In Los Angeles, civil unrest and tension grew as the city prepared to face more widespread protests stoked by anger and violence. A convoy of buses carrying U.S. Marines, escorted by sheriff’s vehicles, departed from a Marine Corps base in Twentynine Palms, heading to Los Angeles. The convoy made a stop at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, approximately 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, before continuing its journey. U.S. officials have claimed that the marines were sent to protect federal property and personnel, not least immigration agents themselves.
The Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman emphasized that the county possesses sufficient local law enforcement resources to manage the situation. “We in Los Angeles county have tens of thousands of police officers, whether they are with the LA police department, the LA sheriff’s department, or there are 45 other law enforcement agencies in LA county,” Hochman stated. He asserted that local authorities were more than capable of handling the civil unrest that had emerged, noting that “we have more than enough law enforcement officers to deal with the civil unrest that’s occurred so far.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom denounced the illegal deployment of the National Guard. He argued that in issuing this decision, President Donald Trump’s administration committed an obvious abuse of power. Newsom announced that California would file a lawsuit against the Trump administration, stating, “U.S. Marines serve a valuable purpose for this country — defending democracy. They are not political pawns.” He condemned the Secretary of Defense for using American troops on streets. He has called the action a political stunt.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell expressed confidence in the police department’s ability to manage large-scale demonstrations without federal assistance. Hochman supported this stance, saying, “It doesn’t mean that the federal government can’t protect federal facilities with either the National Guard or, if they choose, additional soldiers – that’s their choice.” He cautioned that the Marines’ arrival without coordination with local law enforcement would pose a “significant logistical and operational challenge.”
In Los Angeles, protests turned into riots and found dozens of protesters and rioters arrested and multiple businesses damaged. Amid this unrest, Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii used her acceptance speech at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards to voice her concerns about Trump’s handling of the protests. “I do want to address what’s happening right now, outside the building,” she stated.
The protests received international visibility when Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke out after an Australian television reporter was assaulted. Photo by Michael Tapp/Rocky Mountain PBS Lauren Tomasi, who was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet while reporting in-person through the violence. Albanese called the shooting “horrific,” indicating that there is increasing concern for the treatment of journalists at protests.
Local officials have rightfully condemned the federal government’s brutal overreach. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass denounced the enforcement crackdown and emphasized that “this is a city of immigrants.” She denounced the use of military forces to quell protests as a “dangerous” tactic. This heavy-handed approach creates fear and disorder in communities.
“The Secretary of Defense is illegally deploying them onto American streets so Trump can have a talking point at his parade this weekend,” Newsom remarked about the federal response to the protests. He appealed for a new way to approach civil unrest as tensions continue to rise.
Through operations that are becoming increasingly common, federal law enforcement agencies are ramping up their presence and activities in Los Angeles. Just last week, Homeland Security announced that its Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has been arresting nearly 2,000 immigration offenders daily. Likewise, with the uptick in criminal enforcement, it has raised the stakes and tension in communities. These regions are already stretched thin from months-long demonstrations and civil discord.
Hochman addressed concerns regarding local law enforcement’s capacity to handle potential escalations in unrest, stating, “Unless the civil unrest gets farther out of control – and that could happen – we are not at the point where local law enforcement is beyond its means to deal with the situation.” He reiterated that the local agencies respect the protesters and are listening to these protests as real expressions of concerns and are ready for whatever comes next.
The climate continues to evolve as Los Angeles finds the balance in facilitating protests while maintaining the safety of the public during these challenging times. Local officials may have deeply held and possibly misguided convictions about their ability to manage civil unrest without federal intervention. With continued protests and clashes showing that the situation is bound to blow up,