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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Joe Sommerlad

Mayor says US capital should become 51st state amid Trump takeover

  • DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has revived calls for the District of Columbia to become America's 51st state.
  • This follows Donald Trump's move to federalise Washington's police force, which he justified as necessary to combat crime.
  • Mayor Bowser countered that official statistics show a significant decline in violent crime in DC, with last year recording the lowest levels in 30 years, making the National Guard's deployment unnecessary.
  • She argued that DC's lack of voting representation in Congress and its direct federal control demonstrate why statehood is crucial for the city's independence.
  • Bowser urged residents to protect the city's autonomy and home rule, advocating for the election of a Democratic House to provide a "backstop" against what she termed an "authoritarian push".

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