The Daily When the National Guard Comes to Town
345 snips
Sep 8, 2025 
Jessica Cheung, a Senior audio producer at The New York Times, joins Levon Williams, a D.C. native and violence interrupter, to discuss the National Guard's deployment in Washington, D.C. They explore community reactions, highlighting tensions in Latino neighborhoods and the impact on daily life. Williams shares personal experiences facing increased surveillance and fears amidst military presence. The conversation raises critical questions about public safety versus community autonomy, revealing emotional narratives from those navigating life under heightened scrutiny.
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Deployment Versus Crime Data
- The federal deployment in D.C. was framed as a crime crackdown despite falling murder rates citywide.
- The action appears driven more by political control and optics than a measured public-safety emergency.
A Resident Finds Temporary Calm
- Sondra Seegers, a lifelong Congress Heights resident, describes constant fear and random violence in her neighborhood.
- After the Guard arrived she felt quieter streets and safer enough to tend her garden again.
Local Trust Vs. Federal Tactics
- Local violence-interruption work relies on community trust and relationships built over years.
- Federal officers lack that local knowledge, causing misunderstandings and undermining community-based prevention.