Los Angeles has been engulfed in mass protests in response to recent federal immigration raids, prompting President Donald Trump to authorize the deployment of an additional 2,000 National Guard members to assist local authorities.
This decision, made shortly before the clashes, has drawn sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who labeled the move as reckless and disrespectful to military personnel.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, Newsom claimed, “This isn’t about public safety. It’s about stroking a dangerous President’s ego.”
The implementation of the National Guard order coincided with the mobilization of approximately 700 Marines envisioned to assist law enforcement in managing the escalating situation.
According to U.S. Northern Command, the Marines were deployed from their base at Twentynine Palms to secure federal property and personnel, including federal immigration agents stationed in the city.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell expressed concerns regarding the Marines’ arrival, stating, “The logistics and operational challenges associated with their large-scale intervention, without prior coordination with our department, are significant.”
In response to Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops, California Attorney General Rob Bonta initiated a lawsuit claiming the president had overstepped his authority and violated the state’s sovereignty.
Bonta criticized the president’s actions, stating, “We don’t take lightly to the president abusing his authority.” He has sought a court order to deem Trump’s mobilization of the California National Guard unlawful and to obtain a restraining order against the deployment.
The wave of protests began Friday after federal immigration authorities arrested over 40 individuals in downtown Los Angeles, igniting public outcry against the administration’s policies.
By Monday, the protests had escalated, with demonstrators blocking major freeways and setting self-driving cars alight, prompting law enforcement to respond with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades.
While a heavy police presence was witnessed throughout the area, the protests remained largely contained within a few city blocks, with the majority of Los Angeles’ 4 million residents continuing their daily activities in nearby districts.
On the morning of Monday, thousands participated in a union rally outside City Hall, coinciding with a hearing for labor leader David Huerta, who had been arrested during protests on Friday.
Huerta’s release was celebrated by many, as he is the president of the Service Employees International Union California, which represents numerous workers crucial to the state’s economy.
Initial gatherings on Monday had an unexpectedly calm and joyful atmosphere, featuring dancing and music as participants celebrated Huerta’s return.
Chants filled the air outside the federal detention center, with protesters linking arms and demanding the release of those detained, while faith leaders attempted to mitigate any rising tension.
As the atmosphere shifted in the afternoon, chants against the National Guard’s involvement intensified, with demonstrators voicing their anger and frustration.
Bonta accused President Trump of inciting unrest with his order to deploy the National Guard, arguing that the decision was unnecessary and had contributed to the violence.
He noted, “This was not inevitable,” pointing blame at Trump for exacerbating tensions in the city.
In reaction to the unrest, Trump suggested the situation would have spiraled out of control if he had not acted, claiming, “The city would have been completely obliterated without the National Guard’s arrival.”
During a White House event, Trump asserted that state officials were too fearful to take any measures to control the situation.
Following the launch of protests across Los Angeles County, news emerged about federal immigration agents conducting operations in nearby cities, which further fueled anger among activists.
Relatives of detained workers demanded action, voicing concerns for their loved ones at a news conference staged outside a Los Angeles clothing warehouse linked to the raids.
The family of Jacob Vasquez, who has not been heard from since the raid, described him as the sole breadwinner of his household, amplifying the emotional stakes for many affected families.
On Sunday, a decision was made to disperse protesters as night fell, leading police to declare the gathering an unlawful assembly, which often results in arrests for those refusing to comply.
Reports of violence included instances of civilians throwing objects at law enforcement, as tensions rose amid an ongoing narrative of civil unrest.
Police Chief McDonnell commented, saying officers felt overwhelmed by the situation, noting the presence of agitators who have frequently attended protests to incite conflict.
As the protests evolved, they followed familiar patterns of civil unrest, typically escalating on subsequent days.
Over the weekend, several dozen individuals were arrested for various offenses, including actions directly against police officers.
Governor Newsom urged the president to reconsider his deployment of the National Guard, describing it as a violation of state sovereignty and emphasizing that California authorities had the situation under control.
In a letter addressed to Trump, Newsom underscored the historical significance of this deployment, marking the first time in decades that a president activated National Guard troops without explicit consent from the state’s governor.
Historically, the last such occurrence was linked to President Lyndon B. Johnson sending troops to protect a civil rights march in Alabama in 1965.
During this tense time, Trump invoked a legal provision granting him the power to deploy federal service members in instances of rebellion or threats against the authority of the Government of the United States, suggesting a severe perspective on the circumstances surrounding the protests.
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