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A bustling scene unfolded at Washington, D.C.’s Navy Yard waterfront over the weekend as a large group of teenagers converged on the area, marking the latest in a string of “viral takeovers” that have been posing challenges for city officials.
Footage shared by D.C. activist Elissa De Souza on social media platform X showed the throng of young people occupying a busy intersection in the Navy Yard neighborhood on Sunday evening.
“What should’ve been a great night out in Navy Yard turned into something we’re seeing far too often,” De Souza commented. “This isn’t a one-off—it’s a repeat pattern, and it’s happening later and later into the night. Residents and visitors should be able to enjoy a beautiful day, support new businesses, and have a peaceful meal without worrying about safety or disruption.”
This gathering coincided with the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) move to enforce a temporary juvenile curfew in the Navy Yard area over the weekend.
WATCH: Swarm of teens floods DC streets in ‘takeover’
From Friday through Sunday, the curfew restricted anyone under 18 from gathering in groups of nine or more within the designated area during evening hours, unless exempted.
According to MPD, the curfew zone was in effect from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. each night. Police maintained an increased presence in Navy Yard and other areas where similar gatherings have previously occurred, they said.
Hundreds of juveniles swarmed the Navy Yard neighborhood in Washington, D.C., in a previous takeover, prompting a large police response and alarming residents in the busy waterfront district. (Elissa De Souza/Unknown)
Authorities said that while some groups briefly engaged in disorderly behavior Saturday night, they dispersed without incident. No criminal offenses were reported in the curfew zone over the weekend, and no arrests were made by MPD in connection with the gatherings.
However, Metro Transit Police made four arrests at the nearby Waterfront Metro station outside the curfew zone. Details about the four arrests were not immediately available.
On Sunday night, officers recorded six curfew violations within the Navy Yard area, police said.
“MPD is committed to doing everything possible to keep D.C. residents and visitors safe, and that includes supporting spaces to enable youth to gather to enjoy our city,” Interim Chief of Police Jeffrey W. Carroll said in a statement.
The Washington Metropolitan Police Department shared this photo on Jan. 22 showing police presence by the U.S. Capitol two days after the inauguration. (Washington Metropolitan Police Dept.)
A citywide juvenile curfew remains in effect daily from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., and officials are urging parents and guardians to monitor their children’s whereabouts as spring break continues.
Such “teen takeovers” have been happening across the District. The incidents typically involve large gatherings of young people and disruptive behavior.
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