Free DC

This piece is about Mississippi but word-for-word it could be about Congress's interference in DC.

"In Mississippi and across the country, communities are rising up to protect their right to self-governance and to demand a democracy that serves everyone — not just the powerful few."

- The Festival Center Below is a letter signed by 58 organizations (including the Festival Center) urging the Chair of the Public Safety Committee on the DC Council to take actions ending the unholy […]

Last week we joined with 57 other organizations as we sent a letter to @cmbrookepinto.bsky.social to urge the dismantling of unholy alliance between ICE and MPD. The letter is linked here:
festivalcenter.org/2025/12/08/9...

DC Police Chief Pamela Smith speaks with FOX 5 about decision to resign Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said her decision to step down at year’s end was not influenced by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s decision not to seek reelection or by the federal crime surge in th...

Chief Smith’s resignation underscores just how heavy the task has been, but also how much progress is possible when leadership pushes toward accountability.

May DC move closer to the safety we all deserve that’s community-centered, transparent, & rooted in justice.

www.fox5dc.com/news/dc-poli...

Stephen Miller could have let the National Guard go home for the holidays but he’s forcing them to stay in DC instead.

Just like when your grandma gave you pencils as a holiday gift, no one asked for this.

A man speaks into a megaphone with protest signs and holiday decor behind him

A man in a baseball hat holds a large gift box with multicolored note cards attached to it. A woman in a sweatshirt with a bag over her shoulder attaches a note to it

Multicolored notes have reasons for the National Guard to leave

Four National Guard members stand in front of a police van. The street is closed for a holiday market.

The National Guard should be home this holiday season. Today together with our allies at Common Defense we asked holiday shoppers to share their reasons why they want the Guard to go home.

Our demand remains: National Guard out NOW.

NO PEACE PRIZE FOR TRUMP’S LIES.

As part of today’s draw FIFA is awarding a Peace Prize to a president who is disappearing neighbors and occupying our cities.

That has no place in the Beautiful Game and no place here in DC.

We’re outside the Kennedy Center today where Donald Trump is attending the World Cup draw. The World Cup is a chance for the world to come together but this president is a leader who represents nothing but division, greed, and cruelty.

Frankie Seabron of @harrietsdreams.bsky.social: “We know that if it was well-off white people being snatched off the street the Council would have a sense of urgency.“

Most immigrants arrested in Trump’s D.C. crackdown had no criminal records A Post analysis of federal data shows that the arrests of immigrants with no prior criminal record shot up sixfold during the Trump administration’s crackdown.

“These were indiscriminate enforcement actions going after any person who appeared to be an immigrant. … What’s motivating them is just sheer numbers.”

“We know DC can’t change federal laws. But when MPD collaborates with federal immigration agencies through joint operations, that is a DC choice, with DC resources, under the control of DC leaders.” Sandra Benavente, @ayudadmv.bsky.social

“The collaboration between MPD and federal agents does not make our communities safer. The agents that tear our families apart are the same agents that are racially profiling our Black neighbors.” Oliver Merino, Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

Chairman Mendelson: “The DC Police Union has been very hostile to DC autonomy, they are very hostile to accountability measures, and I think they are front and center in these attempts to undo DC laws by Congress.”

Elizabeth Paige White, a lawyer working with two people shot at by HSI agents during traffic stops: “As the agents approached my client’s car, they opened fired. One bullet went through his shirt collar. It is nothing less than a miracle that the officer did not kill him.”

Jordan Kagelmeyer: “Hold a dedicated hearing on MPD’s collaboration with ICE, and strengthen the Sanctuary Values Act to stop MPD traffic stops from turning into immigration enforcement.”

Emily Cassometus, Professor at UDC law and chair of Free DC’s DC Local Government Working Group: “CM Pinto, you started this hearing by listing the things you can’t do. But Council has the power to pass laws that DC can use as both shields and swords to protect our communities.”

Prof. David Kennedy of John Jay Kennedy College of Criminal Justice: “Most violence in cities happens in networks of people who represent about 0.5% of the population. In DC that’s about 3,500 people.” Underscores that we know what works to prevent violence — it’s not broadly increasing enforcement.

Council Chair Phil Mendelson is also present. “Thank you Councilmember Pinto for holding this hearing. I know many residents have concerns about safety right now, particularly the violence of some federal law enforcement officers that is terrorizing our communities.”

Chair Pinto opens the hearing by attempting to lower expectations.
“DC has fewer levels of power than states. I call on Congress to ensure federal law enforcement understands local law.”

A government hearing room full with people in the audience. Elected official sit at the front at a dais. Large digital screens on the wall show 2 minutes and 48 seconds.

Starting now: DC Councilmember Brooke Pinto convenes a hearing of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety about public safety issues facing DC.

The youth have something to say and tomorrow we will listen up!

Join us, tomorrow at 3pm after the Public Safety hearing beginning at 9am. Black Swan Academy’s Youth Organizers and Free DC’s Youth Safety Strategy Coalition join in the fight to protect our youth and uplift their voices!

NEW: Judge Howell barred the Trump administration from continuing to make warrantless immigration arrests in DC unless there is probable cause to believe there is a risk of flight.

The admin illegally lowered the standard, she said.

w/ @hassankanu.bsky.social

www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

Judge orders Trump administration to halt warrantless immigration arrests in District of Columbia U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell emphasized the fact that an immigration status violation is a civil, not criminal violation, and said viewing all immigrants as criminals was legally “plain wrong.”

Late last night, a federal court judge issued a ruling temporarily blocking the Trump administration from continuing to carry out indiscriminate immigration arrests in Washington, D.C.

www.courthousenews.com/judge-orders...

Judge blocks widespread immigration arrests in DC made without warrants or probable cause Injunction was sought by civil liberties groups in lawsuit against Department of Homeland Security

A federal judge has ruled that ICE's "systemic failure to apply the probable cause standard, including the failure to consider escape risk" when making arrests in DC directly violates immigration law and DHS's own regulations.

DC: 1
ICE: 0

👏👏👏

Federal judge: National Guard deployment in DC is ‘unlawful’ The 2,300 Guardsmen aren’t headed home just yet, though.

A federal judge ruled the Trump administration had “exceeded the bounds of [its] authority" in deploying the D.C. National Guard, and lacked the authority to call up out-of-state Guardsmen to patrol in D.C.

What does this mean? Don't miss @maustermuhle.bsky.social's reporting:

Case 1:25-cv-03417-BAH Document 68 Filed 12/02/25 Page 4 of 88 For the reasons discussed below, plaintiffs' motion to enjoin preliminarily defendants from continuing any policy or practice of conducting warrantless civil immigration arrests in the District without making individualized probable cause determinations as to each arrestee's risk of escape, as required by 8 U.S.C. § 1357(a)(2), is granted, and a final decision on the requested certification of a class and both subclasses will be reserved for a later time. Defendants are preliminarily enjoined from enforcing their policy of conducting warrantless civil immigration arrests without probable cause to believe that the arrestee is likely to escape before an administrative warrant can be obtained; and only plaintiffs' proposed Unassessed Escape Risk Class is provisionally certified.

Judge Howell just enjoined warrantless immigration arrests in DC without probable cause to believe the person is a flight risk.

Great work by ACLU and Amica

www.courtlistener.com/docket/71452...

Did anyone at all ask the simple but very important question: with what money?

Trump’s lawyers will almost certainly appeal this and there’s no guarantee ICE would follow the law even if it becomes final.

But this important step affirms what we all know: ICE is acting illegally, and one day these agents will need to answer for their actions.

A screen grab of a post from X user Kyle Cheney reads: “JUST IN: Judge Howell bars the Trump administration from making warrantless immigration arrests in D.C. without probable cause that a target is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained.”

BREAKING: A judge has ruled that Trump’s warrantless immigration arrests in DC are illegal and unconstitutional.

File under: Use 👏 every 👏 available 👏 tool 👏

I’m disappointed Rep. Hageman’s antidemocratic and paternalistic bill passed out of committee today.
 
If enacted, the bill would radically change how local DC laws and regulations are interpreted.