Students at four DC universities protest Trump's federal takeover

Students at four Washington, D.C., universities walked out of classes Tuesday in protest of President Trump's federal takeover of the city.

The students were from American, Howard, Georgetown and George Washington universities walked out at staggered times beginning at 10 a.m., according to local TV station 7 News. 

Last month, Trump sent National Guard troops to the city and took over the Metropolitan Police Department for 30 days to crack down on crime.

In a statement from organizers, including the Sunrise Movement, Free DC, and student leaders, they said that the demonstrations were to highlight the “federal takeover” of the capital, which they argue is unconstitutional and dangerous.

“From Palestine to Mexico, all these laws have got to go,” students chanted at Georgetown, according to The College Fix.

Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., spoke to protesters at Georgetown, Common Dreams reported.

"Trump's federal takeover is a direct attack on democracy and the people of Washington, DC," Jayapal said. "The students leading today's walkouts are showing the entire nation what it means to resist authoritarianism with strength and solidarity."

"[H]ere in D.C., the president is attempting to create an impression that the crime rate is going up rather than down, that there is in fact a crisis here in the District of Columbia," Markey said

The Trump administration has touted that more than 2,000 arrests have been made since the federal takeover of the capital began last month. Trump's federal takeover of the MPD ended after 30 days on Wednesday, but the National Guard and federal agencies will remain in Washington, D.C., at least through November.