A whole bunch of protesters march to White Home on Aug. 16, 2025.
Brian Mann/NPR
cover caption
toggle caption
Brian Mann/NPR
WASHINGTON — A whole bunch 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 items 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 appeared 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 “severe moral and authorized breach.”
“Probably the most regarding factor about it’s there’s been no verify and stability of the techniques of energy,” Weber stated. “Congress, if it involves it, we count on 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.
Brian/Mann
cover caption
toggle caption
Brian/Mann
The demonstration came about two days after Legal professional Common 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. Legal professional Common Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit in federal court docket.
“The hostile takeover of our police drive just isn’t going to occur — an important win for house rule at the 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 in regards to the metropolis being riddled with crime.
“I believe he does not know what he is speaking about,” Smith stated. “I am a bit previous 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 necessary to point out opposition. She was additionally hoping for a bigger turnout.
“It is rather a lot higher than mendacity down and letting it occur. We want extra folks 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.
Brian Mann/NPR
cover caption
toggle caption
Brian Mann/NPR
Sam Goldman, spokesperson for Refuse Fascism, a gaggle that helped set up the march, advised NPR that it is time for extra folks to make their voices heard.
“We now have to show the tide. We now have to get up all of the first rate folks on this nation, together with in Washington, D.C.,” Goldman stated. “Tens of millions and hundreds of thousands in our bones hate every thing that Trump and MAGA symbolize, every thing they’ve achieved 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 a press release Saturday, “Solely D.C. liberals can be upset about efforts to cease violent crime — hopefully they had been paid effectively to beclown themselves in public like this.”
Protesters collect in entrance of the White Home on Aug. 16, 2025.
Brian Mann/NPR
cover caption
toggle caption
Brian Mann/NPR
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 identical request for Nationwide Guard troops to help the Washington deployment.
