• Thousands protest in Washington D.C. against the federal deployment of National Guard troops.
• Protesters demand an end to what they consider an authoritarian takeover by President Trump.
• Crime data show a significant decline, contradicting the need for military presence.
• Legal challenges to the troop deployment have been initiated by the D.C. Attorney General.
• Concerns rise over federal overreach into local governance and policing.

On September 6, several thousand protesters marched in Washington D.C. demanding that President Trump end the deployment of National Guard troops patrolling the city. The demonstration, known as the "We Are All D.C." march, featured slogans such as "Trump must go now" and "Free DC," with participants including undocumented immigrants and pro-Palestinian activists. Alex Laufer, a demonstrator, stated, "We're opposing the authoritarian regime, and we need to get the federal police and the National Guard off our streets," highlighting widespread discontent with federal control over policing in the capital, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Trump deployed the National Guard last month to "re-establish law, order, and public safety," which critics argue is an overreach of federal power. Justice Department data indicates that violent crime in the city is at a 30-year low, raising questions about the necessity of the military presence. Despite this, over 2,000 National Guard members are currently patrolling the streets, according to TRT Global and Los Angeles Times.

The D.C. Attorney General, Brian Schwalb, has filed a lawsuit aiming to block the deployment, claiming it is unconstitutional. While some city residents support the troop presence hoping to address crime in less affluent areas, many more express concern about the militarization of their streets. Protesters criticize the armed presence as a violation of local democracy, with one resident asserting that the federal takeover is like "living in a dictatorship," according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and TRT Global.

Amidst these tensions, Trump has also hinted at potential deployments in other Democratic-led cities, including Chicago, as part of his tough-on-crime rhetoric, which further polarizes views on his administration's policies. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker condemned these threats, referring to them as actions of a "wannabe dictator," reflecting growing opposition to Trump's approach to governance and federal control, according to Los Angeles Times.