Chaotic Scene: Police and Protesters Clash in L.A. Over Immigration Policy
Law enforcement officers are dispersing demonstrators in Los Angeles.
LA's downtown streets saw a heated confrontation between protesters and police this week, with the authorities responding forcefully to the crowd thirsty for change in the US immigration policy.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside a federal building, initially peacefully protesting against the government's immigration policy under President Donald Trump. But things escalated quickly when police began shoving back protesters and dispersing the crowd.
Tempers flared, with protesters chucking water bottles, and officers retaliating with rubber bullets. Officers warned the protesters to scram, insisting, "It's a mess, but we've got it in check."
Navidi, a prominent figure in anti-ICE movements, spoke out against the president, accusing him of consciously stoking the flames. Demonstrators carried signs reading, "I stand with all migrants," and "ICE out of L.A.," decrying the actions of the US immigration agency in the Los Angeles area.
As the afternoon wore on, a sizable gathering unfolded at Grand Park in solidarity with a detained union leader. Thousands came together to urge for the rights of migrants, rallying in support of California union leader David Huerta, who was purportedly injured by immigration authorities last week.
The Heat is On:
Intensified operations by the US immigration agency ICE been spurring protests in LA for weeks, critics argue that the government is intentionally inciting fear with its militant measures. The protests express dissatisfaction with Trump's hardline immigration policy and the deployment of ICE units in residential areas.
In response to the demonstrations, Trump ordered at least 4,000 National Guard soldiers, marking a significant escalation. Soldiers, trained for warfare, are not typically used for domestic police tasks. The deployment is seen as a calculated move to raise the stakes by Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass. Both officials have called on protesters to keep the peace while condemning the deployment as an infringement on state sovereignty.
Governor Newsom has urged Trump to remove the National Guard, labeling their presence a "serious breach of state sovereignty." The National Guard's unconventional activation without a governor's request has not occurred in decades.
Overall, the situation in Los Angeles remains tense, with ongoing protests, heightened tensions, and officials pushing for a peaceful resolution and the removal of the National Guard.
Source: ntv.de, afp/dpa
- California
- Protests
- Police
- U.S. Military
- Los Angeles
- Donald Trump
Extra Insights:- The ICE raids took place in various locations across Los Angeles, including the fashion district and a Home Depot parking lot, resulting in over 100 arrests of immigrants[1].- A prominent union leader was arrested and injured by immigration authorities last week in suspected hindrance of law enforcement [1].- The deployment of National Guard is historic as it marks the first time in decades that a state's National Guard has been activated without a governor’s request [1].
In Los Angeles, California, protests against President Donald Trump's immigration policy have intensified, leading to clashes with police and the deployment of the U.S. military. Governor Gavin Newsom has urged Trump to remove the National Guard, arguing that their activation without a governor's request is a serious breach of state sovereignty. The general-news story about crime-and-justice in the US also includes protests in the city over the NG's deployment and ICE's actions, including the arrest of a prominent union leader.
