Chaos in Los Angeles - Trump Enforces Martial Law Threat without Consulting Governor
Trump issues martial law threat - California files legal challenge
Los Angeles is in turmoil as protesters torch self-driving taxis and pelt rocks at them. City officials claim they can handle the situation, but Trump disagrees and threatens the city with the "Insurrection Act", a form of martial law.
California is taking legal action against Donald Trump's order to send the National Guard to Los Angeles without prior consultation. Governor Gavin Newsom argues the deployment is "illegal, immoral, and unconstitutional" in an interview with MSNBC, accusing Trump of "fueling the fire".
Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis adds that there's no need for 400 National Guard troops when local security can handle the protests efficiently.
Newsom visits Los Angeles on Sunday to observe ongoing immigration raids and protests against them.
Newsom: Trump's Stunt
Protests against the U.S. government's deportation policy have been ongoing in LA since Friday. Sometimes violent demonstrations target federal police raids on migrants in the city. Protesters hurl eggs, fireworks, and other objects at ICE agents. Federal police counter with stun grenades and tear gas.
Trump orders the deployment of 2000 National Guard troops to LA, despite no request from the city or state. Trump defends the decision by citing the need to maintain "law and order". He says he's closely monitoring the situation for further action.
Newsom calls Trump's move a deliberate stunt, claiming Trump wants to leverage his "martial spectacle" to bypass existing law.
Trump's Nationwide Military Takeover
Saturday sees protesters setting fire to at least three self-driving cars belonging to Waymo and damaging police vehicles. Traffic on a LA highway is blocked for over an hour because of a protest gathering.
The LA police disperse protesters using stun and smoke grenades. Police Chief Jim McDonnell stresses that most protesters are peacefully exercising their right to free speech.
Trump does not rule out deploying soldiers in other US cities. He suggests "troops everywhere" could be an option. "We're not going to let this country be torn apart," Trump says.
Trump's Martial Law Ambitions
Trump does not rule out imposing martial law to control the protests. However, he says there's currently no need to invoke the "Insurrection Act". His decree to mobilize the National Guard refers to "a form of rebellion" against state authority but doesn't explicitly mention LA. This could potentially be applied anywhere in the U.S.
Typically, states control the National Guard, a military reserve unit under the U.S. Armed Forces. Each state has its own guard, primarily used for wildfires, tornadoes, floods, or internal unrest. Governors command the guard in such situations.
However, in cases of war or national emergencies, the U.S. President can take control. Deploying the National Guard against a governor's wishes is an unusual display of federal power, with no U.S. President taking control of a state's National Guard against its declared will since 1965.
- California
- Los Angeles
- Protests
- Donald Trump
Legal concerns surge in light of Trump's deployment of the National Guard without explicit state and local approval. The Posse Comitatus Act, preventing military involvement in civilian law enforcement, faces challenges as troops protect federal agents and assets. Trump's actions mirror aspects of the Insurrection Act, which authorizes the President to deploy troops in insurrection or enforcement situations obstructed by law. However, the term "insurrection" may not accurately describe the LA protests.
Title 10 is utilized to federalize National Guard units, arguing that local law enforcement is incapable of maintaining order. This move is controversial and perceived by some as a stride towards authoritarianism. State sovereignty debates also arise as a result of the deployment without a governor's approval. Governor Gavin Newsom's lawsuit against the Trump administration exacerbates these discussions.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has deployed 2000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles amidst ongoing protests, despite no request from the city or state, sparking legal concerns and discussions about state sovereignty in the context of politics, war-and-conflicts, general-news, and crime-and-justice. Governor Gavin Newsom of California contends that Trump's move is a deliberate stunt, with potential implications for the Posse Comitatus Act and the Insurrection Act, threatening to further polarize the already contentious politics in the U.S.
