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Black mayors across America are challenging President Donald Trump's characterisations of their cities as crime-ridden, pointing to dramatic reductions in violent crime that contradict his federal intervention narrative. Trump deployed the first of 800 National Guard members to Washington DC this week and threatened similar interventions in other Black-led cities including Chicago, Baltimore, Los Angeles and Oakland.
The African American Mayors Association sees a clear pattern in Trump's targeting. Van Johnson, mayor of Savannah, Georgia, and president of the association, said: "It was not lost on any member of our organization that the mayors either were Black or perceived to be Democrats."
Crime statistics contradict Trump's claims
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson highlighted the city's "historic progress driving down homicides by more than 30% and shootings by almost 40% in the last year alone." The figures directly contradict Trump's characterisation of these cities as "horribly run" and crime-ridden.
Baltimore officials report historic decreases in homicides and nonfatal shootings since 2022, with carjackings down 20% in 2023. Washington DC's Metropolitan Police statistics show violent crime has dropped since a post-pandemic peak in 2023, contradicting Trump's assessment of the capital as a "crime-ridden wasteland."
Oakland has seen a 21% drop in homicides and 29% decrease in all violent crime in the first half of this year compared to 2024. Los Angeles recorded a 14% fall in homicides between 2023 and 2024.
Community programs drive success
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott created a Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan in 2021 that emphasises community violence intervention and victim services. The approach treats violence as a public health issue rather than purely criminal.
Oakland officials credit collaborations with community organisations and crisis response services through the city's Department of Violence Prevention, established in 2017. Nicole Lee, executive director of Urban Peace Movement, said: "The things we are doing are working."
Federal funding cuts undermine progress
The Trump administration has slashed federal support for violence prevention programs. Baltimore's Scott pointed out that the Justice Department cut over £1 million in funding this year that would have supported community anti-violence measures.
Scott accused Trump of exploiting crime as a "wedge issue and dog whistle" rather than genuinely addressing violence. He said: "He has actively undermined efforts that are making a difference saving lives in cities across the country in favor of militarized policing of Black communities."
Military intervention raises concerns
Community advocates worry that federal military intervention could undermine successful local programs. Lee expressed concerns that troops on streets "creates kind of an environment of fear in our community."
Johnson, a former law enforcement officer, argued cities need federal assistance for multistate investigations and fighting gun trafficking, not military patrols. Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson confirmed guard troops will not be armed but declined to elaborate on their specific assignments.
The mayors are closely watching Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser navigate the unprecedented federal intervention, particularly after officials sued Friday to block the takeover. Johnson said: "Black mayors are resilient. We are intrinsically children of struggle."
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
