Protests heighten in Los Angeles' immigration sector following Trump's decision to mobilize National Guard
In the heat of LA, tensions skyrocketed last Sunday as multitudes marched the streets in protest against President Trump's controversial move to deploy the National Guard. A major freeway was blocked off and self-driving cars set ablaze as law enforcement dished out tear gas, rubber bullets, flash bangs to control the crowd.
Some officers patrolled the streets on horseback, while others with riot gear stood firm behind the National Guard soldiers who had come to protect federal facilities like a detention center where immigrants were recently held. The authorities declared an unlawful assembly, and by the end of the evening, many protesters had vacated the scene. The ones that remained erected a barricade using chairs from a local park and hurled objects at the police.
The uproar marked the third consecutive day of demonstrations in the region, spurred by the presence of around 300 federal troops, causing a stir among residents. The protests in Los Angeles, a bustling city of 4 million people, were predominantly centered in the heart of the downtown area.
Outside the Metropolitan Detention Centre in downtown LA, protesters chanted "shame" and "go home" at members of the National Guard. Sanctions continued as protesters violently approached Guardsmen, prompting the deployment of another group of officers who fired smoke-filled canisters onto the street.
The Los Angeles Police Department soon responded with a barrage of crowd-control munitions, dispersing the rowdy protesters. A group then moved to obstruct traffic on the 101 freeway, before being cleared off by state patrol officers by late afternoon. Southbound lanes remained shut down for hours.
Flash bangs rang out every few seconds into the night as protesters hurled objects down onto the roadway. Witnesses reported at least four Self-driving Waymo cars being set ablaze nearby, rendering large plumes of black smoke and sporadic explosions.
California's Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, requested Trump to withdraw the Guard members in a letter Sunday afternoon, citing the move as a significant breach of state sovereignty. The Marines were expected to be deployed to Los Angeles on Monday to assist National Guard members responding to immigration protests. Meanwhile, California prepared to sue Trump over the use of Guard troops against protesters.
China's consulate in LA advised its citizens in the area to enhance personal security measures following the chaos. The immigration crackdown and National Guard deployment were denounced by Former Vice President Kamala Harris as a malevolent attempt to sow panic and discord.
Migration and politics converged in Los Angeles as the presence of federal troops fueled general-news headlines, with the controversial deployment of National Guard members prompting intense protests. California's Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, asserted this as a significant breach of state sovereignty, requesting President Trump to withdraw the Guard members and preparing to sue Trump over the use of Guard troops against protesters.
