August 19, 2025 · 7:45 pm

The Response:  Local Opposition to The Occupation – Now Including National Guards from 6 States

Sunday, August 17, 11:30am on H Street, NE. Of all the federal law enforcement agents deployed on DC streets, the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) – which falls under the Department of Homeland Security – have garnered the most negative attention.  Masked ICE agents have executed aggressive enforcement actions and conducted many arrests.  Video credit: Nicky Sundt

The Response:  Local Opposition to The Occupation – Now Including National Guards from 6 States

by Larry Janezich

Posted August 19, 2025

Many readers of Capitol Hill Corner will be wondering how and where to invest their time and resources to respond to the Occupation of DC ordered by the Trump Administration.

This post, which will be updated, serves as a guide to local groups organizing on-the-ground actions designed to make visible and more effective the opposition of DC residents to the Trump Administration’s violation of DC Home Rule. 

Background

On August 11, the Trump Administration invoked a statutory emergency power and announced a takeover of the MPD in the District.  To augment this assertion of authority, the Administration deployed the DC National Guard as well as federal law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Included in that deployment was the Department of Homeland Security, under which falls the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.  Since the August 11 order, six other states have responded to DOD request to send National Guard personnel to DC, including Ohio, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee, totaling more than 1000 troops. 

The Response

FreeDC has become the leading organization which is taking direct action to oppose the federalization of law enforcement and the deployment of National Guard to DC.

Free DC is a fiscally sponsored special project of Community Change, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and Community Change Action, a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization.

The organization has teams operating in all 8 Wards and has a long history of advocacy for DC Statehood and in 2023 organized a campaign in response to Congress’s overturning the DC Revised Criminal Code Act. In 2025 it organized the response to the House of Representative’s refusal to routinely authorize the city to spend $1 billion of its own revenue for city services during the remainder of the current fiscal year. 

Here are some of FreeDC’s recommendations about what to do to oppose the Occupation:

  • Organize:  Sign up with FreeDC. Visit FreeDC’s website for a calendar of events, a link to merch, and news.  Join specific campaigns and get involved.   https://freedcproject.org/    
  • Participate in FreeDC’s orientation presentations.  Get training.  Get educated.  Know your rights. 
  • Join the effort to lobby members of Congress in person, by email, or by phone.
  • Make FreeDC visible everywhere:  Make signs and posters – wear t shirts and buttons.  See FreeDC Official Merch here:  https://bit.ly/41b8LwO
  • Stay informed. Join the FreeDC communication network.
  • Urge residents and elected officials:  “Don’t obey in advance.”
  • Currently, FreeDC has no direct action planned.

Ward 6 Democrats have also launched several activities to respond to the gross violation of DC home rule, including:

  • Distributing info from the ACLU-DC, FreeDC, and the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network.
  • Urging residents to follow FreeDC’s suggested actions, including talking with your friends and family outside of DC and encouraging them to call their elected officials opposing the administration’s current efforts to take over law enforcement in the District.
  • Join the Monthly Statehood Committee Call on Wednesday, August 20.  The Statehood Committee will share the latest on what’s happening in our community, discuss what we can do and work on a plan for what to do next.
  • Time: 6:30 – 7:30pm

Location: Virtual, Zoom link provided upon registration

RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/dcdems/event/829386/   

  • Join Ward 6 Democrats, which is free to any registered Democrat living in Ward 6. The organization does suggest a one-time donation of $51 or a monthly donation of $6. Go here:  https://www.ward6dems.org/

Resources to help keep you informed:

Some other organizations which have participated in public debates and/or offered support and advice include:

  • Defending Democracy/Capitol Hill Village
  • Neighbors United for DC Statehood
  • Ward Six Serve Your City Mutual Aid
  • ACLU-DC
  • DC Vote
  • Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network
  • Black Swan Academy
  • Vera Action 
  • Georgetown Juvenile Justice Clinic
  • DC Justice Lab 
  • Alliance for Concerned Men 

2 Comments

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2 responses to “The Response:  Local Opposition to The Occupation – Now Including National Guards from 6 States”

  1. Craig D'Ooge
    August 20, 2025 at 5:25 am

    We are a test case. Other states will follow, beginning with those who sent their own National Guard to DC.

    • Jill Lawrence
      August 20, 2025 at 5:19 pm

      Please note also — if you are conversing with family and friends from your home state and trying to explain this takeover — here is a link that could help.

      https://www.hillrag.com/2025/08/01/is-dc-a-canary-in-a-coal-mine/

      This Opinion lists the main Myths about DC that have been circulating with rebuttals using evidence-based Facts. We in DC really need allies in states to call reps and Senators for us.

      Right now it is a Presidential tactic but Congress has been planning a Bowser Act to take away our 50 years of Home Rule.

      Be aware and share this article to widen our circle of support and to warn those in other states since we are the practice Canary in the Coal Mine.