Los Angeles Mayor Enacts Curfew Amid Protests
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass held a press conference on Tuesday announcing a curfew aimed at curbing vandalism and looting in a limited section of the city. This decision came in response to a week of protests focused on these issues.
The curfew will cover a one-square-mile area, starting from 8 PM to 6 AM and is expected to be in effect for several days.
“If you don’t live or work in downtown Los Angeles, it’s best to avoid that area,” Bass advised.
On Monday night, Bass noted that 23 businesses were affected in downtown, which also showcased significant graffiti. The most intense protests have been reported near federal buildings, such as the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building, detention centers, and federal courthouses.
The mayor stressed that the curfew’s scope is much smaller compared to the city’s total area of 502 square miles.
“It’s crucial to highlight this so we don’t downplay the vandalism and violence that occurred there, which is very important,” Bass stated. “However, it’s necessary to understand that the situation in this small area doesn’t extend throughout the city.”
“Some of the images depicting protests and violence might suggest that the entire city is in crisis, but that’s not the reality,” she added.
In response to the unrest, President Trump has dispatched 4,000 National Guard troops to the region.
Trump asserted that the deployment was necessary to manage the violence as protests clashed with law enforcement, particularly following recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Pentagon has also sent 700 Marines to the broader LA area for the protection of federal buildings and officials.
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the administration on Monday regarding Trump’s decision to send in California State Guard troops, labeling it an “unprecedented gain of power.”
“A fundamental principle of our nation and democracy is that our citizens are governed by civilians rather than military forces,” they argued.
“The framers instilled these values into our constitution: governance should be based on the rule of law, not military authority, but by civil authorities,” they added.
During the press conference, Bass expressed gratitude for his collaboration, acknowledging not just state and local leaders, but also law enforcement officials and agents.
