Ward 3 Update: Protests, Policing, & Black Lives Matter

Dear Neighbors,

Black Lives Matter. A man, begging for his life, was murdered by the Minneapolis police who were sworn to serve and protect him. The circumstances of George Floyd's death have called our nation to action, and it is wholly appropriate for the District of Columbia to join in the national protest and work to eliminate racist policies and systems that foster discrimination and oppression in our community.

I and my colleagues on the Council are continuing these efforts in the legislature and are working on an emergency bill (for introduction on Tuesday) to respond to identified policing issues of the moment. Of course, these efforts will continue beyond this period of protest and I'm keen to support permanently limiting qualified immunity, prioritizing de-escalation tactics and nonviolent methods of restraint, and identifying circumstances for citations to be issued in lieu of arrests. However, with the federal government's authority and numerous police agencies operating in the District, there are some circumstances that may be out of our local control, just as we witnessed on Monday night when the President of the United States militarized against Americans engaged in peaceful protest.

That night, the President offered verbal provocation, fired tear gas, and deployed military forces, who, in an extremely dangerous decision, engaged low flying helicopters against protesters—the force of which ripped limbs from the surrounding trees. By instigating violence and chaos, all for an insincere and wholly inappropriate publicity stunt, the President has only escalated tensions between the government and the citizenry demanding equality, safety, and true justice. The President set a violent precedent that evening, but we cannot allow him or acts of violence by agitators to distract from the real message and intent of peaceful protest.

In the meantime, we should all protect one another and support our local business so that they can remain open (especially amid the coronavirus pandemic). And, if possible we should join with the Department of Public Works and District Department of Transportation who are leading daily clean-up efforts across the city. On a special note, please do your best to practice coronavirus safety if you are planning to participate in the protests. This highly contagious virus is still very much present in our community—the District reported 9,016 cases today— and you should wear a face mask and employ coronavirus safety measures to the greatest extent possible.

Below I have linked resources that I hope are helpful for those who are looking to support leadership in the peaceful protests and local coronavirus response. As always, I welcome and encourage your legislative and policy ideas as we continue to work in this area. Undoing a system built on prejudice and discrimination will certainly need engagement beyond policing reform: it will need to look at housing, food access, education, the built and natural environment, and more. We can be the model and, as the Nation’s Capital, we should be.

Regards,

Mary