1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you in the strongest possible terms to oppose federal takeover of Washington, D.C.’s policing or local governance. Such a move will not only strip the residents of D.C. of their right to self-determination, but also set a dangerous precedent that threatens the very foundations of American democracy. Our system is built on the principle that government should be accountable to the people it serves. D.C.’s locally elected officials and community leaders are the ones who best understand the city’s needs, especially given the 30 year low in violent crime. Removing control from them and placing it in the hands of federal authorities will silence the voices of more than 700,000 Americans, most of whom have no voting representation in Congress. It will not end there. The precedent will embolden future efforts to override the will of local communities across the country whenever it is politically expedient. This is not about public safety, but about power. The residents of D.C. deserve the same respect for their democratic rights as any other Americans. To deny them that is to admit that some citizens’ voices matter less than others. Once we accept that premise, we invite the slow erosion of democracy everywhere. History shows that democracy often dies by 1000 cuts. This is one such moment. We need you to stand up and speak out against this tyranny.