FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Linda Paris, Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, 202-308-5186, [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice in May announced a planned “summer surge” of law enforcement in Washington, D.C. In response to the increased deployment of National Guard troopers from Ohio, West Virginia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and the District of Columbia, Ryan Downer, legal director of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, issued the following statement:

“On the eve of the Declaration of Independence turning 250 years old, it is hard to imagine a D.C. morning commute without seeing armed National Guardsmen. Our nation’s capital looks more like an occupied territory than a thriving democracy.

“Starting this past August, President Donald J. Trump ordered more than 2,000 National Guards troops to blanket the heart of our nation’s democracy, patrolling Metro stations, tourist attractions, parks and neighborhoods. Today, the deployment has increased without an end date.

“When, where or why National Guards go in the name of public safety is a federal decision. Leaders elected by D.C. residents do not have a say in this local issue.

“Although crime prevention remains a top responsibility for every level of government, we have serious questions about the effectiveness of allocating millions of dollars to pay for the National Guard in the nation’s capital. According to a recent congressional study, taxpayers will pay a bill of $332 million for this questionable approach to public safety. Every day of the deployment, the bill rises.

“Federal courts in California and Illinois have done their part in protecting the role of localities in public safety by pausing or halting the deployment of the National Guard. District residents deserve the same safeguards. We will keep defending D.C.’s voice in keeping the streets safe.”