The mayor of Washington, DC has declared a curfew to run over four nights for under-18s effective immediately in response to a wave of youth-related disturbances and violence that have roiled the city in recent weeks.
The emergency measure follows a string of chaotic gatherings, including a large, disorderly crowd in the Navy Yard neighborhood on Friday night, that officials say threatened public safety.
‘All juveniles under the age of 18 are subject to a curfew from 11pm until 6am, which will extend through November 5,’ Bowser announced in a post on X on Saturday evening.
‘This is in response to several weeks of disorderly juvenile behavior which endangered both themselves and others,’ Bowser’s tweet read.
According to a statement from the mayor’s office, the curfew applies citywide each night until next Wednesday night.
The Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has also been authorized to establish ‘special zones’ deemed high-risk for juvenile disorder, where curfew times could begin as early as 6pm.
Police are also empowered to declare temporary curfew zones if groups of eight or more minors are found gathering in a way that endangers themselves or the public.
The announcement marks one of the most sweeping youth-control measures implemented in the capital in recent years, highlighting mounting concern among city leaders over juvenile crime, flash mobs, and group violence that have surged.