During Marathon Hearing, Youth and Advocates Speak Against Juvenile Curfew and Federal Law Enforcement Cooperation

December 5, 2025

Religious leaders and youth advocates gathered outside D.C.'s Wilson Building and testified at a marathon council hearing to protest the Metropolitan Police Department's ongoing cooperation with federal immigration and law enforcement agencies. Rev. William Young IV described how youth in Ward 8 have stopped participating in community peace walks due to police presence, highlighting the damaged relationship between MPD and residents since federal cooperation intensified.

Who is affected

Youth in Ward 8 who previously participated in peace walks
Black youth being accosted by federal agents
Philip Brown and Justin Brian Nelson (two Black men shot at by Homeland Security Investigation officers)
Dalaneo Martin (youth killed by U.S. Park Police in 2023) and his mother Terra Martin
Migrant communities facing detention by federal agents
Black motorists nearly killed by federal agents
Black District residents experiencing racial profiling
Latino communities affected by federal enforcement
Students at Columbia Heights Education Campus and Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School
Gun violence victims and those at risk of future victimization

What action is being taken

The Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) is conducting protests and speaking out
Rev. William Young IV and others are doing peace walks in Ward 8 (though Young has told MPD to back away)
Over 150 people are testifying before the D.C. Council Committee
Black Swan Academy, Free DC, Harriet's Wildest Dreams, the T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project, CARE Anacostia and other organizations are conducting a youth rally for resources in Freedom Plaza
Attorney Elizabeth Paige White is fighting for information and representing Brown and Nelson
Deputy Mayor Lindsey Appiah is attempting to manage the White House relationship and reinforce D.C. values on a near-weekly basis
MPD is continuing to cooperate with ICE and other federal law enforcement agencies
Federal agents are detaining migrants, accosting Black youth, and conducting chases

Why it matters

This matters because the cooperation between MPD and federal law enforcement agencies has severely damaged trust between police and D.C. communities, particularly affecting Black and Latino residents. The collaboration has resulted in dangerous incidents including federal agents shooting at unarmed citizens, racial profiling, and immigration raids that community members describe as illegal stops. The breakdown in police-community relations is undermining violence prevention efforts, as youth refuse to participate in peace walks when police are present. The situation highlights the tensions inherent in D.C.'s unique status as a city without full home rule, where federal intrusion limits local control and threatens residents' constitutional rights. Additionally, the focus on punitive measures like juvenile curfews rather than investment in youth programs and safe spaces demonstrates a disconnect between what young people need and what policies are being implemented.

What's next

White is calling for the immediate release of body-worn camera footage in both of her cases and investigation for the immediate end of the task force
Pinto is calling on Congress to exercise its power to ensure federal agents are properly trained, understand local law, and do not violate human rights
The juvenile curfew has been extended to April 2026 (voted earlier in the week)
A U.S. District Court judge ruled that immigration arrests in the nation's capital must stop (ruling came one day before the hearing)

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer