First-hand report from Gestapo-occupied DC. It's not pretty.

[AverageOldGuy]

My attorney daughter lives on Capitol Hill in DC, a block behind the Library of Congress. She calls us daily. This afternoon's call was not pleasant. Here is her report of life under the Gestapo.

DC RESTAURANTS report a 25% drop in business since the Gestapo appeared.

VIDEOING THE GESTAPO. Anyone who films the Gestapo is attacked, phone taken away, cuffed, and hauled off.

EASTERN MARKET. Daughter went to Eastern Market as she does every Saturday morning. Eastern Market is the only one of the old, original market houses remaining in DC. Farmers and other merchants rent space and sell their goods. The market itself is a big old brick building covering two blocks. It is surrounded by small shops, restaurants, and bars. Very friendly, convivial place, everyone loves it. She walks over on Saturday morning, eats breakfast, watches people while sipping coffee, shops for her week’s supply of vegetables, visits around, and comes home.

This morning the Gestapo was around Eastern Market. People would approach, see the Gestapo, turn around. Daughter went straight to the vegetable sellers, got her week’s veggies, and went home. She reported the crowd was well below normal.

HOMELESS. Homeless in DC have stuff – tents, backpacks, grocery carts, clothing, etc. The Gestapo spent yesterday throwing all the belongings from homeless people into trash trucks and hauling it away.

IT’S COMING. Daughter has been talking with many of her friends – all well-off professionals, men and women, white, Hispanic, Black, Muslim, some come from elsewhere, others are DC natives. All are pissed off beyond belief. Their consensus is that at some point, some serious shit will hit the fan – no one knows what will set it off, no one knows what it will be, no one knows what will be the response -- and they are betting it comes sooner rather than later.

[Dave Bowman]

1. It's getting grim fast. I hope that your daughter and her friends stay safe.

[Cheezoholic]

2. It's what they want of course, but people can only take so much, and they know that

These fuckers have the people in place that will waste no time taking down protesters with bullets, just as the Republican Fascists want. The taste of power is strong in their mouths right now but the smell of that power being taken away is getting stronger every minute and they don't like, and will not accept it this time around. Whether people like it or not blood is going to be spilled and probably sooner than later. We may have amazing technology today but we're only a couple of inches farther out of the caves than we were 1k years ago. Blood is the main weapon against oppression... unfortunately.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

27. It's clearly what they want

However, remember, they have fired all competent military and intelligence officers. Many of whom still command great respect from their troops. If push comes to shove, Cheetolini and his thugs might not like the outcome. It's a terrible thought that we might have to rely on military officers honor to their oaths to save us from the fascists. But that is where we are.

[popsdenver]

49. They are accelerating,

with every day that passes............THEY WANT TO PUSH US TO REBELLING, SO FATFUCK CAN EVOKE THE "INSURRECTION ACT" AND MILITARIZE THE U.S. MILITARY ACROSS THE U.S. !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sort of a damned if you do, and damned if you don't scenario......and it is all by design.........

[slightlv]

68. If they just go ahead

And militarize the cities, what difference a piece of paper?

[LoisB]

3. I hope she remains safe. Throwing away the meager belongings of the homeless is just

cruel. I hope these "agents" get their due sooner rather than later.

[MLWR]

18. These a$$holes are nothing if not CRUEL.

They are all sadists. They are incapable of being thankful for what they have, for counting their blessings. For them, it's not enough.

[LoisB]

28. Yes! I imagine none of us would be able to sleep or look at ourselves in the mirror. They

don't seem to be bothered at all.

[Lonestarblue]

76. I picture ICE agents as guys like Kyle Rittenhouse-- willing to ignore the law and mo remorse even for killing someone.

[popsdenver]

50. They want the homeless

out of DC, same as anyone of any kind of minority.

They envision a "Perfectly Beautiful City" to go with their Beautiful Budget........

WASF

They are acting like the "BORG" more every day...................."Resistance is Futile"

He has already mentioned doing the same in LA and Denver............

[LoisB]

55. He is a fool if he thinks we are all going to roll over for him.

[EmmaLee E]

70. Really?

[Cha]

4. Wow, Excellent Descriptive OP... TY AOG!

Your Description from your Daughter.. sounds like I've imagined it... and how could it not Devolve into Serious Shit Hitting the Fam.

Mahalo

[speak easy]

6. "throwing all the belongings from homeless people into trash trucks" :(

[Cha]

7. I know... my face when I read that, too...

and

Wishing ICE the Worst Possible Karma in return.

[MayReasonRule]

72. 86 47 Then Ice Ice Baby...

[Cha]

83. Sounds Reasonable to me. TY

[calimary]

88. Works for me, too.

[IbogaProject]

19. Ugh, the NYC Parks Dept have nimble black trash trucks just for that ugly task

That is specifically for moving the unhoused out of NYC Parks property. I hate seeing it happen. DC may have been more liberal with their unhoused until now.

[quakerboy]

57. normal day in any american city

Thats what sweeps are, and as far as I can tell, those are common in virtually every American city big enough to have a noticeable homeless population.

[speak easy]

58. I did not know that :(

[maxsolomon]

80. In Seattle, the Homeless encampments become public health hazards.

Last edited Mon Aug 18, 2025, 01:28 PM - Edit history (1)

There is a process where campers are given 24 hours to pack it up and leave - many still wind up losing valuables. Last one I heard about were dentures.

No clue if DC's homeless (of which there are 10x less than in Seattle) are being given notice. Or shelter options "far from the Capitol".

[GoodRaisin]

5. Krasnov awaits the response so he can declare martial law.

He’s pushing for it hoping he can make it happen.

[flashman13]

8. I expect sooner rather than later.

[angrychair]

9. Time to hold a strike in DC or leave

Not sure what other choice they have
Either have to withhold labor or abandon the city. See how long the NG last with no one there

[brakester]

84. Emptying cities (especially the blue ones)

of their citizens is their ultimate fantasy. Everything I have seen since January points to a deep well of hate for any person or idea different from themselves. The RW rich and connected would be thrilled if we "others" would just disappear.

They've figured out with AI, robots and crypto, workers and unions will be dispensed with. They have already set in motion the elimination of healthcare, social security, clean air and water, affordable housing, free speech, education, etc.

They can't wait to have the country to themselves. They dream of all the national parks, farmland, private homes, natural resources and manufacturing free to loot, privatize and fight over. An Uber-Capitalist theocractic playground.

[angrychair]

85. I keep hearing that

But I never hear how they are supposed to stay billionaires if no one is working.

Replacing people with AI and robots sounds great on paper only as long as you don't do the math on it.
Poor people, broke, out of work people, do not buy but the bare necessities...if that.

I don't have a job, I sure as hell can't afford a Tesla.

[S/V Loner]

10. All it is going to take is a tiny spark...

from either side. All it has to be is an accident that sets things off and I think sooner than later and the sooner the better.

[bpod1]

11. Riots - What they want

It's no secret, this administration WANTS riots in the streets. They can say "I told you so - reckless lawlessness!! And then go about ramping up (HOW ABOUT BRINGING IN Nat'l GUARD FROM OTHER STATES). All according to their plans...

[Wednesdays]

21. Welcome to DU!

[popsdenver]

51. Or even better,

riots and civil unrest to enable him to enact the 'Insurrection Act" and use not just the National Guard, but the entire U.S. Military to control the entire U.S. and delay any elections due to the supposed chaos.......and focused on the remaining BLUE STATES.......

[oldmanlynn]

63. If people ain't fighting against that and standing up against

Then maybe we deserve all this

I think people are gonna stand up

[Skittles]

69. these are people who refuse to do ANYTHING about chronic gun carnage

Last edited Mon Aug 18, 2025, 04:22 PM - Edit history (1)

the hypocrisy is staggering

[LetMyPeopleVote]

81. Welcome to DU

[C Moon]

12. Creepy! I wonder if this was what they had planned for downtown Los Angeles.

[B.See]

43. Undoubtedly.

Like I wrote a week ago, they're SPOILING for a confrontation.

[aggiesal]

13. I use ICEtapo, instead of Gestapo. I think more people relate to ICE instead of Ges. n/t

[caraher]

14. It's all intended to provoke

Take a peaceful city.

Seize on an incident to declare an emergency.

Send in an invading army of outsiders.

Take resistance to said invasion as evidence that the city was in chaos, justifying the initial invasion and subsequent escalation.

Back in the '60s the Kerner Commission report pointed out that effective law enforcement requires community support that is impossible "when a substantial segment of the community feels threatened by the police and regards the police as an occupying force." (p. 158)

A sure formula to create a lawless city is to send in a literal occupying force - in this case, out-of-state National Guard troops.

[JustAnotherGen]

34. This is why i don't believe

Big Balls.

[Hekate]

42. I think the little shit lied

[JustAnotherGen]

73. It looked like

Red Tempera paint.

[mcar]

15. My son and his family live in DC

What's happening is sickening, cruel, and frightening. Something is going to blow and that thing in the WH will use it as an excuse for further crackdowns.

[IbogaProject]

23. I hope resturants and delis can selectively close temporarraly if the IceStazi show up

They need to cluster to work their evil, so the support businesses need to make them more uncomfortable.

[Blues Heron]

26. No pizza for Nazis!

[ReRe]

52. That's right. Starve them out!

'Awwwww guys, you didn't bring a picnic? No expired MREs?? Well, I guess there ARE a couple Mess Halls in town.
'Sorry, this restaurante is closed for the military season. Y'all don't come back now, ya hear?'

[mcar]

53. So many restaurants closed due to Covid

I fear this fckery will be the death knell for more.

[Initech]

16. Rest of the world, you are free to liberate us from this nightmare any time you like!

[OldBaldy1701E]

17. If we need the rest of the world to solve this problem, we do not deserve a country.

But, that is only my opinion on the matter.

[Initech]

20. Elections won't save us, the law won't save us...

What do we do? We can't just keep caving into the fascist' demands. We have to kick their asses.

[JustAnotherGen]

38. Militias

Disciplined. Not riots. Not running amok. Disciplined.

[OldBaldy1701E]

74. And, numbers.

I still stand by my assessment that five million people surrounding Washington would get our message across. Not violent. Not trying to start a war. Just surrounding it and letting them know that we do not approve and that all the fascists have to leave.

Now, if they don't want to... Well...

[JustAnotherGen]

75. I'm on Threads quite a bit

Seeing more and more 70 years and older Veterans showing up - to show us the way.

[sir pball]

77. Protip, don't use a baseball bat, use a 4' piece of 2x4.

A bat is obviously a weapon, the "it's just the stick for my sign" excuse doesn't really work…a 2x4 is just as effective, but far more plausibly deniable.

I suppose a bo staff might work too, but I never personally tried that one…

[hamsterjill]

82. Totally agree.

As much as I'd like it all to remain peaceful, I do not have any illusions that it is going to remain peaceful. If Trump doesn't get the desired reaction, he will just create the desired reaction. He is not above lying, we all know. He will create something that justifies martial law, and that is going to be when the shit hits the fan IMHO.

[MadameButterfly]

92. I just don't see how we win a violent outcome

The MAGAs have the guns. The police and army lean right.
Even if we started arming ourselves, it would never be enough, and more people would die.
We have to have a plan to shut down the economy or win over the military or both.
If big business pulls it's support of Trump or the military won't cooperate, then everything changes.

[hamsterjill]

94. Well, none of us want it.

But I don't think we are going to have a choice. I think it's coming, and I think people will die. I think only then will it be a possibility that business pulls its support of Trump or the military decides not to cooperate.

Please let me be wrong! I'd LOVE to be wrong. But I think Trump wants a showdown to exert his "power" and if he doesn't get an actual opportunity, I believe he will create one. When Trump supporters see the military shooting (forgive me, but we all know this is true) White protestors, there's either going to be a change of heart, or else we might as well throw in the towel and call it over. I don't know what Trump supporters will do because they seem to just excuse every single thing that he does. I know seeing that is going to wake some people up, but will it be enough? And again, I DO NOT want it to happen.

I have asked myself a thousand times why some of the military commanders have not started speaking out. Other than the obvious concern over their own jobs, surely there are one or two who believe in the oath that they took. Where are they?

[MadameButterfly]

96. I agree with every word

I think only then will it be a possibility that business pulls its support of Trump or the military decides not to cooperate.

There-in lies our hope and we don't know how bad it has to get for that to happen. The key will be that people KNOW what is happening, including those in the bubble. We need to keep the press alive through it all, and exapnd our reach to Fox viewers.

I don't expect current military commanders to speak out--they are Trump appointees chosen because they will follow his orders--and those who would object need to keep their heads down and remain employed so they can refused orders when the critical tie comes. But I do wish FORMER military generals whould speak up. The rank and file military needs to hear that legiiimate generals before these new Trump appointees would not be following certain kinds of orders. They need to understand they have a choice to make.

Last night Rachel showed a demonstrator in front of some forces arrayed in DC which said (more or less):
"What orders from Trump would you not obey?"

In the end, they are the audience we have to reach.

[JustAnotherGen]

37. Agree

[JustAnotherGen]

36. They won't

They never have.

[Initech]

40. Too many countries are dealing with their own fascist turds.

[question everything]

22. DO the White House, Congress, government building use local restaurants and other services?

What if they all shut down? If the Repulsives in Congress cannot get their pizza? What if the goons cannot find an open service station to get fuel?

Can they force them to open?

[MichMan]

39. What about all the people working there that can't pay their rent or feed their families if they aren't working?

Or the businesses that can't pay their rent if they are closed down and get evicted?

[Ilsa]

64. Who are the regular employers for all of these

National Guard personnel? Why aren't we hearing about them being pissed off about their employees being taken away? Are they hiring replacements? Paying other employees overtime to cover the absence of NG employees? And they are required to keep their jobs open for when they return.

[MichMan]

65. OK, but that has absolutely nothing to do with what I posted

Did you reply to the wrong post?

[Ilsa]

66. No, I was thinking about small businesses from

all over the USA, including those small businesses in DC who have employees in the National Guard who are doing without their trained employees.

[California Kid]

24. It should be called trump gestapo

[hadEnuf]

25. We need national strikes, work stoppages and maybe even

states witholding taxes.

Gavin Newsome has had some good ideas along with others who have had the guts to try and lead, but we need organization and solidarity. Organized civil response will put more legitimacy to the cause rather than people hurling Molotov cocktails at armored troop carriers because they have had all they can take. And the national Fox propaganda will also have a harder time demonizing legitimately organized resistance instead of blaming the Democrats and Liberals.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

29. "The Gestapo spent yesterday throwing all the belongings from homeless people into trash trucks and hauling it away."

Huh, some people think that's presidential material.

[question everything]

79. This is sadism. I wish that some would set a protest, that someone in Congress will decry this

[TnDem]

90. That does look like trash to me?

Are you sure this is the right picture for the article?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

95. When people are living rough, their belongings do tend to look like trash, particularly by the time governors show up to

help complete the sweep. People store a lot of things -- extra clothes and shoes, blankets, winter coats, tarps -- in plastic bags as they're cheap and easy to find. They store water in discarded plastic jugs. They might have a bag full of papers -- IDs, birth certificates, special letters, that kind of thing.

[Disaffected]

30. The Gestrumpo

ride again!

[moniss]

31. It won't be long before passports and leaving will be

heavily scrutinized and restricted. It's coming full bore and when people see them doing things like shutting down polling places that's when it will be too late for any normal, democratic peaceful means to fight this.

[SSJVegeta]

32. Every day the term "serious shit" carries a brand new meaning

[Kablooie]

33. Yes I fear violence is in the future.

But I don’t think it will tun out well for the people. Trump and his Nazis will think nothing of slaughtering as many normal citizens as it takes to terrify everyone into docility.

[yellow dahlia]

35. Thank you for sharing the account.

You brought us into the reality and the visual.

Aaargh!

[Hekate]

41. The Feds/ Presidents have a record of at least one really nasty removal: the Bonus Army

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonus_Army

Aside from that — many thanks to your daughter for the report

[MIButterfly]

44. What in the world?

That is not America! That is insane. I expect that kind of a thing from a dictatorship. Who the hell goes along with this?

That is just incredibly scary to me. First DC, then who's next and who's after that?

And taking and throwing away what little possessions that homeless people have? That's beyond cruel. Shame on all the people who ordered this and on those who willingly follow those orders. Shame on every Goddamned one of those fucking assholes.

[sop]

45. Numerous federal district courts, including Washington D.C., have found citizens have a First Amendment right

to record law enforcement while performing their duties in public. Trump's declaration of "direct federal control" of the district doesn't mean these First Amendment rights no longer exist. However, under the Home Rule Act Congress retains the power to review, modify, or overturn local legislation and can impose new laws on the District. While District residents still have their First Amendment rights, Congress could limit or regulate their exercise, but that would be subject to judicial review and could be challenged on constitutional grounds. Like all of Trump's many crimes, this will also have to be decided by the courts.

[FakeNoose]

62. It's possible to photograph their activities, but I wouldn't do it with a cellphone

Once they take your phone away, they've got all they need to arrest you and maybe charge you with something. It's best to not carry any kind of cellphone around the ICE thugs. You could lose the phone and they'll have what they need to lock you up. (Or they can plant info on your phone if it's not there already.)

[Norrrm]

46. Trump's Gestapo/Secret Police patrol in squads, not pairs.

Brute force/intimidation, not policing.

[elleng]

47. Thanks for info.

I lived and worked in DC 20+ years, but sorry never got to Eastern Market.

[B.See]

48. Well hey, we KNEW (didn't we?) that

with the seizure of power and CONTROL, by Trump, by his far right administration /government /court - an administration founded upon A HATE BASED, fascist IDEOLOGY based upon supremacist notions

that it was ALWAYS going to come to this.

We knew that, right?

[COL Mustard]

54. I'm pretty sure it's illegal, but....

I wish the restaurants in these areas would not serve the undercover cops. Just refuse to serve them.

[orleans]

56. saw this on bsky

My son said they’re just harassing as many ppl as possible and threatening them, he said no one’s going out, I’m sure businesses will suffer terribly, he said it’s like Covid lockdown. This fascist waste is costly& beyond harmful in more ways then ppl realize.

— (@hope-post.bsky.social) 2025-08-18T01:06:45.684Z

[Jack Valentino]

60. Good thing Republicans are 'better for the economy' !

[FakeNoose]

59. Number one priority: Don't carry a cellphone if you're going anywhere near them

Also avoid wearing ethnic-type clothing, even though it's your right to wear such things. The homeless people are truly f*'d... many have some form of mental illness and most are unemployable. But the government has no right to throw their stuff away.

[madamesilverspurs]

61. Bullies prefer to pick on the vulnerable,

those least likely to be able to fight back. Then they huff and puff and tell everyone how tough they are, just like their boss in the White House. Bleccchh.


.

[alimbalt]

67. Time to get ...

... wearable surveillance cameras that record audio as well.

"VIDEOING THE GESTAPO. Anyone who films the Gestapo is attacked, phone taken away, cuffed, and hauled off."

https://blackpointsecurity.com/categories/hidden-cameras/body-worn-camera.html

[Deep State Witch]

78. That Was The Consensus

Among the little group that my husband and I participated in on Saturday. Most of them are Feds, retired Feds like us, or spouses of Feds who work in DC. Shit's gonna go down. Maybe not this week. Maybe next week. But bringing ARMED NG into DC is not going to end well.

[Ruby the Liberal]

86. People with next to nothing

and their priority is changing that status to nothing at all.

I hate these people with the heat of 1,000 suns.

[Glaisne]

87. That's what they want.

A response. So they can crack down and initiate martial law and implement their full on dictatorship, especially in blue states. It’s coming. If the government is isn’t illegitimate now it certainly will be then.

[KentuckyWoman]

89. DC seems like a test drive

With the end goal a military takeover of every major city in America, followed by mid size and on down.

If he can pull it off in DC then he'll take it on the road.

[BradBo]

93. Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin' We're finally on our own This summer I hear the drummin' Four dead in Ohio