Statement from Councilmember Charles Allen on Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight of Protests:

“I want DC residents to know that as the Chair of the DC Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, my office will be conducting oversight of incidents where individual rights or personal safety may have been violated by law enforcement, keeping in mind that the Committee maintains jurisdiction only over local police. This specifically includes a review into the activities last night along Swann St., NW.

Residents should also know that the District has an independent, civilian police complaints agency – the Office of Police Complaints – with jurisdiction over the Metropolitan Police Department and the D.C. Housing Authority Police Department. OPC maintains a 24-hour hotline at 1-866-588-0569, and online complaint filing is available here: https://policecomplaints.dc.gov/page/office-police-complaints-online-complaint-form.

For anyone who was at Swann St., NW last night, if you want to share your experience with my Committee staff, you can email [email protected]. Please note my Committee staff is assisting me in protest and election monitoring today, so thank you in advance for your patience in responding.

Finally, I want to remind everyone that the DC Council does not have any authority over the federal government agencies who have been brought in by President Trump or otherwise have jurisdiction over federal lands – it is one more reason why the District of Columbia must be the 51^st State and maintain complete autonomy over our affairs. The escalation of federal agents and military helicopters is outrageous, deliberately provocative, and making the situation more dangerous, cracking down on Americans peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights.”