WASHINGTON — Nearly 400 people joined a virtual town hall Monday night, hosted by At-Large D.C. Councilmember Robert White. Tensions quickly rose over the role of federal law enforcement officers operating in the District.

Almost as soon as the meeting began, people began to flood the chat, asking questions and demanding answers.

"Stop gaslighting us," one person wrote.

"You are destroying all the good will you have built," said someone. Another wrote "all of this is setting MPD back decades with the community".

The comments poured in throughout the nearly two hours meeting.

"I know what my neighbors' faces look like, why aren't you showing yours?" one person asked, referring to some of the masked federal officers whose anonymity has sparked community concern.

Captain Jon Dorrough of

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