Demonstrators stage a sit-in outside Wilson Building after DC police hearing

Sit-in over DC police hearing

The DC City Council Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary held a routine public hearing for the DC police budget today— the turnout was anything but routine. Now, demonstrators have now staged a sit-in outside of the Wilson Building at Freedom Plaza.

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - More than 100 people appear to be participating in an overnight sit-in at Freedom Plaza outside the Wilson Building.

The demonstration is taking place after 16,000 people submitted public testimony to the D.C. Council as it considers the annual Metropolitan Police Department budget.

Ward 6 Councilman and Chair of the Committee on The Judiciary and Public Safety Charles Allen said last year just 25 people testified.

About 90 people were able to deliver live testimony in a virtual hearing on Monday that spanned more than five hours.

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Overwhelmingly most called for cutting funding to M.P.D. in some way and reallocating money to various city services.

D.C. residents can still email or send in a video with their testimony until 5:30 pm on June 16.

There is a committee vote scheduled for June 25. The full council is set to vote on the proposed $18 million dollar increase to the MPD budget on July 7.