WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tensions are running high in the Navy Yard neighborhood following another chaotic weekend marked by large groups of teenagers gathering, leading to physical assaults, robberies, and widespread fear among residents. During a highly emotional community meeting held Tuesday evening, residents and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANCs) voiced frustration over the escalating incidents and called for urgent and immediate solutions — including stricter curfews and increased parental accountability.
Weekend Chaos Sparks Calls for Change
The latest unrest unfolded over the weekend when hundreds of teens reportedly gathered in the Southeast D.C. area. Tensions quickly boiled over into violence, with at least two adults reportedly assaulted and multiple fights erupting throughout the neighborhood. Residents say the event was not an isolated occurrence, but part of a growing pattern of weekend disruptions that has many fearing for their safety.
“It’s frightening, it’s appalling,” said Carolette Sweatt, a longtime Navy Yard resident who attended the meeting. “A curfew is a mandate, but it could work — in addition to other programs targeting the families of these youth. There’s a way D.C. can implement and enforce parenting.”
Curfew Enforcement Under Scrutiny
While D.C. already has a citywide youth curfew on the books, many residents and community leaders argue that the current regulations are outdated or poorly enforced. Under current law, children under 17 are prohibited from being in public spaces between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. on weekends during the school year. The curfew applies daily during the summer.
Several ANC commissioners and attendees called for the curfew to be revised to start earlier, possibly around 9 or 10 p.m., particularly in known hot spots like Navy Yard…