Anarchy in Los Angeles: A Burning City, and My Heart Bleeds for the Unrest
- by Alexandra Kraft
- 5 Min
- Los Angeles
- Donald Trump
- USA
- California
- Gavin Newsom
- Michael Connelly
LA Burning: Witnessing the Heart-Wrenching Scene of Inferno in Los Angeles - City Wrecked by Fire: A Sorrowful Gaze at the Destruction in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, has been shaken by protest-turned-riots, ignited by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting individuals suspected of illegal immigration. The unrest began on June 6, 2025, and has pit protesters, law enforcement, and ICE agents against one another [3].
A Timeline of Chaos
- June 6: ICE raids triggered protests throughout downtown Los Angeles.
- June 7: Scuffles erupted between protesters and federal agents in Paramount and Compton districts.
- June 8: In the afternoon, a significant protest unfolded as demonstrators blocked the 101 Freeway near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown LA. The CHP intervened, clearing the freeway and detaining multiple people [3]. Late the same day, Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi was struck by a rubber bullet while reporting the chaos near the detention center [1][3]. By 9 p.m., the LAPD declared the demonstration an illegal assembly, due to the lighting of dumpsters on fire, store looting, graffiti on buildings (including LAPD headquarters and the U.S. Courthouse), and the use of fireworks and projectiles against police vehicles [1][3].
- June 9: Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard members and activated 700 Marines to Los Angeles, who arrived the following day [3].
- June 13: The Marines made their first civilian arrest during the protests [3].
The protests have primarily raged within a five-block downtown area surrounding federal buildings like the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and the U.S. Courthouse [1][2][3]. Protesters' tactics have included obstructing freeways, setting vehicles alight, and hurling Molotov cocktails, resulting in law enforcement's use of less-lethal weapons like tear gas, flash bangs, and rubber bullets [1][2][3].
Root Causes and Tensions
The protests emerged from a federal immigration crackdown under the Trump administration, which fomented fear among migrant communities. Many saw the raids as a brazen violation of state sovereignty, deepening tensions in California, a state with a large immigrant population and sanctuary policies [2][3].
Political Response
- Governor Gavin Newsom: Newsom denounced the federal raids as a breach of state sovereignty and criticized the deployment of military forces as premature and inflammatory. He expressed concerns that the military presence escalated the conflict instead of quelling it [2][3].
- President Donald Trump: In response to the protests, Trump sent in the National Guard and Marines to regain order, despite opposition from local and state leaders. Trump publicly ridiculed Governor Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass as incapable of handling the situation. He defended the military deployment as essential to quell the unrest, while critics claimed he abused presidential power and exacerbated the violence [2][3].
A Symphony of Despair
The 2025 Los Angeles protests were instigated by ICE raids targeting immigrants, leading to weeks of turmoil and violence. The chaos is a symbol of the deep divisions and tensions plaguing our nation today [1][2][3].
I'm not going to be a big fan of the idea of a "show-off" as some politicians might perceive their military deployment in the midst of the unrest in Los Angeles, given the general-news scenario where the city is experiencing chaos due to immigration-related protests and the involvement of federal agents.
The ongoing political response to the anarchy in Los Angeles, including the criticisms from Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump, can be seen as a show-off, with each side attempting to assert their authority and deflect blame for the escalating tensions.
