Los Angeles Mayor Responds to Anti-ICE Protests

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has defended her stance on last year’s protests against ICE, claiming they didn’t escalate into riots. She compared the situation to the chaotic behavior of fans celebrating a Lakers championship, suggesting that the vandalism and clashes were, in her view, somewhat exaggerated.

During her appearance on the podcast “At Our Table with Jamie Harrison,” Bass discussed the controversial decision to federalize the National Guard and deploy hundreds of Marines in response to the protests. While many demonstrators voiced legitimate grievances against ICE, there were instances of violence, including cars being set ablaze, even police vehicles. Nevertheless, officials have insisted that the majority of the demonstrations remained peaceful.

Bass remarked, “Nothing was happening. OK, there’s going to be a protest,” and added that the chaos resembled moments following a championship victory. “You know what happens after the championship? A few people get out of hand and start causing trouble. There were no riots here.”

The protests were largely a response to the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies. Areas like Paramount and Compton witnessed instances where protesters set vehicles on fire and clashed with law enforcement.

In light of the unrest, President Trump decided to mobilize military personnel to restore order, which drew criticism from various Democratic leaders, including Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Protesters gathered for several days near a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, where law enforcement responded with non-lethal measures, like tear gas and flashbangs, to disperse crowds. Amid these developments, Bass pointed out that the protests were contained to a small area, roughly one square mile.

“Most of the city didn’t even know what was going on. So why do we need 4,000 troops?” she questioned, alluding to the significant National Guard presence during the protests.

In December, a federal judge ordered that the National Guard be returned to Governor Newsom’s control, effectively ending the federal presence linked to immigration enforcement and the protests.