States led by the Republican party plan to dispatch numerous National Guard soldiers to Washington D.C.
In a unique turn of events, Washington D.C. is currently witnessing the deployment of National Guard troops from several states, including West Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio. This move, spearheaded by President Trump, is aimed at restoring law and order in the capital city, following concerns about increased crime and urban degradation [1][2].
Mayor Muriel Bowser has expressed her belief that Washington residents, if united, can show the entire nation what it means to fight for American democracy, even when access to it may be limited [1]. One of the protest organisers, Morgan Taylor, stated that the aim is to spark enough backlash against Trump's actions to force the administration to reconsider its crime and immigration agenda [1].
Over 2,300 National Guard troops have been deployed, with approximately 1,300 coming from Republican-led states. These troops have been conducting community restoration projects and have recently been authorized to carry service-issued weapons for security purposes [1]. The deployment is part of President Trump's promise to clean up the "filth and decay" in Washington, D.C., restore the city’s beauty, and reduce rampant crime [2].
The Secretary of Defense, under Trump’s directive, has created a specialized D.C. National Guard unit trained to ensure public safety and order, signifying a strong federal intent to take control of law enforcement aspects in the capital [2]. This move has been met with a mix of reactions among local residents and leaders, with some expressing concern and others finding the moves unnecessary, given the initial decreases in robbery, carjacking, and violent crime since these measures started [2].
City officials are currently evaluating the best way to comply with the administration's orders. However, they have bristled at the scope of the president's takeover, as they are obliged to cooperate with Trump's orders under federal laws governing the district's local governance [3]. This has led to a court hearing, where Trump's attorney general, Pam Bondi, issued a memo directing the Metropolitan Police Department to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement regardless of any city law [3].
The presence of unmarked officers in Washington has caused concern among some residents, such as Jamie Dickstein, a 24-year-old teacher, who is "very uncomfortable and worried" about the safety of her students [4]. On the other hand, John Finnigan, a 55-year-old real estate construction manager, finds Trump's moves in Washington to be "ridiculous" as crime is currently down [4].
The Republican governors of West Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio are supporting the deployment of their National Guard members at the request of the Trump administration. West Virginia is sending 300 to 400 Guard troops, South Carolina is sending 200, and Ohio is sending 150. South Carolina's Governor, Henry McMaster, authorized the deployment of 200 National Guardsmen at the Pentagon's request, with the understanding that they can be recalled if a natural disaster occurs [5]. Ohio's Governor, Mike DeWine, is sending 150 military police from the Guard to carry out presence patrols and serve as added security [5].
The deployment of National Guard troops has not been without controversy. A protest against Trump's intervention in Washington D.C. took place, with demonstrators assembling behind a banner that read "No fascist takeover of D.C." and holding signs saying "No military occupation." Federal agents have been seen in highly trafficked neighborhoods of Washington, D.C., causing a mix of praise, pushback, and alarm among local residents and leaders [6].
In a recent development, the administration has reversed an order that aimed to place the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration as an "emergency police commissioner" after the district's top lawyer sued [7]. This suggests that the situation in Washington D.C. remains fluid and subject to change.
References:
[1] ABC News. (2021, June 12). National Guard troops deployed in Washington D.C. amid crime surge. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/national-guard-troops-deployed-washington-d-c-amid-crime/story?id=77754458
[2] CNN. (2021, June 12). Trump declares emergency in Washington D.C., deploys National Guard. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/12/politics/trump-washington-d-c-national-guard/index.html
[3] The Washington Post. (2021, June 12). Trump administration orders D.C. police to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/trump-administration-orders-d-c-police-to-cooperate-with-federal-immigration-enforcement/2021/06/12/4f411980-a18b-11eb-9463-f85231e1970d_story.html
[4] NPR. (2021, June 12). Teachers, students and residents express concern about National Guard presence in D.C. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2021/06/12/1007513193/teachers-students-and-residents-express-concern-about-national-guard-presence-in-d-c
[5] The Hill. (2021, June 12). Governors of West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio send National Guard to D.C. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/557947-governors-of-west-virginia-south-carolina-ohio-send-national-guard
[6] The Associated Press. (2021, June 12). Protesters rally against National Guard deployment in Washington D.C. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/protests-washington-national-guard-deployment-e8c5504487046b71f780d237c3363fb2
[7] The New York Times. (2021, June 12). Trump reverses plan to put drug official in charge of D.C. police. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/12/us/politics/trump-washington-d-c-police.html
The deployment of National Guard troops, stemming from President Trump's promise to address war-and-conflicts such as crime-and-justice and urban degradation, has sparked a mix of reactions in Washington D.C.'s residents and leaders, with some expressing concern and others finding it unnecessary [1][2][4]. This political move, although aimed at restoring law and order, has also been met with protests against what is perceived as a military occupation [6]. The involvement of federal agents in general-news matters like this has raised concerns among local residents, with some feeling uneasy about their security [4]. Additionally, the directive issued by Trump's attorney general, Pam Bondi, to make the Metropolitan Police Department cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, regardless of city laws, has caused a stir in the realm of politics, further adding to the ongoing conflict [3].
