WASHINGTON — Saturday morning, 20 members of the D.C. National Guard came out to pick up trash alongside Ward 8 community members. Some of the National Guard members that participated are Ward 8 residents themselves.

“They are people. They live here in our communities," said Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Chairperson Joseph Johnson, who helped organize Saturday's event. "They are our neighbors, and we have nothing to fear.”

He's hoping community clean up events like this help change his community's mind about the DC National Guard.

“We hear things like their time could be used doing something else, but I believe that if they’re here and they’re in D.C., and they’re here through November or December, we should take advantage and use those resources to our advantage," said Johnson.

Na

See Full Page