Hello from Washington, D.C.

For the past five days, homeless residents of D.C. have been terrorized by police as part of Trump’s hostile takeover of the district. Read our statement from Friday describing the chaos as it began to unfold. Dozens of homeless people have been displaced or had their property destroyed. The federal government has supplied only fear and chaos, not support or housing. 

Community leaders are rising up in response to Trump’s militarization, demanding real solutions to homelessness like housing and support, and an end to the hostile takeover. We were proud to stand with our partners at Free DC in calling this abuse of power what it is: textbook fascism.  

“Locking up people you don't like or don't want to see is textbook authoritarianism. [...] Right now, they are coming for homeless folks, trans folks, and migrants. But rest assured, soon they will come for everyone who is not a white, straight, cis, wealthy Christian man. [...]  If Trump actually wanted to solve homelessness, he would focus on proven, data-proven, cost-effective, ethical solutions to homelessness, like housing and support. But he isn't interested in actually helping people.” 

Watch part of the speech by the Law Center’s Jesse Rabinowitz here. 

TAKE ACTION

1. The Housing Not Handcuffs Act has been introduced to Congress to stem the tide of federal arrests and ticketing of our unhoused neighbors. Use your voice to demand Congress invests in true solutions to homelessness: housing, not handcuffs. 

2. We want Congress to do everything in their power to stand down the escalation of federal forces in DC. DC has no voting representatives in Congress. That means there is no one who can advocate for us right now — so DC residents need your help.

In addition to staying tuned into the Law Center’s work, please check out and support these organizations doing incredible work on the ground in D.C.:  

• Miriam’s Kitchen  
• Free DC  
• HIPS – DC’s Harm Reduction Home  
• Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless  
• Fair Budget Coalition 

More coverage: 

• NPR: It's unclear where unhoused people are ending up as authorities clear D.C. encampments
• Common Dreams: As Trump Wages War on the Homeless, His Budget Will Kill a Policy That Helped Them Find Housing 
• WUSA9: 'Playing human whack-a-mole' | Homeless advocates warn DC encampment sweeps will backfire 
• AP: Homelessness advocate calls Trump's plan to remove DC encampments 'fascist' and a 'waste' 
• NYT: Officers Clear More Homeless People from Sites Around Washington 

Onward, 

Housing Not Handcuffs