The moment we warned of has arrived. Yesterday, Trump announced his take over of Washington D.C.’s police department, along with the deployment of 800 national guard troops to patrol the city’s streets. Both actions are not only an abrogation of the right of the people of D.C. to govern themselves; it’s also a step in the direction of fascism.

Trump claims there’s a crime “emergency” in the district. We wholeheartedly reject this assertion. As is well known, the crime rate in the nation’s capital has actually dropped. Thus, Trump’s claim is a pretext to repeal home rule and establish military rule over a democratic and progressive city. It’s a show of force in an attempt to make an example of D.C.’s residents and a warning to other major cities led by Black and progressive mayors.

Trump’s lies about D.C. follow his life-long pattern of racist targeting of Black youth, immigrants, and the unhoused — who are the most vulnerable when it comes to police terror.

The Home Rule Act, which gives the 700,000 residents of the District of Columbia access to a limited municipal democracy, is now under full assault by MAGA. The racists in Congress now are attempting to refuse even partial self rule, to say nothing of granting first class citizenship by becoming the country’s 51st state.

Trump’s attack on the federal workforce, the largest employer of African Americans, in addition to budget cuts, has pushed the city to the brink of an economic crisis. Over $1 billion has been removed from D.C.’s budget by Congress. Adding to the crisis is Trump’s union busting attempt to end collective bargaining rights for over one million federal workers.

All of this is part and parcel of Trump’s “shock and awe” assaults on democratic government, beginning with Mayor Karen Bass’s Los Angeles and surrounding counties. LA came first, now Washington. Who will be next — New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta?

Clearly, broad people’s unity is needed to fight these efforts. That must include elected officials. In D.C., the removal of Black Lives Matter Plaza and illegally evicting homeless encampments around the capital district by Mayor Bowser has mitigated against such unity. Trump’s “Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful” executive order virtually criminalized unhoused encampments and marijuana use in federal parks. The National Park Service Police have largely led the charge on this implementation.

As Trump inches closer to dictatorship, the Communist Party stands firmly against this assault and joins with the progressive and democratic forces in D.C. to defend home rule and elected government. We have proudly stood with the calls for D.C. statehood and view these demands as more important now than ever before. D.C. not only deserves its autonomy and control over its destiny but also full integration into the republic with full voting representation in Congress, and full control over its local affairs.

We urge everyone to oppose this blatant attack on democracy — your town might be next. Join local demonstrations, contact your local and federal representatives to introduce or sponsor legislation to expel troops and the federal police from the district. The August 28th March on Wall Street and Labor Day protests around the country are opportunities to make our voices heard!

We demand:

• No troops in D.C.!

• Return D.C. police to local control!

• ICE out!

• D.C. statehood now!

Image: Free DC hosts a press conference and rally at Black Lives Matter Plaza in response to Trump’s announced takeover by Free DC (Facebook)