Chaotic Scene in LA: Clashes between Soldiers, Protesters Erupt
Agitators in Los Angeles are facing off against military personnel during demonstrations. - Military personnel in Los Angeles engage in confrontations with demonstrators.
In an unexpected turn of events, soldiers and protesters have faced off in Los Angeles following the deployment of the National Guard. According to media reports, this was the first confrontation between these groups. Tear gas, smoke grenades, and pepper spray were used by the soldiers and federal security forces to disperse protesters outside a federal prison. placed inside a federal prison, as captured in photos and TV footage. The Los Angeles Times also reported that the incident may have been sparked by the use of bottles and stones by protesters.
As the tension escalated, local police officers arrived on the scene, armed with batons, as shown in live footage from CNN. The police subsequently declared the demonstration near the federal building in the city center illegal and moved to disperse the gathering.
Reporting from the scene, a CNN reporter stated that the police were trying to push back several hundred protesters to prevent clashes with the National Guard at the prison building.
Trump's Tough Words
Meanwhile, in a stark contrast, US President Donald Trump described the protesters on his Truth Social platform as "violent, rebellious mobs" attempting to hinder federal deportation agents.
On June 6, 2025, protests against agents of the US immigration agency ICE, responsible for deportations, began in the Los Angeles area following ICE raids in various locations. These protests became violent in some instances, resulting in clashes between protesters and law enforcement.
In response to these escalations, President Trump ordered the deployment of at least 2,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles on June 6. Notably, these deployments were initiated without a request from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who viewed this as a serious breach of state sovereignty.
- Los Angeles
- National Guard
- Deportation
- Donald Trump
- CNN
- Police
- Los Angeles Times
Behind the Scene
- ICE Operations and Protests: The protests began in response to ICE raids in Los Angeles on June 6, 2025. These protests sometimes turned violent, with clashes between protesters and law enforcement including the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and ICE.
- National Guard Deployment: In response to the unrest, President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard members to Los Angeles. The Pentagon also activated 700 Marines to support these efforts.
- Political Response: Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have criticized Trump's decision, viewing it as an attempt to inflame tensions. They have urged protesters to remain peaceful.
- Protest Size and Impact: While the protests have been significant, they have not reached the scale of past major demonstrations in Los Angeles, such as during the Watts and Rodney King riots or the 2020 protests against police violence.
- Injuries and Arrests: Multiple law enforcement officers and protesters have been injured, and several demonstrators have been arrested. A prominent union leader was also arrested for allegedly impeding law enforcement.
- National Impact: The Los Angeles protests have inspired similar anti-ICE demonstrations in other U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago, and Dallas.
- The Los Angeles Times reported that the confrontation between protesters and soldiers, following the deployment of the National Guard, may have been triggered by the use of bottles and stones by protesters outside a federal prison.
- Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have criticized President Donald Trump's decision to deploy 2,000 National Guard members to Los Angeles, viewing it as an attempt to escalate tensions amid protests against deportation agents.
