WASHINGTON (7News) – In the heart of Southeast D.C., residents of Wards 7 and 8 are demanding stronger action as violent crime continues to surge. These two wards consistently record the highest levels of violence in the city, yet many feel overlooked even as President Trump’s federal crime emergency reshaped law enforcement efforts in the capital.
Residents Say Help Hasn’t Reached Them
From the start of the federal takeover in August, community members have repeatedly voiced frustration that promised aid has not reached their neighborhoods.
“Honestly, over here, I haven’t seen anything,” one resident told 7News on August 13.
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) Andrea Davis echoed that concern a week later, saying, “They need to be over in these areas that really have a need.”
Other residents raised the same issue during community-led crime walks, pointing out that law enforcement’s increased presence has skipped over their streets.
“So yes, it’s a problem over here,” one man said following a neighborhood shootout. ANC Tom Donohue, who helped organize the walk, pressed the question many are asking: “As far as the surge of law enforcement, where are they?”
A Lack of Local Input
Community leaders argue that while federal officers patrol other parts of the city, Southeast D.C. residents have not been given a seat at the table when decisions are made.
“Local, community-based groups have not been included in any of these conversations,” said Gregory Jackson, senior advisor to Community Justice, in an interview with 7News on August 29.
That frustration has been echoed by ANC Commissioner Robbie Woodland, who expressed a willingness to work with federal authorities but noted the lack of outreach. “If they’d be open to meeting with us, we’ll be open to meeting with them,” Woodland said on September 7, the night of a deadly Barry Farm shooting.
Mapping the Hotspots
Woodland and fellow commissioners have identified 60 crime hotspots in Ward 8 where they believe federal and city resources should be concentrated. The list includes Birney Place, the site of Sunday’s fatal shooting that claimed the life of 20-year-old Najii Mercer.
“They just go anywhere,” Woodland said of federal patrols. “They don’t know where they’re going. They don’t know the territory like we know this territory.”
Growing Frustration
The recurring theme from residents and advocates is clear: they want to be heard. They want their lived experiences and knowledge of their neighborhoods to guide where resources are deployed.
“You may have noticed a trend,” one community advocate told 7News. “Everyone is asking: where are the feds, where are the soldiers, and why won’t anyone listen to us?”
7News has raised these questions directly with the Mayor’s Office, the White House, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the FBI, and the U.S. Capitol Police, asking how they are collaborating with community groups and what future engagement looks like.
A Call for Long-Term Solutions
While some see the federal intervention as a temporary show of force, many residents stress that real change requires more than soldiers on patrol. They want a sustainable plan that invests in communities and works alongside local organizations.
“You know, I just hope that some sort of leadership actually takes the time to be a part of the ecosystem,” Jackson said. “To learn from MPD, to learn from the local organizations, the violence interrupters.”
Residents fear that once the federal presence fades, the violence will remain unless deeper partnerships are formed. Advocates argue that only by involving local leaders, grassroots groups, and residents themselves can Southeast D.C. chart a safer, more resilient path forward.
Leave a Reply