As National Guard troops descend on Los Angeles under President Donald Trump’s orders, Black residents in Washington, D.C., are watching a familiar scenario unfold — one that began in their own streets.
In June 2020, Trump deployed federal forces to the nation’s capital without local approval, ordering the violent removal of peaceful demonstrators — many of them Black — protesting the police killing of George Floyd.
Now, Trump has bypassed Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom to send 2,000 troops into L.A., where immigration raids and community protests have sparked federal intervention.
For Black Washingtonians who live in a city without the protection of a state government, the federal crackdown on protest in L.A. is not just distant news — it’s a renewed warning of what can happen when Black dissent meets unchecked presidential power.
Here are five specific reasons why Black Washingtonians should be watching closely:
1. D.C. Was the Stage for Trump’s First Militarized Attack on Black Protesters
During the George Floyd protests in 2020 — primarily led by Black organizers — Trump ordered federal forces into D.C. and cleared peaceful demonstrators by force. The protesters were speaking out against police violence against Black Americans yet were met with military-style aggression. That response set a precedent now being repeated in Los Angeles.
2. Black D.C. Residents Are Already Disproportionately Policed
D.C. has a long history of over-policing in Black neighborhoods, and Black residents make up the majority of arrests and stops in the city. Federal deployment only adds another layer of militarized surveillance and force, often targeting communities already under pressure. What’s happening in L.A. — with a military presence near Black neighborhoods like Compton — reflects what D.C. communities could face again.
3. The Lack of Statehood Leaves Black Residents Politically Powerless
D.C. is nearly 45% Black, and yet its residents have no voting representation in Congress and no governor to prevent federal overreach. That means Black Washingtonians, who often lead and participate in protests for justice, remain uniquely exposed to federal crackdowns with few legal protections.
4. Project 2025 Targets Movements Led by Black Communities
The Project 2025 agenda proposes defunding diversity programs, expanding federal law enforcement authority, and granting the president greater control over law enforcement. These measures threaten Black-led movements, community protection, and access to legal recourse. If implemented, they could recreate 2020-style crackdowns at an even greater scale.
5. Trump’s Rhetoric Criminalizes Black Dissent
Trump’s repeated use of terms like “riots,” “thugs,” and “looters” when describing protests — particularly those led by Black communities — frames calls for justice as criminal behavior. In both D.C. in 2020 and L.A. today, Trump’s rhetoric has been used to justify military force against Black and brown protesters. This isn’t about public safety, it’s about suppressing dissent.