Military Personnel to Be Dispatched in LA to Manage Immigration Demonstrations
LOLITA C. BALDOR, JASON DEAREN, TIM SULLIVAN, TARA COPP
Los Angeles LIFE UNDER FIRE (2021)
A whiff of smoke lingered in the LA air as tensions escalated, leaving protesters, police, and marines in a heated standoff. History seemed to repeat itself as, once again, the city was plunged into chaos.
Los Angeles, lauded for its diverse population of 4 million, seemed to fracture under the weight of political turmoil. The initial spark was a controversial immigration policy implemented by the Trump administration, and all that followed was a blaze of anger and action.
The smell of teargas mixed with sweat and determination as protesters charged. Firing rubber bullets, deploying smoke bombs, and hosing down those who dared oppose them, the police were gripped by an iron resolve. But these weren't ordinary law enforcement officers; they were marines, called upon to quell the uprisings threatening the fabric of society.
The 700 marines, recruited from their base at Twentynine Palms, had been dispatched by Pentagon officials to back up National Guard members in the fight against the masses. The crowds, angered by the administration's actions, had taken to the streets for the fourth straight day, showing no signs of relenting.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the state's intention to sue the president, likening his actions to trampling upon the state's sovereignty. Bonta highlighted the president's unlawful mobilization of California National Guard troops and promised to seek an injunction, halting the military presence in the city.
Smoke filled the skies over downtown as buildings caught fire, and cars were torched in the name of rebellion. The clashes were concentrated in mere square blocks, with most of the city carrying on as usual—peaceful and unmoved by the chaos.
Yet, despite the widespread unrest, union rallies and labor protests continued, with thousands of people forming human chains and singing songs in defiance of the police lines. David Huerta, a labor leader and union boss, had become a rallying cry for those protesting the administration's crackdown on illegal immigration. Huerta's arrest during a protest had only fueled the fires of discontent, and his release on a $50,000 bond was hailed as a victory for the resistance.
The arrival of the National Guard was met with controversy. Religious leaders, joining the protesters outside the detention facility, worked to quell the anger among the crowds. But the violence continued to escalate, with some protesters throwing objects at police and setting fire to self-driving cars.
As evening fell, President Trump announced that without his intervention, the city would face complete obliteration. He justified the deployment of additional troops, claiming that California leaders were too afraid to take action. The president later added that the Guard's presence had helped to restore order to the once-chaotic city.
In the midst of this tumultuous time, the 10th Amendment remained a point of contention. Governor Newsom continued to argue that the National Guard was not needed in the state, and that the presence of the marines threatened the rights reserved to the states under this amendment. With the president's actions stretching the bounds of their legal authority, it remained to be seen how the courts would respond to California's legal challenge.
Sourced from AP News (April 2021)
Related- California limiting outside National Guard movement (April 2025)- Trump travel ban faces opposition, legal challenges (January 2017)- Trump's shifting National Security Council (February 2017)- CLICK HERE for all our stories on the Trump administration
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