Los Angeles became an epicenter of unrest as National Guard troops were deployed on Sunday in response to a third consecutive day of protests. The demonstrations, sparked by President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement operations, turned violent, with law enforcement and protesters clashing on the streets of America's second-largest city.
The tense standoff reached a peak when officers, attempting to manage the chaos under a freeway overpass on the 101, found themselves under siege. Protesters pelted them with incendiary devices and rocks from above, setting several highway patrol vehicles ablaze. In retaliation, authorities utilized rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds, which included demonstrators marching against the president's nationwide immigration crackdown.
This mounting conflict has not only disrupted the peace in Los Angeles but has also fueled a political firestorm. Governor Gavin Newsom of California accused President Trump of intentionally exacerbating the situation. Trump, in a series of posts on Truth Social, called for apologies from Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. He labeled the protesters as "troublemakers and insurrectionists," rejecting claims that they were peaceful.
As the violence spread, downtown Los Angeles was declared an "unlawful assembly" zone, with police urging immediate evacuation. The disturbances extended to San Francisco, where rioters clashed with police, resulting in injuries to two officers and widespread vandalism.
Los Angeles authorities contemplated a citywide curfew to stem the violence and planned to reassess the need for such drastic measures as the situation evolved. With an estimated 6,000 protesters on the streets, the LAPD, along with immigration officials and National Guard troops, struggled to maintain order, culminating in the arrest of at least 60 individuals on Sunday alone.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell detailed the aggressiveness of the demonstrators, noting their use of hammers, cinder blocks, and commercial-grade fireworks against the officers. The question of requiring further National Guard assistance was left open, as McDonnell indicated a need for reassessment given the escalating aggression.
President Trump, reacting swiftly to the events, called for the arrest of masked protesters, directly defying his directive for demonstrations. His calls for troop deployment underscored the gravity of the situation, as he emphasized the need for immediate action against the "thugs" responsible for the turmoil.
The chaos on the 101 Freeway was particularly intense. More than 2,000 protesters commandeered the traffic lanes, halting motorists and brandishing flags and signs. The freeway was temporarily cleared but had to be shut down again as violence resumed.
Witnesses and social media users, including Jack Posobiec and Riley Gaines, shared harrowing images and videos of officers trapped under the overpass, with rioters dropping scooters and blocks of concrete onto them. These accounts depicted a city under siege, with leadership under scrutiny for failing to prevent the escalation into what some are calling domestic terrorism.
As the city grapples with the aftermath of these events, the national debate over immigration policies and enforcement tactics continues to intensify, highlighting the deep divisions within the country.
