While heading to the National Zoo in DC last week with our granddaughter, we once again encountered out-of-state National Guard troops. Their presence is of no positive use to our community, and they patrol exclusively in areas where there is little or no crime.
DC is occupied against the will or best interest of its citizens.
There are areas in the city that could seriously use well-trained community policing resources to aid in reducing violence and doing other good works, but I have never once seen any of these out-of-state military troops in those areas - Congress Heights, Simple City, Clay Terrace, etc. This is all about a certain leader's ego, providing no benefit for challenged communities - or for the soldiers deployed in this way for months as showpiece occupiers with nothing whatsoever to do.
From the organizer's website: "We live here. We work here. We raise our families here. DC demands an immediate withdrawal of federal troops from the District and an end to the federalization of the local police department. Together, we demand: • An immediate withdrawal of federal troops from the District • An end to the federalization of the local police department • The right to protect our communities in the future, permanently"
A broad coalition of labor, multi-faith, community, immigrants' rights, and other organizations sponsored and participated. Busloads of marchers from Detroit, Baltimore, Vermont, and Philadelphia also came and joined the march.
Note: a full Shabbat torah service was held just before the march, hosted by Jews United For Justice.
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| DC Street Activist Band |
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| DC Street Activist Band |
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| DC Street Activist Band |
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| Torah service |
