D.C. residents are urging federal officers to unmask themselves when assisting the Metropolitan Police Department with policing the District.
Videos all over social media recently show federal agents wearing masks during arrests in D.C. alongside MPD officers who are not allowed to wear masks.
While Mayor Muriel Bowser has expressed support for the surge of federal agents in the District during the president’s 30-day crime emergency, she has been very critical about masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducting immigration arrests.
“What has not worked during this period of time is ICE terrorizing communities, especially with masks and especially not having enough information about where people are,” Bowser said.
A new organization called Home of the Brave launched a street ad campaign criticizing federal agents who wear masks and make arrests without identifying themselves. The group is blanketing the city with posters saying “Take off your masks” and “Why are you hiding your face? Public servants should face the public.”
Michael Fanone, a former D.C. police officer who was attacked and injured during the riot at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2021, is a spokesperson for the group.
“I couldn’t think of a better person to talk out about the adverse impacts of this administration than a former police officer who suffered at the hands of Donald Trump and his supporters,” he said.
A mobile billboard with similar messages will travel through high-traffic areas.
Home of the Brave also is collecting testimonials from those who say they’ve been hurt by Trump administration policies.
Fanone said he’s looking beyond the federal officer surge.
“The biggest component for me as a former law enforcement officer is making sure that none of this behavior becomes normalized,” he said.
“During enforcement operations, all ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers and Homeland Security Investigations special agents wear badges designed to be easily identifiable and to signify their authority as law enforcement officials,” a senior department of Homeland Security official told News4 in a statement. “If an ICE officer or agent chooses to wear a mask to protect themselves from being doxed and targeted by highly sophisticated gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13, criminal rings, murderers, and rapists, they clearly identify themselves as law enforcement.”
Fanone said he can relate to that concern, having faced both for speaking out about his assault on Jan. 6 that left him unconscious and with a traumatic brain injury.
“Also, I feel like it’s un-American,” he said. “If you’re out there acting in accordance with the Constitution and upholding your oath and enforcing the law in an ethical manner, you shouldn’t need to hide your face from the public.”
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