Among the executive orders President Trump signed Monday are two that aim to eliminate so-called cashless bail. The move threatens to cut federal funding to Washington, D.C., as well as other cities and jurisdictions that continue to implement the economic and racial justice policy. Before cash bail was eliminated, “judges would come up with a number out of thin air, and the decision about whether somebody was released was based upon whether they had a rich grandma or rich aunt or a girlfriend who was willing to put up the money,” says Sharone Mitchell, chief of the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender.

This comes as Trump has continued to single out D.C., as well as Democratic-led cities like Chicago, engaging in racist and baseless rants about a violent crime wave as he threatens to expand his military occupation. “I’m a lawyer. I would tell you lots of legal arguments. I’m not sure the law matters anymore,” says Mitchell.

This content originally appeared on Democracy Now! and was authored by Democracy Now!.

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