHen protests against Donald TrumpAfter a faint crackdown in Washington, D.C. to a mile and a half march last Saturday, the White House arrived at the White House, with thousands of people shouting a simple two-word ode: “Free DC!”
It is a slogan with a long history in the federal area, and it is once again particularly important after a radical group formed specifically in response to the threat of presidential intervention. Free District of Columbia believes that the struggle for urban rights is part of a larger struggle for national democracy, leaving thousands of residents in the region against the president’s attempt to intervene Washington, DC – Reasons why the president took over the police department and brought National Guard and federal agents to city streets last month.
“The attack on DC is a problem of democracy in the United States, and that’s the danger here,” said executive director Keya Chatterjee. Former neighborhood commissioner and climate activist Keya Chatterjee, who drew on her authoritarian acquisition experience in researching the Democratic Fund to co-found the group.
“You have to be able to have objections to capital to curb authoritarianism. You have to be able to do that, and because we are very vulnerable, it is for everyone in this country, so we have no equal rights to the law for all of us in the world.”
Despite its population of more than 700,000, Vermont and Wyoming, Washington, D.C.’s status as a federal district means it has no voting representation in Congress, which has the ability to intervene in policies approved by voters or city council. Although past presidents occasionally find themselves attracted by overwhelming democratic urban politics, Trump has targeted Washington, D.C. like no one before, most recently said federal intervention is needed to fight crime – a crime rate of 30 years.
In the weeks since, he threatened to have similar crime rates as Chicago and New Orleans, while not having similar threats to cities in Republican-led states. The most violent In the country.
Washington, D.C. residents watched nervously as Trump ran for reelection on a platform last year, including a promise to take over their city. Two days after the victory, about 1,000 people gathered at a church in the capital to discuss how to deal with their expected federal intervention under the new administration.
“Every group that works in housing or incredible neighbor support or immigration support, we all understand the gravity of what is coming, we have a conversation about the right approach and recognize the need for a new campaign,” Alex Dodds co-founded the group and served as campaign director.
The group’s four co-founders participated in racial justice protests in the city following George Floyd’s death, and efforts to protect Washington’s autonomy after Joe Biden and some Democrats supported Republican-led efforts to prevent the city from being spared. Modernize its criminal law In 2023, the new group chose a slogan that dates back to Washington’s struggle for autonomy in the 1960s and 1970s.
“We are working to protect our country’s domination,” Dodds said, referring to federal laws that outline the city’s government, which, in the long run, continues dignity for the DC community, and for us, it does mean DC nation ultimately. ”
Since its inception in January, the Freedom DC has trained about 5,000 people in eight wards in the city and hosted workshops on jury services, campaigns and how to safely film videos of immigration and customs enforcement and other federal agents. Chatterjee, who is economically supported by a progressive change in organizational community, said small donations from individual donors account for a quarter of the budget, and the rest of the foundation contributed the rest.
True to his words, Trump set out to intervene in the capital within weeks of his tenure. he The attempt failed Supporters of the January 6th thug were appointed as federal prosecutors, while Congressional Republicans put New York City’s budget in chaos. Deprived $1 billion of fundsand refuse to pass legislation to restore it.
Chatterjee said the goal of Free DC is to ensure that every move of the president does not go unanswered. Free DC worked with other groups to host nearby performances when Trump took control of the Kennedy Center in February and said he would block the Performing Arts Center from holding the towed show.
In April, they brought their parents and children to the Capitol to encourage lawmakers to pass legislation to restore funds cut in the city’s budget, and Hold a rally Trump was outside the White House when he announced his takeover of the police department in August.
“I was surprised at how many times I met the neighbors I met, which may be that I passed 100 times in the street, but it was like I didn’t connect with it.” Stephanie Rudig, a freelance graphic designer, visited the Congressional Office last week, said he visited the Congressional Office with the Free DC to encourage House representatives to oppose Trump’s involvement in the city.
“It really brings people together in a way that combines.”
Despite their time in Washington, D.C. and its powers to it, senators and delegates can be disconnected from the city’s needs, an example of one of the city’s two elected shadow senators Ankit Jain said he advocated for its rights and was also a long-term goal to become the 51st state.
When Jain met with lawmakers to encourage them to recently restore funds to the city’s budget, they often mentioned that they had heard of the issue from free DC visits.
Jain told the Guardian: “We’re talking to everyone, Republican and Democrats, and you’re going to quote people from people and say, Oh yes, I’ve heard that from some DC residents. It’s always free DC.”
His office has coordinated with the group ways to make federal lawmakers aware of the city’s problems.
“I think it’s really important for them to be thinking for a long time. They’re thinking for a positive way,” he said.
“We need them at this moment, but I think we need more moments to need that support, and I think they will build a structure and support base that keeps them in a dilemma for a long time.”
Trump’s attempt to regulate the city has provided support for free DC. Flyers with the group’s name were plastered throughout the city, and in mid-August, the ode to “Free DC” was heard in the stands at the Washington Spirit Women’s Football Game. Protesters Slogan shouting When the president rarely goes to a restaurant in the capital this week.
The protest march last Saturday was the largest demonstration started against Trump and was co-hosted by Free DC along with dozens of unions and radical groups. When the church rang bells and a waitress in black, the waitress in black next to the cheesecake factory around the corner of the White House, thousands of people drove through downtown Washington.
“It is important to unite with the communities that make us unsafe,” said Koach Baruch Frazier, Rabbi’s rabbi.
“We are throwing everything at us, we are throwing it back,” he said.
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A wellness enthusiast and certified nutrition advisor, Meera covers everything from healthy living tips to medical breakthroughs. Her articles aim to inform and inspire readers to live better every day.
