D.C. Protests Weighing on Resources and Funds

Protests related to the police-involved deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner have been circling the nation and raising concerns for city resources.

From shutting down Interstate 395 to crowding outside of the White House, the District has had its share of protests.

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier went on NewsChannel 8’s NewsTalk segment on Tuesday to discuss the protests and what they mean for the city. She thinks that the protests are more about a problem with the overall justice system than with the general police or a race issue.

What do you think of the protest actions and the extra cost for the District? Tell us in the comment section below.

While Lanier said that people have the right to express themselves through the protests, some of them are calling for concern. Large protests like the ‘Justice For All’ march on Dec. 13 are organized, however, the smaller ones are popping up almost every night.

“So how do I prevent homicides and shootings and violent crimes and robberies and burglaries right before the holidays if all my cops are directing traffic around 30 guys that want to be out there at 11 o’clock at night laying in the middle of Chinatown?” Lanier said on NewsTalk.

To prevent pulling patrol officers from their designated areas, Lanier has had to deploy 200 to 400 additional officers every day for the protests and traffic. The extra officers are becoming expensive, she said.

Watch the full discussion on NewsChannel 8’s NewsTalk.

Photo Credit: @WNEW, @blackvoices, @LisaMillar Twitter

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