Approximately 2,000 National Guard troops are currently patrolling Los Angeles under an order from President Donald Trump, following a weekend of protests in response to federal immigration actions.
This marks the first instance in 60 years where the federal government activated the National Guard despite local officials’ opposition.
In a statement on his Truth Social platform, President Trump described the protesters as ‘paid insurrectionists’ without providing any evidence for his claim.
Governor Gavin Newsom of California and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have both condemned the deployment, labeling it as an overreach by the federal government and a provocation that could escalate tensions.
On Monday, Governor Newsom announced intentions to file a lawsuit against the National Guard’s deployment, emphasizing that such actions are inflammatory and may exacerbate the situation.
Research in social science supports Newsom’s assertion about the impact of heavy-handed policing on protest dynamics.
Over the past 50 years, numerous studies have shown that aggressive law enforcement responses can often make protests more volatile rather than quell unrest.
The 1967 Kerner Commission, which examined urban riots across the United States, highlighted that in around half of the studied riots, aggressive policing strategies led to violence.
The commission advocated for replacing abrasive tactics with approaches focused on de-escalation and engagement.
Experts confirm that the trend of escalating force in police responses tends to create dangerous feedback loops.
As tensions rise, protesters often escalate their actions against law enforcement, which in turn leads to further aggressive measures from police, deepening mutual anger and fear.
Such tactics were apparent during the nationwide protests following the police murder of George Floyd in 2020, where many law enforcement agencies failed to heed prior research findings.
Instead, they often adopted a posture of ‘force first,’ arriving in riot gear, deploying chemical agents, and making mass arrests.
Scott Thomson, former chief of police in Camden, New Jersey, commented on this mentality, stating, ‘If we show force, immediately we will deter criminal activity or unruly activity,’ and questioned where this approach has actually succeeded.
Thomson continued, emphasizing the need for law enforcement professionals to recognize that an escalation in force can provoke a similar response from protesters, rather than de-escalating tensions.
Following the summer of 2020, the Police Executive Research Forum, a think tank that advises law enforcement nationwide, echoed these warnings.
Their 2022 report on policing protests recommended decreased reliance on mass arrests and less-lethal munitions while emphasizing the importance of building trust and open communication with protest organizers.
The report found that maintaining clear lines of communication often correlates with more peaceful protests.
Unfortunately, many of these recommendations were disregarded during recent college campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.
Police responses included the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and riot teams, resulting in nearly 3,000 arrests across the nation.
These recommendations are only beneficial if the goal of law enforcement is to minimize violence during protests.
Demonstrators in Los Angeles recently blocked freeways and gathered near federal detention centers, demanding an end to mass deportations.
As tensions mounted over the weekend, reports emerged of some protesters engaging in violent acts, including setting fires and throwing projectiles at police.
In response, Los Angeles Police officers and federal agents resorted to deploying tear gas and rubber bullets while making multiple arrests to control the situation.
image source from：https://www.themarshallproject.org/2025/06/09/los-angeles-ice-national-guard-protests
