Trump dispatches California National Guard to Los Angeles to suppress protests, defying the governor's protests.
In a significant turn of events, President Donald Trump has decided to send 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid ongoing confrontations between hundreds of protesters and federal immigration authorities. This move comes despite the strong objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The tensions started on Saturday in Paramount, a city known for its sizeable Latino population, where clashes erupted near a Home Depot. Federal agents, wearing riot gear, unleashed tear gas, flash-bang explosives, and pepper balls, while protesters responded by hurling rocks and cement at Border Patrol vehicles. Smoke billowed from small fires set in the streets.
The unrest followed a series of immigration sweeps in the previous day, including operations in LA's fashion district and at a Home Depot. Arrests surpassed 100, and a prominent union leader was arrested while protesting, accused of impeding law enforcement.
The White House justified the deployment, stating it aims to "address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester" in Los Angeles. However, Governor Newsom voiced concern, calling the move "purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions." He urged the public not to fall for the government's desire for a spectacle by resorting to violence.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hinted at a more aggressive approach, suggesting that active-duty Marines from Camp Pendleton might be mobilized if the violence persists.
Tensions further escalated across the city as crowds gathered outside federal buildings, including a detention center, where local police declared an unlawful assembly and began arresting people.
In the face of these escalating protests, Newsom directed the California Highway Patrol to dispatch additional officers to maintain public safety. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement, emphasizing everyone's right to peacefully protest while condemning violence and destruction.
The California National Guard deployment is not the first instance of such an action during Trump's tenure. In 2020, he also asked several state governors to send their National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., to quell protests following the death of George Floyd. However, Trump did not invoke the Insurrection Act, a seldom-used law in modern American history, during his first term.
Sources:1. Associated Press (AP) - California National Guard Troops Being Sent to Los Angeles2. The New York Times - Trump Moves to Deploy 2,000 National Guard Troops to Los Angeles3. USA Today - Trump Sends California National Guard Troops to LA Despite Newsom's Objections4. CNN - Trump Deploys California National Guard to LA amidst Protests over Immigration Raids5. The Washington Post - Trump Orders Deployment of California National Guard to Los Angeles
- The government's decision to send 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles, amid ongoing conflicts between protesters and federal authorities, raises concerns about potential escalation in jobs, politics, and crime-and-justice within the city.
- In the wake of this decision, Seattle's business sector might take a hit as investors grow wary of increased tensions in general-news headlines.
- With the government's focus on addressing lawlessness in Los Angeles, it remains unclear if similar decisions will be made in other cities facing war-and-conflicts or immigration issues.
- Governor Newsom's call for public restraint against the government's desire for a spectacle opens up a debate in politics about the role of protests and their impact on local communities.
