Behind the Scenes: Notes from the Executive Director’s Desk
DC Deserves Respect, Protection, and Autonomy
By: Kate Scott
August 15, 2025
The Washington, DC I know is beautiful, community-oriented, and full of people who are committed to making it even better. The Washington, DC described by President Trump this week is unrecognizable—and his dangerous rhetoric demands a response.
When I moved to the Hill East neighborhood in 2015 as a solo parent to a young child, I found a beautiful and supportive community. Some of my sweetest memories are rooted in the joyful, over-the-top Halloween celebrations along East Capitol Street, the warm welcomes from neighbors, and springtime walks through “carpets” of cherry blossom petals. I was inspired by DC’s rich history of Black power and culture, and reassured by the city’s thoughtful, logical layout that a friend once patiently mapped out for me.
None of this is to say I didn’t also see the city’s challenges. Racism and segregation have shaped DC’s neighborhoods and opportunities. Friends and neighbors endured frightening crimes. Unhoused community members, with no where else to go, struggle to survive in public parks and sidewalks. Like most cities, DC is grappling with historic levels of inequality—and yet, what stands out most is local community members’ and leaders’ commitments to tackling these deep-rooted problems with evidence-based, humane solutions.
The federal government’s latest actions threaten to undo years of progress—both in affirming DC residents’ right to self-governance and in addressing the complex causes of crime and homelessness. At the Equal Rights Center, we are deeply concerned about the consequences of this for our clients and neighbors. Our unhoused community members are not statistics or nuisances—they are human beings with civil rights, including the right to decide where they live.
I believe that intentionally building and investing in community is a powerful practice, and can be especially powerful in response to the punitive overreach of outsiders, as we’re seeing here. One of the ERC’s responsibilities is to protect the civil rights of all DC residents, and we stand ready to do so. That work is only possible through the deep community ties we’ve cultivated with our neighbors in DC and our members across the country. Community amplifies our impact and holds us accountable to each other. DC residents’ rights and dignity are under threat, so let’s stick together and speak out! We owe it to each other to demand respect and self-governance for this city and the people who call it home.
Forward together,
Kate
