Washington DC protests erupt after Trump seizes control of police and deploys troops

The US president claimed it was necessary because 'our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals'. In January, the metropolitan police department and US attorney’s office released a report indicating total violent crime in DC in 2024 was down 35% from the previous year, marking the lowest rate in more than 30 years. 'This is not about crime, this is about control,' says Samantha Davis, an organizer at Free DC. 'This is not about public safety, this is about power'