Protests stemming from stringent immigration tactics erupted across the United States on Wednesday, following days of demonstrations in Los Angeles. Concurrently, California geared up for a legal confrontation with the White House over US President Donald Trump’s deployment of military forces.
In America’s second-largest city, over 1,000 individuals gathered for a sixth consecutive day of protests, with the crowd remaining peaceful as they marched through the streets. A second night of curfew was anticipated as city leaders sought to control the after-dark vandalism and looting that had marred a few city blocks within the 500-square-mile (1,300 square kilometers) metropolis.
“I would say for the most part everything is hunky dory right here at Ground Zero,” protester Lynn Sturgis, 66, a retired school teacher, told AFP. “Our city is not at all on fire, it’s not burning down, as our terrible leader is trying to tell you.”
The predominantly peaceful protests were sparked by a sudden intensification of efforts to apprehend migrants residing in the country illegally. Pockets of violence—including the burning of self-driving taxis and the hurling of stones at police—were not unprecedented for the 8,500 officers of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Trump’s victory in last year’s election was partly fueled by his pledges to combat what he terms an “invasion” by undocumented migrants. He is now capitalizing on the situation for political gain, ordering the California National Guard to deploy despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections. This marks the first time in decades that a US president has taken such action.
“We’re going to have a safe country,” he told reporters en route to a theatre performance. “We’re not going to have what would have happened in Los Angeles. Remember, if I wasn’t there… Los Angeles would have been burning to the ground.”
Scott Sherman, Deputy Commanding General Army North, who is leading the operations, stated that approximately 1,000 of the 4,700 troops deployed by Trump were actively guarding facilities and collaborating with ICE agents. The remaining forces—including 700 active-duty Marines—were mustering or undergoing training to respond to civil disturbances, he added. The Pentagon has estimated the deployment will cost taxpayers $134 million.
Governor Newsom, a Democrat, has accused Trump of attempting to escalate the confrontation for political advantage. His legal team was expected in court on Thursday to seek a temporary restraining order that would prevent troops from accompanying immigration officers during migrant arrests. Administration lawyers dismissed the application as a “crass political stunt.”
Newsom warned that this unprecedented militarization would extend beyond California’s borders. “Democracy is under assault right before our eyes,” he said on Tuesday. “California may be first, but it clearly won’t end here.”
Nationwide Protests Gaining Momentum
Despite Trump’s threats to deploy the National Guard to other Democratic-run states over the objections of their governors, protesters appear undeterred. Demonstrations were reported in St. Louis, Raleigh, Manhattan, Indianapolis, and Denver. In San Antonio, hundreds marched and chanted near city hall, reports indicated, where Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott has deployed the state’s National Guard.
A nationwide “No Kings” movement is anticipated on Saturday, coinciding with a highly unusual military parade in the US capital, which Trump will attend. The parade, featuring warplanes and tanks, is organized to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the US Army’s founding, and also happens to be Trump’s 79th birthday.
‘Inflamed’ Situation
The Trump administration is portraying the protests as a violent threat to the nation, necessitating military force to support regular immigration agents and police. However, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass asserted that the crisis was manufactured in Washington.
“A week ago, everything was peaceful in the city of Los Angeles,” she told reporters. “Things began to be difficult on Friday when raids took place… that is the cause of the problems. This was provoked by the White House.”
Arrests by masked and armed individuals continued on Wednesday. A pastor in the LA suburb of Downey recounted that five armed men driving out-of-state cars apprehended a Spanish-speaking man in the church’s parking lot. When she challenged the men and requested their badge numbers and names, they refused. “They did point their rifle at me and said, ‘You need to get back,’” Lopez told broadcaster KTLA. Footage reviewed by AFP depicted what appeared to be federal agents ramming a car in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles. Some form of smoke device was deployed, and masked men with assault weapons ordered a man from the car, leaving what witnesses described as his wife and children severely shaken.
