By Amber W. Harding, Executive Director of the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
On August 14, 2025, D.C. showed up in full force to protect the rights and dignity of D.C. residents who sleep on the street. The Legal Clinic had 5 teams of legal observers and outreach staff. I saw activists, lawyers, faith leaders, outreach workers, media, D.C. government workers, and other D.C. residents come together to witness, to record, and to protect people on the street from government abuse of power. I saw the culmination of a week of collaborative effort to get people inside, out of harm’s way, and to overcome real barriers to emergency shelter that exist- all in a state of panic and with no new resources. (It is important to note that precisely zero resources—no money, no vacant federal buildings, no housing—have come from the federal government to support moving people inside.)
Among people on the street, I saw confusion, fear, and distrust. One elderly man told us he would just walk all night, because he didn’t want to risk sitting or lying down. For some, it solidified their belief that the federal government is targeting them. Others couldn’t understand why they would ever be targeted since they weren’t hurting anyone and were just trying to survive.
Last night, a group of federal law enforcement officers tried to forcibly evict and destroy the belongings of a small group of people in Washington Circle. A resident of one of the tents and our legal observers showed the officers the notice from the D.C. government that instructed people to leave by Monday, August 18. They convinced the federal officers not to move forward with the destruction.
This afternoon, without notice to outreach workers, D.C. human service agencies, or anyone impacted, federal and local police officers moved through D.C. destroying property in parks, on sidewalks, and outside of programs that serve unhoused residents—including the tents at Washington Circle with the signs permitting residents to stay until Monday.
We do not yet know the full scope of harm being wrought on people throughout the streets of D.C., and the situation is constantly evolving. However, last night, I saw a community of people who love their city and understand that we are all less safe and free when our government uses its power to harm its own people. That community stands ready to do what is necessary to protect our neighbors.