Thickening Ranks in Los Angeles as Protests Rise Across Cities
Hordes of troops are en route to Los Angeles.
Thousands more troops, including 2,100 National Guard personnel and 700 U.S. Marines, have swung into action in Los Angeles, with more reinforcements on the horizon. Simultaneously, protests against the administration's actions are sprouting up in other major US cities.
President Donald Trump has issued warnings of impending doom for Los Angeles, but local authorities are hoping to quell the unrest. Nathan Hochman, the lead prosecutor for Los Angeles County, insists that the predominantly peaceful protests are causing minimal disruption, affecting mere pockets of the metropolis. Numbers show that incidents of chaos are on a downward trend.
Over the past week, local time, a night-time curfew has been reimposed in the heart of Los Angeles, near the ICE detention facility. Only a limited area within the sprawling city by the Pacific has been affected. As of June 13, 2025, these troops are present in downtown Los Angeles, Paramount, and Compton.
Despite Trump's assertions, the city isn't devolving into chaos. Hochman discredits the rhetoric of some media and politicians, arguing that 99.9% of the residents are not engaging in illegal activities related to the protests. The unrest is chiefly concentrated among a relatively small number of demonstrators, roughly 400 people, who are involved in riots or vandalism.
On Wednesday, protests also cropped up in cities like Los Angeles, New York, San Antonio, and Raleigh, with reports of violence and unrest escalating. In the nation's capital, Washington, hundreds are expected to assemble for protests on Saturday, during a grand military parade to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
Beginning Thursday, the military presence in Los Angeles is set to swell even further with the arrival of an additional 2,000 National Guard troops, as reported by commanding officer, Scott Sherman. Meanwhile, 700 Marine infantrymen are expected shortly. These soldiers have finished a training program for handling demonstrations and crowd control in civilian environments.
Recently, Sherman clarified that the soldiers are safeguarding federal buildings and ICE agents during deportation raids. They may detain protesters if required, but they must relinquish control to the authorized security forces responsible for making arrests. The presence of Marines, who are trained for military operations and war, has raised many eyebrows since they're typically not used for policing roles in American cities.
The National Guard, a reserve military unit in the U.S. armed forces, operates on a state-by-state basis. For decades, they've been mobilized during emergencies like wildfires, tornadoes, floods, or internal unrest. However, the current deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops, ordered by the administration, faces opposition from officials in California and the city of Los Angeles.
Still stoking the flames, President Trump continues to paint a grim picture of Los Angeles. "If I hadn't moved swiftly, Los Angeles would be in ruins by now," he declared at an event in Washington, deriding the protesters as "radical left lunatics."
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The Commission, amidst the escalating demonstrations and protests, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in the context of the ongoing unrest. Meanwhile, in the realm of general-news and politics, President Trump's rhetoric has been met with criticism, with some critics viewing his portrayal of Los Angeles as sensationalized and biased.
