The Autistic Self Advocacy Network strongly opposes the Trump administration’s dangerous intrusion into policing in the District of Columbia. Such actions place autistic people and other people with disabilities (including our own employees) residing in the District at risk. They are particularly concerning in light of the President’s remarks regarding people with mental illness - who he refers to as “maniacs” - and the Administration’s recent executive order demonizing and criminalizing such persons and calling for increased institutionalization. DC has recently had success with community-based, non-police responses to people in mental health crisis. Instead of supporting such effective measures, the administration and its allies in Congress have punched an enormous hole in DC’s budget, making such programs much harder to fund.

We are particularly opposed to recent measures by federal agents to dismantle the living situations of unhoused persons and arrest unhoused DC residents. Half of unhoused people are disabled. Despite the administration’s claims, it is illegal to arrest someone for refusing to go to a homeless shelter–even setting aside that there are not enough shelter beds in the region to accommodate everyone who is currently on the street. If the administration wants to solve homelessness in the district, it should fund the provision of more affordable housing, not harass and lock people up for being homeless.

Police injure and kill members of our community at hugely disproportionate rates. People of color, who make up the majority of DC residents, are also disproportionately subjected to police violence; disabled people of color will therefore be especially endangered. A surge of additional police (let alone national guard troops who are not trained in policing) into the streets of DC will only make these deadly interactions more common. Given the importance of peaceful demonstrations for our movement and many others, we are also concerned that the president’s alleged desire for police violence against protesters in DC may be enacted under this policy.

DC has now sued the administration to try to end the takeover; we support their suit and hope it is successful. Regardless, under the DC Home Rule Act, any extension of this takeover beyond thirty days would require the approval of Congress. We urge our elected officials not to give that approval, and to do everything possible to end this dangerous overreach as soon as possible. 

Autistic Self Advocacy Network

PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035

 

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