Thousands of people took to the streets of Washington in one of the largest demonstrations against President Donald Trump’s decision to place the city’s police under federal control and deploy the National Guard, Anadolu Agency reported.

The “We Are All D.C.” march united a coalition of civil rights organizations, unions, and advocacy groups. Protesters gathered at Meridian Hill Park and then marched over two kilometers to Freedom Plaza near the White House, chanting “Troops go home” and carrying signs reading “End the Occupation of D.C.” and “Trump Must Go Now.”

Speakers condemned weeks of federal forces and military patrols, warning that the lack of statehood leaves the city vulnerable to unilateral decisions by the federal government. D.C. Council member Janice Lewis George led part of the chants, stating that the city “welcomes, not excludes,” and called for full statehood to protect residents’ rights. Other speakers, including union leaders and immigrant rights advocates, criticized the impact of the increased presence on Black communities and local businesses.

“They criminalized our existence and want to destroy us,” one activist said through a megaphone, denouncing the “detention and arrests of our immigrant community” and the “compliance and capitulation” to the administration’s “racist and reactionary agenda.”

Trump declared a criminal emergency in the capital on August 11, federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department and deploying over 2,000 troops, including reinforcements from Republican-led states.

His administration reported that the operation resulted in nearly 2,000 arrests, the confiscation of almost 200 weapons, and the clearing of dozens of homeless encampments. However, city officials cited data—which Trump has dismissed as inaccurate—showing that crime had already been declining before the federal intervention, with violence and property crimes down compared to last year.

The Department of Justice faced criticism from magistrates and local officials over how cases were handled during the heightened policing, with accusations of excessive charges and civil rights violations. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit this week seeking to block the deployment, calling it unconstitutional.

The march took place as Trump signaled plans to expand federal operations to other Democratic-led cities. He has repeatedly threatened to send troops and immigration teams to Chicago, mirroring actions in Los Angeles. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker condemned these threats, accusing the president of pursuing “dictatorship” in a social media post.

The event concluded at Freedom Plaza, where speakers called for continued mobilization and promised new protests against the federal occupation of the city. |BGNES