LA protests turn violent; Trump sends Guard troops: What triggered the outrage?
A car burns during a protest in Compton, Calif., Saturday, June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP photo)
A protestor is detained in downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following last night's immigration raid protest. (AP photo)
- Protesters torched vehicles and disrupted traffic, while law enforcement responded with flash-bangs and smoke grenades to disperse crowds from key areas.
- At least three self-driving Waymo vehicles were set on fire, with two others vandalised, highlighting anger at both immigration policy and Silicon Valley’s presence.
- A major freeway was blocked for over an hour as protesters took to the roads before being pushed back by the
California Highway Patrol . - Soldiers from California's 79th Infantry Brigade were stationed across the city, wearing full camouflage and armed with live rounds, prompting criticism that their presence was more about intimidation than order.
- Trump defended his decision, suggesting a broader deployment of troops may follow. He also hinted at invoking the Insurrection Act, which permits military use in domestic unrest.
- US Northern Command confirmed that around 500 Marines were in a "prepared to deploy" state to support federal operations if needed.
- Leading Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, slammed the deployment as a "dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos".
- House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump’s action, accusing governor Newsom of failing to maintain law and order in the state.
- Many demonstrators said the Guard’s presence was a scare tactic. “These protests have been peaceful,” protester Thomas Henning told news agency AFP. “It’s intimidation, plain and simple," he added.
- Despite the unrest, a CBS News poll taken before the protests showed that a slight majority of Americans supported the ongoing immigration crackdown.
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