Cliff Albright and LaTosha Brown, Co-Founders of Black Voters Matter and April England-Albright, National Legal Director of Black Voters Matter issue this statement following assault on Black DC residents
“We are outraged by this systematic assault on Black communities taking shape in DC and across the country. Within the last week, federal agents have harassed and falsely arrested more than 100 Black men in DC and created an environment of chaos and fear.
This administration has created a false narrative that high crime necessitates the militarized force that’s been deployed to bait Black communities and incite violence, while crime is at a 30-year low. Without the protection of statehood, D.C. remains vulnerable to police violence and political abuse. Trump and his enablers never cared about peace or justice. If they did, white supremacists wouldn’t have stormed the Capitol on January 6th.
This fight against an authoritarian takeover isn’t just about democracy; it’s about the racist attacks against Black people that will reshape the foundation of this country. Black people will not be terrorized, and we will not be pushed back into the margins. America does not want the kind of violence that this administration is unleashing. This level of violence against American citizens will have a devastating impact on all of us, and this nation will feel the economic consequences.
We have the power to fight back and demand that Congress act now to stop Trump’s abuse of power and race-baiting tactics, and to protect the people. We urge everyone to:
- Call on Congress to end the presence of federal military in DC
- Pass H.R. 51, the Washington, DC Admissions Act, so residents are no longer subject to repeated attacks on their autonomy
- Support and amplify local organizing efforts, including groups like Free DC that are on the ground every day defending the rights, safety, and dignity of DC residents”