D.C. remains vulnerable to this kind of dangerous political exploitation.



Friend –

Yesterday, the Trump administration's decision to seize control of D.C.'s police force and deploy the National Guard was a baseless political exploitation that could cause significant harm to D.C. residents and visitors.

Let's be clear: crime is significantly down – falling 26% in the first seven months of 2025 – and does not rise to the level of an emergency. What this action does is stoke fear and increase harm for people across the District.

Making D.C. the test case for federalizing local policing – by deploying the National Guard and seizing control of our police force – is political theater and a blatantly phony justification for abuse of emergency powers.

The world is watching as we, the people, fight to protect our neighbors, loved ones, and community members from an administration determined to cause fear and harm in the District. With your support, we will fight back against these harmful actions and build a more just and free D.C.

Read our full statement. <[link removed]>

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Know Your Rights: Law Enforcement in D.C. <[link removed]>

The Trump administration's decision to deploy the National Guard and federalize D.C.'s police is unprecedented in our city's recent history – but right now is not the time to panic.

Instead, it's time to prepare. The best way to protect yourself and your community is to know your rights and understand how to navigate interactions with law enforcement.

We've put together Know Your Rights <[link removed]> guides to help you identify agencies and respond confidently if approached by law enforcement. Share them with your neighbors, family, and friends – because informed communities are safer communities.

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D.C. Statehood Guide <[link removed]>

Without the protections of D.C. statehood, D.C. remains vulnerable to this kind of dangerous political exploitation. If we were a state, D.C. would have a local government with the power to have guardrails against executive overreach.

We've seen before how federal control of the D.C. National Guard can lead to abuse, intimidation, and civil rights violations in the District, as seen against the 2020 racial justice protesters.

We need your help to make D.C. statehood a reality. As you travel to other states or welcome out-of-town guests to D.C., use this guide to talk to your friends and family to build the national support we need to make D.C. a state the very next chance we get.

We are prepared to protect what the people of D.C. want, what we deserve, and what is rightfully ours.

Thanks for sticking with us,


ACLU of the District of Columbia


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