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Crowds in DC continue to protest Trump’s federal police takeover

By Adisa Hargett-Robinson August 16, 2025 | updated 16 hours ago

Protesters in Washington, D.C., chanted “Trump must go now” and “Free D.C.” as they walked from Dupont Circle to the White House Saturday afternoon, passing several police officers as well as National Guard troops. 

Content creator Johnny Palmadessa traveled from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to voice his opposition to the federal police takeover.

“Today we’re seeing the start of something actually big and beautiful unfolding within the area,” Palmadessa said. “Donald Trump is time and again taking action to unlawfully and just grotesquely and repugnantly violate our fundamental freedoms here in the United States.”

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A post shared by Refuse Fascism NYC Chapter (@refusefascismnyc)

These protests come after President Donald Trump announced a federal police takeover on Monday, giving him control of the Metropolitan Police Department and allowing for the mobilization of the D.C. National Guard.

Since Wednesday, online activism groups such as “Refuse Fascism” have been promoting Saturday’s protest, asking people to “stand up” and protest the Trump administration’s federal police takeover.

Content creators have also been encouraging people to join the protests, but are now referring to them as “music festivals” to avoid getting their posts flagged.

“Now behind me are three tents that the American people deployed to the parking lot of Union Station to hold a music festival, and yeah, we are going to call it a music festival to ensure that this video is shown on your algorithm,” Palmadessa said in a TikTok video.

@johnnypalmadessa

Don’t you love music?

#music #dance

#musicfestival ♬ original sound – Johnny Palmadessa

Palmadessa said people are asking to feel safe and see their fundamental freedoms protected. 

“If the people are asking for [an increased police] presence, then we need to approach the issue at hand and understand why that presence is needed,” he said when asked if people feel safe with the increased law enforcement in the area. “But from what we’re seeing here today, that is not what people are asking for.”

Roughly 500 people rallied in Dupont Circle with “Refuse Fascism,” before marching to the White House and arriving around 4 p.m., where Trump was not present.

Sam Goldman, an organizer for “Refuse Fascism,” said the public cannot act like “it’s business as usual” in the wake of Trump’s takeover of Washington. 

“This fascist regime needs to be driven out of D.C. and out of power,” Goldman said. “We all have a stake in this, no matter where we live, no matter what our political background, no matter our religion, our nationality … fascism is coming for us all.” 

On Thursday evening, Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed DEA Administrator Terry Cole as “emergency police commissioner” of the MPD, before ultimately scaling back that order with the threat of legal action from Washington. Police chief Pamela Smith now remains in control of the MPD.

“Refuse Fascism” is organizing another protest on Nov. 5, calling for “the fall of the Trump fascist regime.” 

DC RESIDENTS RESPOND IN PROTEST AS FEDERAL OFFICERS AND MPD MOBILIZE

Goldman said the protest will be “nonviolent” but include “sustained resistance.”

“People really are coming from all over the country and bringing our determination and overcoming our fear and uncertainty,” she said.

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