Statement: DC community safety advocates respond to House hearing on “violent crime” in DC

WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance held a hearing earlier today on “violent crime” in Washington, DC. Leaders with Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, The T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project, and Hands Off DC issued the following responses:

"Communities all over this country are experiencing gun violence. This is not only a DC problem,” said NeeNee Taylor, Co-Conductor of Harriet's Wildest Dreams. "Congress cannot address gun violence in DC without addressing it at a national level. Guns come into DC from other states. If Congress cared they would take serious action on gun trafficking across state lines. But I don't think they actually care."

"As a youth advocate and gun violence expert, I have witnessed firsthand the struggles that our young people face in these challenging times. It is crucial for us to address this crisis head-on, but it is equally important to seek solutions that are informed, strategic, and proactive," says Tia Bell, Founder of The T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project. "While it may be tempting to look to reactionary Congress for immediate action, we must recognize that a comprehensive approach is needed to effectively combat gun violence in our city."

“There are a number of ways Congress could help the DC community be safer — but interfering in our local laws isn’t one of them,” said Kelsye Adams, core organizer of the Hands Off DC coalition. “DC is the only jurisdiction in the nation with a justice system that’s split between local and federal responsibility. That’s a huge part of how our current justice system is failing and yet another clear reason why DC statehood would make everyone here safer.”

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Harriet’s Wildest Dreams is a Black-led abolitionist community defense hub centering all Black lives most at risk for state-sanctioned violence in the Greater Washington area. We are committed to empowering and liberating our communities. Our work includes legal empowerment, political and civic education, and community care that builds alternatives to oppressive systems. Learn more at harrietsdreams.org.

The True Reasons I Grabbed the Gun Evolved from Risks (T.R.I.G.G.E.R) Project aims to denormalize and destigmatize gun violence in communities of color across the nation. We focus on changing the norm and narrative of gun violence in communities of color by authentically providing safe (physically + emotionally) space for youth survivors and through telling the untold stories of everyday gun violence users to all walks of life. Learn more at thetriggerproject.org. 

Hands Off DC is a coalition of over 50 organizations working on issues of justice reform, DC statehood, democracy, and police abolition in DC and across the country. Local activists formed the coalition in March 2023 as Congress voted to overturn DC law for the first time in over 30 years. Learn more at hands-off-dc.com.