Federal law enforcement appeared to target a Black man smoking on his porch on the first day of their deployment in Washington, D.C.
Video of the incident shows a federal agent, identified as a U.S. Park Police officer, approaching a group of residents gathered on a front porch. Without citing a violation, the officer questioned a Black man and requested identification as he pointed to what he believed was a marijuana cigarette.
The man informed the officer that he lived at the residence and was smoking a regular cigarette. Despite the explanation, the officer flashed a light on the rest of the group and continued to question them.
“We’re doing checks, keeping everybody safe down here,” the officer said, noting Trump’s federal takeover of D.C. police.
“We’re out here for violent crime and quality of life issues—smoking, drinking,” he continued. “Tell your boys, everybody’s out—from the FBI to the police. Don’t be smoking outside. Don’t be drinking outside.”
Video of the encounter sparked backlash from local officials and civil rights advocates, who argued that the incident was a clear example of the overreach and racial profiling feared under Trump’s policing directive.
On Monday (August 11), Trump announced his plans to deploy the National Guard and take over Washington D.C.’s police department for 30 days, citing what he called an “out-of-control crime wave.” Despite Trump’s claims of “rampant lawlessness” in D.C, data shows violent crime in the city is at a 30-year low.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has denounced increased federal presence in the city as an “authoritarian push.”
“We’re not some hellscape,” she said. “We’re a beautiful city.”
Federal authorities said 23 arrests were made on day one of the deployment, but none were linked to the man confronted on his porch.
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