Tensions erupted across Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8, as thousands of protesters flooded downtown streets to oppose President Donald Trump’s unprecedented deployment of the National Guard without the state governor’s consent. The move, widely condemned by local and state leaders, escalated into violent confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement, marking the third consecutive day of civil unrest linked to recent immigration raids.
Streets Turn Chaotic Amid Heavy Military Presence
Federal troops stood in formation outside key government buildings including the Metropolitan Detention Center, their riot shields and long guns symbolizing a tense and militarized response to the protests. Demonstrators chanted “shame” and “go home,” sparking a clash that quickly devolved into smoke and flash bangs as officers fired tear gas and crowd-control rounds into the crowd.
Some protesters retaliated by hurling chunks of concrete, fireworks, and electric scooters from atop the closed southbound lanes of the 101 Freeway. Officers from the California Highway Patrol took cover under overpasses as the situation spiraled into chaos.
Nearby, at least four self-driving Waymo vehicles were torched, sending pillars of black smoke into the air and drawing emergency responders to the scene. As the violence spread, the Los Angeles Police Department declared an unlawful assembly and locked down multiple city blocks.
A Crisis Sparked by Immigration Crackdown
The unrest follows Friday’s sweeping immigration raids across the greater Los Angeles area, which federal authorities say have resulted in over 100 arrests so far. Detentions took place in public locations such as Home Depot parking lots and in the city’s Fashion District. Protests erupted shortly after, initially peaceful before intensifying with each passing day.
On Sunday morning, the crowd surged around federal buildings, with protesters forming makeshift barricades from public park chairs. Law enforcement used aggressive tactics to disperse them, leading many to abandon the area by evening, while others continued to defy the growing presence of federal forces.
Political Fallout and Legal Concerns
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned Trump’s move in a formal letter, calling the federal deployment “a serious breach of state sovereignty.” He emphasized the administration’s lack of coordination with state authorities and described the situation as “provoked chaos.”
“This is about another agenda. This isn’t about public safety,” echoed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during an afternoon briefing.
However, the White House pushed back, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson stating, “It’s a bald-faced lie for Newsom to claim there was no problem in Los Angeles before President Trump got involved.”
The last known instance of such a unilateral deployment occurred in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to protect civil rights activists in Alabama. Legal experts have raised questions about Trump’s use of federal authority under the Insurrection Act, which permits military deployment during times of rebellion.
Trump Promises ‘Very Strong Law and Order’
Speaking before boarding Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey, President Trump defended the crackdown.
“There are violent people in Los Angeles,” he said. “We’re not going to let this happen to our country. We’re going to have troops everywhere.”
Trump invoked a legal provision citing a “rebellion or danger of a rebellion,” authorizing the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members. The U.S. Northern Command confirmed that 500 Marines at Twentynine Palms were also on standby.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, a resident of Los Angeles, denounced the federal actions as “a cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division,” expressing support for protesters “standing up to protect our most fundamental rights and freedoms.”
Looking Ahead
As Los Angeles attempts to restore calm, state and city leaders are urging federal withdrawal and a de-escalation of force. But with President Trump signaling further deployments and a refusal to back down, the city may be bracing for continued unrest in the days to come.
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