We cannot have armed National Guards in or around our schools and young people. Our schools must remain welcoming environments of learning and growth, and spaces where all DC students, parents, and school staff can feel safe and can thrive. I, along with my colleagues on the DC Council, the Mayor, and our DC Delegate, have insisted the National Guard troops stay away from our school zones. This is a request I have repeatedly made. Unfortunately, I continue to hear reports and deep concerns from parents, teachers, and students about the presence of National Guard troops near our schools and in residential areas, and it’s leading to understandable fear. This is wholly unacceptable and creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation – the National Guard must keep its distance from our schools. As Chairwoman of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, I am holding a public hearing on November 5th that will allow DC residents to provide testimony about the ongoing federal presence in the District and discuss available local legislative interventions we can use to provide additional safety and oversight. We’ll also be discussing my bill, @CMRobertWhiteDC's bill, and @CMLewisGeorgeW4's bill which all center around transparency and accountability for the concerning presence we continue to see from federal officers in our city. I encourage residents to submit their testimony and share their experiences – we want to hear from you. Local DC leaders are committed to protecting our residents from the continued federal intrusion. Over the summer, I joined my colleagues on the Council to urge governors in other states to end the deployment of their National Guard forces in DC. The safety and well-being of all District residents must be prioritized.

NOW: The jury in the Trayon White bribery case is deadlocked. Jurors sent a note saying they are unable to reach a unanimous decision about whether the D.C. Councilmember is guilty of bribery. Defense requested mistrial but judge denied, instructing jury to keep deliberating.