DC councilman calls for National Guard to be deployed amid rising crime rates in capital

By Firdevs Bulut Kartal

TORONTO (AA) - Washington, D.C. Councilman Trayon White called Tuesday for an emergency to be declared and the National Guard to step in to curb the rapidly rising crime and violence in the nation’s capital.

In a press statement on the deaths of three people in a gunfight on Aug. 6, White said that anarchy and lawlessness have increased and crime is spreading everywhere in Washington, D.C.

“We must declare an emergency regarding the crime and violence in our neighborhoods and act urgently. It may be time to call on the National Guard to protect the children and innocent people that are losing their lives to this senselessness,” he said.

White said that "gunshots are heard not just at night, but in the early morning and all day long" in the capital.

Expressing his belief that the police will not be able to handle this job alone, he said he is in talks with the National Guard to prevent the spread of crime and that it will take a long time to reach a conclusion.

He said the Black and other communities living in the capital are most affected by the armed conflicts and they "live in a war zone."

White noted there were 106 empty shell casings in one of the conflict areas he visited and 113 in the other and that armed conflicts should be prevented immediately, otherwise everyone living in the city would be directly or indirectly affected.

- Mayor warned before about rising crime rates

Hosting a summit on public safety in the capital on May 11, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said crime rates in the city are increasing gradually and some legal changes should be made to combat this.

During the summit, it was shared that according to Washington police records, the crime rate in the city increased by 27% compared to last year and that there was a 10% increase in violent crimes.

Bowser said they focus on the real criminals in society, noting there are now many people who have been sentenced for crimes like murder but have not been arrested, criticizing current city laws.

Under the US Constitution, Congress has the right to oversee Washington, DC., while D.C. is responsible for the administration of the capital.

Before the DC City Council enacts any legislation, it must be submitted to Congress for scrutiny.

Three people were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, according to preliminary police reports.