A photograph has emerged on various online platforms showing brick pallets allegedly placed near immigration and customs enforcement facilities. Some claim these were set up for “Democrat extremists” during recent protests in Los Angeles, linking the bricks to an organization associated with George Soros, a known figure among certain political groups.
“It’s a civil war!!” various posts proclaim.
However, this narrative appears to be a hoax. The images of the bricks actually come from a Malaysian construction supply website. Moreover, there’s no civil war happening in Los Angeles, despite President Trump’s dispatch of 5,000 National Guard members and Marines to address the so-called violence.
Yet, we cannot ignore that the protests aren’t entirely peaceful. Across the nation, incidents of looting, vandalism, and assaults have been reported. As long as Democrats openly acknowledge and denounce the violence—clearly and forcefully—voters seem to react negatively towards them.
This has been a recurring theme in history. Generally, the “Law and Order” party prevails, while the party perceived as chaotic tends to lose. I often find myself contemplating how my own political side has ended up on the losing end.
Back in 1968, amid riots in American cities, Republican candidate Richard Nixon leveraged the media to spotlight street crimes. The message was straightforward: If you want a tough stance on crime, vote Republican.
Nixon went on to victory, establishing law and order as a key appeal of the GOP. In 1988, George H.W. Bush famously used the case of Willie Horton, a convicted murderer, to undermine Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis’s campaign.
Still, no politicians have emphasized crime quite like Trump has. His rhetoric, calling for a crackdown on what he terms “American massacres,” resonated during social unrest in 2020 following George Floyd’s death.
Simultaneously, some Democrats made a major tactical error by broadly blaming police for the actions of a few, asserting that they weren’t the solution but part of the problem for minority communities.
But it’s worth noting that many non-white Americans actually prefer a continued police presence. This helps explain why Trump’s share of minority voters rose in 2020 and again in 2024.
The events of January 6, 2021, could have positioned Democrats to seize the narrative of law and order, as Trump faced backlash for confronting a mob that attacked the Capitol and assaulted police officers.
One officer who served during that day died soon after, and others tragically took their lives in the wake of the riot. These officers should be highlighted in Democratic campaign messaging. Their memories could be powerful narratives against Trump, who has shown leniency towards January 6th protesters.
However, Democrats have struggled to capitalize on this opportunity. While they condemned pardons, their language seldom resonated with the principles of law and order.
It’s time for a change in approach. We need to acknowledge the violence from recent protests and hold Trump accountable for his lack of support for police. This frames Democrats as the party of law, while Republicans are seen as the outlaws.
Violence is happening; it’s real. In Los Angeles, looters have targeted numerous stores, cars were set ablaze, and police officers have sustained injuries. In other states, protests have turned aggressive, with objects thrown at law enforcement.
To their credit, Democratic leaders nationwide have condemned these violent actions, asserting that such behavior is unacceptable and promising accountability. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass even announced a curfew in response to the unrest.
That’s a positive step. Yet, there’s a need to pressure the Trump administration regarding its stance on police management in Los Angeles. They contend that everything is under control, though Trump disputes this, claiming that without intervention, chaos would reign.
Remember when Republicans used to advocate for local police? That sentiment seems lost now. The Trump administration suggests it knows better, effectively sidelining local law enforcement.
It’s not enough to legally contest federal forces’ presence in Los Angeles. There also needs to be a clear depiction of Trump as anti-police, differentiating Democrats from the GOP in a powerful political message.
