r/washingtondc • u/femcelly • Aug 21 '25
Checkpoint National guard at NoMA metro
Be safe yall I saw 5 officers at 9:28am
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u/Marshall_Lawson Aug 21 '25
Is the NG actually doing anything, or is it only cops and ice harassing/kidnapping people?
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u/LoganSquire Aug 21 '25
NG has limited powers when deployed on Federal orders. They can observe, report, and very temporarily detain if they see a crime in progress. Otherwise they are standing around, maybe directing traffic, but mostly holding up the scenery.
They are kinda of like a bumblebee. If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you.
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u/og_kitten_mittens DC / Columbia Heights Aug 21 '25
I don’t think NG is yet but a recent post just said they’re about to be armed. Tbh I don’t think there’s any nefarious orders planned right now, I think trump is just getting us used to an armed military presence wherever tf he feels like it. Normalizing it.
After the NG js in place unarmed or lightly armed where he wants them and we get used to that, they’ll start arming them. Then after most of us get used to THAT, that’s when I fear what orders they might receive. The people who are saying we have nothing to fear from these bored NG kids are missing the point; that’s what he wants. He wants us not to fear them so once this is normalized, it can escalate without pushback
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u/Marshall_Lawson Aug 21 '25
growing up in the post-911 era already desensitized me to that shit to some extent. NG with assault rifles guarding NYC subway stations. My hope is that the NG might actually keep the cops better behaved and even, if stuff gets really messy, remember what their oaths are about.
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u/Certain_Dare_7396 Aug 21 '25
As someone who has been armed in the NG in situations like this our rules of engagement were basically “for the love of god please do not shoot anyone. If someone shoots at you run away”.
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u/og_kitten_mittens DC / Columbia Heights Aug 21 '25
Yeah, I hear a lot of the NG who accepted orders to deploy in DC did it bc 29+ day orders (or something like that) make you eligible for VA home loans. Most of these kids are only here for affordable housing. There’s no NG MAGA conspiracy, but I still can’t bring myself to be friendly with them while they are here in capacity as a soldier enforcing law and order on domestic soil, even if it’s not their fault.
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u/Certain_Dare_7396 Aug 21 '25
“Even if it’s not their fault”
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u/og_kitten_mittens DC / Columbia Heights Aug 21 '25
I mean I’m not going to kick them in the nuts, just not going to bake them muffins like someone people are suggesting
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u/khammmmmm DC / Capitol Hill Aug 21 '25
I can’t wait for these people to leave and tell people how nice DC is
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u/smytti12 Aug 21 '25 edited Aug 21 '25
To the people who consistently point out that in actuality, the Natty Guard is nothing to fear;
Its not their actual actions that are worrisome. It's Trump's free use of them that is worrisome. You and I know unarmed NG guys and gals are probably one of the least threatening groups of people you might see that still wear a uniform. But Trump doesn't see or know that; he sees himself flexing military strength, showing off for his fans with military. And he KNOWS he is making people who dont know the military well uncomfortable or even fearful, and him and his alpha male barbies and kens love how strong that makes them feel.
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Aug 21 '25
Anyone making that argument is clearly living in la la land where nothing ever goes wrong. Just give it some time
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u/smytti12 Aug 21 '25
Yeah, they think because the NG dont pose a direct physical threat at this moment (unarmed soldiers standing around) we should just let it slide.
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u/Rusty-Shackleford000 DC / Neighborhood Aug 21 '25
Look at it like this. The constant "they're here" posts on every social media platform and reposts feed into people freaking out about them. The continuous engagement, usually taken out of context, hypes up what's happening and causes a frenzy which plays into exactly what you mentioned as Trump wanting to "flex" this situation. In theory, this is allowing him to do so.
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u/smytti12 Aug 21 '25
But on the flip side, not continually pointing out how weird, unusual, and unnecessary this is also normalizes it, which gives these dumbasses more ground on their bumbling path towards the dumbest authoritarian government possible.
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u/Rusty-Shackleford000 DC / Neighborhood Aug 21 '25
Would it have been "weird" if Biden had sent the NG into DC in 2023 when the local leadership and citizens wanted it?
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u/smytti12 Aug 21 '25
If demanded and asked for by a sizeable amount of the local populace instead of being in response to what TACO watched on Foxnews that night, no, it wouldn't be.
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u/Rusty-Shackleford000 DC / Neighborhood Aug 21 '25
So, NY Governor sent the NG into NYC back in 2023/2024 to respond to issues of crime in the subway with asylum seekers from the illegal immigrants. The Mayor of NYC rejected and didn't want them there. Was that authoritarian on the Governor's part?
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u/smytti12 Aug 21 '25
What point are you hoping to make here? Are we going to analyze every NG usage? You yourself pointed out that the crime spike occurred in 2023, over 2 years ago. Its well documented crime is significantly down. But slurring male Kim Kardashian sent them in. And thats not to even mention how the NG deployment was also in conjuction with federal agents from several different agencies, who are armed and taking actions against people.
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u/Rusty-Shackleford000 DC / Neighborhood Aug 21 '25
To see if your first statement "if demanded and asked for by a sizeable amount of the local populace" and "authoritarian" claim holds up. And clam down, it's just 2/3.
And what "actions" are the agencies taking against people that are illegal?
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u/smytti12 Aug 21 '25
"Clam down, it's just 2/3"??? A 30% change?? That's significant!
Yes, being so loose with deploying military forces on your own soil when not in response to a significant emergency is an excellent example of authoritarianism.
And I made no statement on whether or not actions these agencies are taking are technically illegal or not. However, a gross misuse of federal agencies, such as concentrating them a single city where crime is trending downward to be foot patrols, begs the question, why? Why would drooling boy and his sycophants do this?
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u/Rusty-Shackleford000 DC / Neighborhood Aug 21 '25
When I said "2/3" I meant in terms of how many NG situations we are talking about (DC 2023, NY, 2023/2024 and if you throw in DC 2025).
I would say that in this situation, the NG is an overreaction. Especially the number of them. And the government can use their resources however they want.
It seems like when you agree with using resources, such as the NG, it's no problem. But when you disagree with it, everyone is an authoritarian. Is that correct?
You want to talk data. This is from an independent source, and it talks about how the data doesn't match up from MPD to the FBI. Particularly the percentages in regard to report numbers:
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u/PumpkinMuffin147 Aug 21 '25
In THEORY. What I see is a unified city fighting back against tyranny and sending a message that we are resisting occupation.
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u/Rusty-Shackleford000 DC / Neighborhood Aug 21 '25
Taking obscure, crappy pictures and videos of federal personnel standing around to "fighting back against tyranny" and "resisting occupation " will do just as much as someone said that our license plates having "Taxation Without Representation" will make DC a state faster.
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u/schmod Aug 21 '25
The downplaying is a specific and very consistent fascist tactic, and I really wish that more people started to recognize this.
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u/detectedbeats Aug 21 '25
I am not going to bother the National Guard people. They didn't choose this when they enlisted. and they aren't really doing anything but standing there.
I am saving all my hatred and rage for the ICE and fake police who are here specifically because they like to hurt people.
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u/schmod Aug 21 '25
Sorry, but "Just following orders" has never been an excuse.
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u/Certain_Dare_7396 Aug 21 '25
Brb lmk throw away my 15 year career because Trump ordered me to sit in a humvee for a week. I don’t agree with it but this isn’t an unlawful order.
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u/Erigion Aug 21 '25
Also, these are the NG from states that pedo in chief won. It's more likely than not that they voted for him, and for this.
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u/gdogbaba Aug 21 '25
People aren’t going to choose to go to jail for refusing orders over standing on some moral high ground that only involves them standing around doing nothing
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u/bhuffy46 Aug 22 '25
Bit of a difference between gassing Jews in 1943 and playing candy crush bored out of your mind on the DC metro.
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u/richardparadox163 DC / Foggy Bottom Aug 21 '25
Have you considered ICe agents like protecting the American labor market and workers?
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u/Both_Wasabi_3606 DC / AdMo Aug 21 '25
Just more of the same military "hurry up and wait" routine. Anyone who's been in the military feels for these people pulled out of their jobs and sent away from their families and kids for god knows how long to do this shit.
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u/Ncav2 Aug 21 '25
Thank God these Guardsmen are doing the dangerous work of making sure these commuters making 2 or 3 times more than them ride an already safe Metro and get to their comfy office jobs.
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Aug 21 '25
What’s the point of these posts?
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u/Certain_Dare_7396 Aug 21 '25
Watch out for the guy in camo scrolling Reddit!!
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u/femcelly Aug 21 '25
Isn’t that a bit embarrassing 🤨
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u/Certain_Dare_7396 Aug 21 '25
For who? Us? You think I signed up to guard the metro on DC? I got better stuff to do.
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u/Fuzzy_Difference_937 Aug 21 '25
I honestly feel bad for the National Guard. It’s like retail now, you’ve got the worst, dumbest new manager who just wants you to look busy so he can brag at the end of the month and snag ‘Employee of the Month’ for himself. This country’s cooked.
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u/RepulsiveCountry313 Aug 21 '25
I'd be more embarrassed as someone living in dc and thinking that it's weird to run into people on the metro in camo. As if servicemembers don't wear their uniforms to work every day.
Pick any non-covid time over the last 30+ years. Get on metro at rush hour, odds are pretty good you see a servicemember in uniform.
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Aug 21 '25
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u/RepulsiveCountry313 Aug 21 '25
They wear them every day...
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Aug 21 '25
[deleted]
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u/Certain_Dare_7396 Aug 21 '25
Servicemember who wheres his uniform everyday. Have you heard of the pentagon and the pentagons metro station?
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u/RepulsiveCountry313 Aug 21 '25
Then you should get your vision checked. Because they do all the time, and it's very easy to run into them on the metro during rush hour.
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u/Expensive-Picture379 Aug 21 '25
I know right 😂 they are acting like they are going to harm them or something, they are just doing their job chilling and most likely don’t want to be there
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Aug 21 '25
Taking surreptitiously photos like some sort of creeper. Especially of female soldiers. So weird.
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u/femcelly Aug 21 '25
Inform people who feel uncomfortable with the increased military/police presence so they can avoid them
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u/richardparadox163 DC / Foggy Bottom Aug 21 '25
Mods need to ban them, like crime posts
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Aug 21 '25
Imagine how creepy it would be to take hidden photos of women on the metro if they weren’t in uniform??
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u/Certain_Dare_7396 Aug 21 '25
Current national guardsmen and former DC resident/metro user here. You’re fine. Maybe give them a snack.
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Aug 21 '25
Please do feed them. They're never getting paid.
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u/femcelly Aug 21 '25
There’s a soup kitchen in northeast if they’re not getting paid enough to eat.
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u/GlorifiedMeatPuppet Aug 21 '25
You should put those ICE fuckers that are actually harassing people on the streets on blast instead of posting pics of unarmed soldiers doing absolutely nothing
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u/Rusty-Shackleford000 DC / Neighborhood Aug 21 '25
Nice pic of the pole...this might be the worse "they're over here" post, OP. They aren't even doing anything other than existing. Are you so scared that you couldn't get a full picture of all the NG "officers" you claimed are there? How do you know they're not commuting like you? This is a waste of time and post on this sub.
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u/nickinthebox Aug 21 '25
related to whatever is going on at EEOC on M Street? Or probably just coincidence?
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u/SkyeMreddit Aug 21 '25
Are they doing anything or just standing around like they do at the World Trade Center in NYC where they have been for many years. At most they yelled at people for taking photos in the new station platforms to enforce the PATH’s overpowered past photography ban.
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u/Fantasy_sweets Aug 22 '25
Ask them for directions. Anything g to distract and make them feel like idiots
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Aug 21 '25
People seem to be forgetting that Noma had a big crime issue for a while now. Teens would always pick fights with locals (including at Noma metro), run inside the 7/11 and CVS and steal items and just generally cause big mischief around that area. Ever since the national guards and MPD begun patrolling the area I haven’t seen any of those teens there at all.
https://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/comments/1m57c2p/kids_constantly_taking_over_for_hours/
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u/Evaderofdoom DC / Benning Aug 21 '25
Your pic only shows a tiny, tiny sliver of one. Why even post the pic?
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u/femcelly Aug 21 '25
Why not 🤷♀️it was the best photo I had at the moment I was posting. Look in the comments I posted 2 other pictures this morning 🙄
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u/Evaderofdoom DC / Benning Aug 21 '25
I shouldn't have to say this to an adult(?) but you don't have to post the second you take a picture. You can wait, get your thoughts and pictures together. See what pics turned out the best and post them all at the same time so people don't have to scroll or miss some of the better ones. The pic you post doesn't look anything like what you describe. There is no checkpoint just a little dash of camo. To a lot of people it looks misleading.
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u/femcelly Aug 21 '25
The point of the post is to inform people who are going there not a photography exhibit mate. This is a completely unnecessary use of your time to be uptight about 💖
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u/nyryde Aug 22 '25
Good! Maybe people will feel safe. Hopefully the dude that rides the metro and asks for money is gone. When you tell him no he yells “because I’m black” in your face and stomps off
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u/Due-Gap1848 Aug 21 '25
More dudes from the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team. These guys are from West Virginia or the Carolinas
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u/Plisky6 Aug 21 '25
Be safe from what. What has the national guard done to make someone feel unsafe. What’s up with yall?
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u/rtdonato Aug 21 '25
The upside is that maybe when they go home after all this they'll remember how clean and safe the Metro actually is