WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Ned and Jen Squires shared a cell phone video exclusively with WUSA9 that their 16-year-old daughter captured the day before Halloween in 2023. The video shows a fight just steps away from their doorstep. A few dozen teenagers were in the physical altercation in front of John Tyler Elementary School in their Capitol Hill neighborhood.
"There were just kids, throwing roundhouse punches at each other, pushing each other over," said Jen Squires.
The incident prompted the couple's daughter to rethink her Halloween plans. Since then, the Squires say crime in their area has only increased, which they claim neighbors have noticed too.
"Everyone we know knows someone who either has been robbed, someone who’s been carjacked, or they know someone who’s been carjacked," Jen explained. "It really is just one degree of separation."
They say it's because their local representatives haven't taken any noticeable action, including Ward Six Councilmember Charles Allen.
"He’s doing safety walks, and I’m like, that’s crazy! 274 people were murdered in the city last year. We went to war with Spain back in the 1890s over an explosion that killed 266 and our governance here is doing about this," explained Ned Squires.
So now, the Squires are part of a group of citizens that has launched a recall campaign on January 1. The committee has raised at least $56,000 from more than 400 donors, and on Tuesday, DC's Board of Elections issued an official petition for Allen's removal.
"His policies have led us to basically – he as head of the judiciary committee – to having more criminals on the street and less cops on the beat," said Ned.
Jen Squires says it was really the only option.
"I’m not sure what we’re supposed to do at this point. We just really want some sort of plan of action. We want accountability from our leaders, we want people working every day on this issue and we want transparency on what they’re doing about it, every day on this issue," she said.
The Squires say their group now has to get at least ten percent of the residents in Ward Six to sign the petition, which is about 6200 signatures. If they do, Councilmember Allen would be the first board member to be recalled.
WUSA9 reached out to Councilmember Allen on Wednesday afternoon. He has not yet responded.
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