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Norton Calls on Park Police to Exercise Maximum Restraint in Enforcing Ban on Unlicensed Vending on National Mall

July 16, 2021

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) issued the following statement after her office was informed today that the U.S. Park Police intends to resume enforcing the prohibition on unlicensed vending on the National Mall.

"While I accept that the Park Police will resume enforcement of the ban on unlicensed vending on the National Mall, the Park Police must exercise maximum restraint in enforcing the ban, especially when children are involved. Before enforcement resumes, I am asking the Park Police to publicly announce that it will resume enforcement, to post notices on the National Mall that unlicensed vending is illegal, and to inform its officers that no one should be arrested or detained in connection with illegal vending. Once enforcement resumes, the Park Police should issue multiple warnings to an unlicensed vendor before taking enforcement action against the vendor.

In 2017, several teenagers were handcuffed after selling water illegally on the National Mall. That should never happen again. Children's encounters with police have long-lasting impacts on their lives."