National Guard

“Protecting DC Residents from Unauthorized Poll Monitoring and Voter Intimidation” – “Can federal officials send the military, National Guard, and/or federal law enforcement to monitor the polls? No.”

By Prince Of Petworth

photo by Victoria Pickering

From the Office of the Attorney General (OAG):

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today issued a know-your-rights advisory on poll monitoring and voter intimidation for District residents. DC and federal law protect the rights of District residents and all Americans to vote in a free and fair election without intimidation, coercion, or outside interference.

“Voting in DC is simple, secure, and reliable,” said Attorney General Schwalb.

“Anyone who experiences or witnesses interference with our local elections should report potential violations to our office and the DC Board of Elections.”

For guidance on your rights as a District of Columbia voter, read the FAQs provided below. (more…)

National Guard intervene in Fight on Barracks Row, One Guardsman Shot, One Civilian Suspect Shot

By Prince Of Petworth

MPD reported at 1:30am: “MPD is investigating a shooting in the 400 block of 8th Street SE involving a National Guardsman.”

400 block of 8th Street, SE

Chief Carroll gives details on what happened:

“Approximately 11:10pm yesterday evening…

Nationals Guardsmen in parked car observed a fight… Exited the car to intervene in order to stop the fight… Individual began shooting…

National Guardsman shot in leg area. Suspect shot in abdomen area.”

See full video briefing: (more…)

DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG): “This is not normal, or legal, and we cannot become numb to it.”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the DC Office of the Attorney General (OAG):

“Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb issued the below statement following today’s hearing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) lawsuit to end the federal government’s illegal deployment of National Guard troops in the District.

“It violates the law and the principles on which this country was founded to have the U.S. military policing the streets of any American community, including the District of Columbia,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “For over a year, thousands of armed soldiers who are not from here and have limited law enforcement training have occupied our streets, spreading fear and confusion by patrolling near our schools, deploying next to ballot boxes, and marching through our neighborhoods. This is not normal, or legal, and we cannot become numb to it. It is long past time for this illegal deployment to end and for the National Guard to return to their homes, their families, and their regular jobs.”

On November 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb ruled that the federal government’s deployment of National Guard troops to the District is illegal. Judge Cobb granted the Office of the Attorney General’s request for a preliminary injunction but the D.C. Circuit temporarily stayed the order while it considered defendants’ appeal. Today, the D.C. Circuit heard oral arguments regarding the federal government’s appeal of the District Court’s order.

The lawsuit alleges that the federal government is violating the U.S. Constitution and federal law by: (more…)

“Where is the National Guard???” (Ed. Note: They’re Still Around.)

By Prince Of Petworth

Dupont Circle (south) metro exit

Are others noticing a redeployment of troops around town? Have you seen them in other neighborhoods where they have not already been spotted?

“Dear PoPville,

I regularly visit Dupont Circle and the National Mall.
Usually these areas are crawling with bored National Guard troops.
Maybe it’s my imagination but (more…)

JUST IN: “at Metro Center stopped upstairs by military police (National Guard) who said there is an active bomb threat.”

By Prince Of Petworth

photo by Jordan Barab

“Dear PoPville,

I just got off the orange line at metro center (around 11:22am), to be stopped upstairs by military police who said there is an active bomb threat. Why are they still letting trains through?! I texted metro police but no response.

the military casually saying we couldn’t come close to board the next red line train. Text response is now that there is an open investigation.

My concern is how it’s being handled. If there is a threat, maybe we should not have been allowed to get off at metro center at all.”

Update from WMATA: “Red Line: Trains are temporarily bypassing Metro Center due to a police investigation. Customers will experience delays in both directions.”

“FINAL: Red Line: Trains are no longer bypassing Metro Center following an earlier police investigation.”

“ACLU-D.C. Comments on One-Year Anniversary of National Guard Troops in the Nation’s Capital”

By Prince Of Petworth

From The American Civil Liberties Union of D.C.:

“On August 11, 2025, President Trump announced that he was deploying National Guard troops to patrol Washington, D.C. Despite a lawsuit, protests by D.C. residents, and opposition from local elected leaders, the Pentagon confirmed last month that National Guard troops will continue to patrol the District until the end of Trump’s term in January 2029.

The American Civil Liberties Union of D.C. has been among the vocal critics of the presence of National Guard troops in D.C. and has filed a friend-of-the-court brief with other advocates in the District’s challenge to the deployment. ACLU-D.C. Executive Director Monica Hopkins remarked on the one-year anniversary: (more…)

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