Street Scuffles Erupt in Los Angeles as Protests Against Deportations intensify
Military personnel in Los Angeles are responding to demonstrators. - Agents in Los Angeles engage in confrontations with demonstrators.
Let's get real, homies. The streets of LA have been a hotbed of action lately, thanks to some tense standoffs between protesters and the National Guard. The whole scene went down outside a federal prison, according to reports from the Los Angeles Times and various social media posts. Things got real heated when guards and federal security forces started blasting tear gas, smoke grenades, and pepper spray to clear out a crowd of demonstrators.
Things didn't improve when local cops joined the fray, using batons to disperse the protesters near the same federal prison. Live footage from CNN showed officers making arrests and pushing back crowds to avoid any clashes with the National Guard at the prison.
According to news on the ground, the police were trying to keep the rioters at bay to prevent any runs-ins with the National Guard at the detention facility.
You probably already know who's been stirring the pot on this one - yup, none other than Trump. The Prez took to his Truth Social platform to call the protesters "violent, rebellious mobs" trying to hinder federal agents in their deportation duties.
Switching gears, the urban scene was pretty mellow in LA and surrounding areas on Sunday morning, but theessages coming from the federal government were clear: tumultuous times. In response to protests against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Trump ordered the mobilization of over 2,000 National Guard soldiers on Saturday. By Sunday morning, around 300 soldiers were already on the ground.
California's Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass didn't see the need for the National Guard muscle, claiming that there were enough local forces to maintain security. They also expressed concerns about escalating tensions. Both officials urged protesters to keep it cool and peaceful.
The Backstory:
- ICE Raids: The reason behind the protests was a series of sudden ICE raids that took place downtown LA. These operations were deemed "cruel and unnecessary" by protesters and local officials, who argued that they only served to frighten the immigrant community[2].
- Law Enforcement Clashes: As the protests intensified, demonstrators began to clash with law enforcement, causing tensions to rise. This situation led to Trump calling for the deployment of the National Guard to protect federal agents undertaking immigration operations[2].
- Government Response: The deployment of the National Guard, which was opposed by Governor Newsom, added fuel to the fire. The National Guard was assembled under a seldom-used provision to support federal agents carrying out their duties[2].
Los AngelesNational GuardDeportationDonald TrumpCNNPoliceLos Angeles Times
The deployment of over 2,000 National Guard soldiers by Trump following the escalation of protests against ICE raids in Los Angeles has resulted in numerous street scuffles between protesters and the National Guard. This escalation was opposed by California's Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass, who expressed concerns about the rising tensions and deemed it unnecessary, given the presence of local forces to maintain security.
Live footage from CNN showed officers making arrests and pushing back crowds, while the Los Angeles Times reported tear gas, smoke grenades, and pepper spray being used to disperse demonstrators near a federal prison. The urban scene, however, seemed mellow in LA and surrounding areas on Sunday morning, indicating a continued standoff between protesters and authorities.
