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District of Columbia

Political repression plays out state by state — shaped by local institutions, prosecutors, and movements for defense. These are the documented political prisoners and cases the census holds for District of Columbia.

405Documented
6In custody
299Released

Eras of repression in District of Columbia

Where District of Columbia’s entries fall across the census’s historical eras.

1910s 158 1970s 45 1980s 41 1960s 33 1930s 30 2020s 22

Recent dashboard entries from District of Columbia

The newest published events and reporting located in District of Columbia, updated automatically from the live dashboard.

Other

Federal agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington home

Washington, D.C. · Associated Press
Other

White House excludes Politico from Air Force One press pool

Washington, D.C. · U.S. Press Freedom Tracker
Protest

Pro-Data Center Party Interrupted by Protesters in DC

PubKey, Washington, DC · Newsweek
Other

White House excludes CNN from Air Force One press pool for presidential trips

Washington, DC · U.S. Press Freedom Tracker
Protest

Thousands join protest outside Kennedy Center, expressing concern that Trump might tear it down

Kennedy Center, Washington, DC · PBS NewsHour
Other

CNN, MS NOW and Politico barred from White House access; outlets challenge the ban

White House, Washington, DC · U.S. Press Freedom Tracker
Arrest

He brought a guillotine to D.C. He didn’t expect to get arrested.

U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court, Washington, DC · The Washington Post
Prosecution

Trump denies US weapons shortage and says information 'leakers' being 'hunted down'

The White House, Washington, D.C. · BBC News
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Documented cases

405 entries in the census — every one stays in the record, whether the case is open or closed.

E
Eugene E. O'Sullivan
Released
Eugene E. O'Sullivan was a defendant in the case arising from the 1975 Washington Post pressmen’s strike. The...
M
Margaret Oakes
Released
Margaret Oakes was a member of the National Woman's Party and one of the "Silent Sentinels" imprisoned during...
J
John Olson
John Olson was a Bonus Army veteran arrested at the Third Street and Pennsylvania Avenue billets after the Jul...
B
Bill Owens
Bill Owens was a Massachusetts state senator who joined Dick and Lillian Gregory in an anti-apartheid protest....
J
Jack Payden-Travers
Jack Payden-Travers was individually named among fourteen death-penalty abolition protesters arrested at the U...
F
Frank Phillips
Released
Frank Phillips was arrested on February 17, 1930 while distributing unemployment leaflets outside the United S...
E
Edna Mary Purtell
Released
Edna Mary Purtell was a Connecticut member of the National Woman's Party and one of the "Silent Sentinels" imp...
J
John H. Raffo
Released
John H. Raffo was a defendant in the case arising from the 1975 Washington Post pressmen’s strike. The pressm...
L
Leroy Robinson
Released
Leroy Robinson was one of six Black youths prosecuted for murder in the 1932 Logan Circle case in Washington,...
M
Mrs. George E. Roewer
Released
Mrs. George E. Roewer was a member of the National Woman's Party and one of the "Silent Sentinels" imprisoned...
W
Will Roosien
Will Roosien was handcuffed and released during the September 7, 2025 Peace Park removal.
M
Marguerite Rossette
Released
Marguerite Rossette was a member of the National Woman's Party and one of the "Silent Sentinels" imprisoned du...
P
Patricia Rusk
Released
Patricia Rusk participated in the Assembly of Unrepresented People’s antiwar sit-down in Washington, D.C. She...
C
Cecil E. Rust
Released
Cecil E. Rust was a defendant in the case arising from the 1975 Washington Post pressmen’s strike. The pressm...
D
David Sandeer
David Sandeer was one of the individually named signatories of a protest from Washington’s First Precinct stat...
E
Edward Sayres
Released
Edward Sayres was captain and owner of the schooner Pearl, chartered for the April 1848 mass escape of more th...
L
Lawrence Scott
Released
Lawrence Scott was a Quaker organizer and former American Friends Service Committee peace-education director....
P
Phoebe Persons Scott
Released
Phoebe Persons Scott was a member of the National Woman's Party and one of the "Silent Sentinels" imprisoned d...
R
Ruth Scott
Released
Ruth Scott was a member of the National Woman’s Party and one of the "Silent Sentinels" imprisoned during the...
A
Anna Shockley
Anna Shockley was individually named among fourteen death-penalty abolition protesters arrested at the U.S. Su...
M
Mary Short
Released
Mary Short was a member of the National Woman's Party and one of the "Silent Sentinels" imprisoned during the...
I
Isodore Singer
Isodore Singer was one of the individually named signatories of a protest from Washington’s First Precinct sta...
R
Robert W. Sisson
Released
Robert W. Sisson was a railroad striker convicted with Maurice J. Sullivan on December 7, 1922, in Washington,...
J
Jay Smith
Released
Jay Smith, of Freeport NY, DC Nine co-defendant in the October 22, 2020 Washington Surgi-Clinic blockade. Conv...

Institutions in District of Columbia

Prisons, jails, and detention centers in District of Columbia that appear in the census’s case files.

Old Capitol PrisonWashington, District of Columbia
216 cases
District of Columbia JailWashington, District of Columbia
7 cases
District of Columbia Department of CorrectionsWashington, District of Columbia
6 cases
Washington County JailWashington, District of Columbia
5 cases
Washington, D.C. JailWashington, District of Columbia
5 cases
War Tax ResistanceWashington, District of Columbia
4 cases
D.C. Central Detention FacilityWashington, District of Columbia
2 cases
Carroll PrisonWashington, District of Columbia
2 cases
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