On Sunday, Democrat Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles shared her observations regarding the anti-Trump “no-Kings” protests during an appearance on CNN. She described Saturday’s protests as “overwhelmingly peaceful,” despite the chaos that had unfolded throughout downtown in previous weeks.
Since June 6, protests and riots have left parts of the city marked by vandalism and looted shops. Bass mentioned her search for 700 Marines, recently deployed by President Trump to help restore order. “I have to admit, I spent time in a helicopter yesterday looking for these Marines. Honestly, I didn’t see them,” she remarked.
She clarified that recent detentions, which she believed occurred outside the city, were isolated incidents and emphasized that the military was unnecessary. “We don’t want them here. Local law enforcement is managing the situation,” Bass stated.
In addition to the Marines, Trump had also called in 2,000 National Guard members, a decision that drew criticism from both Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Bass noted that 30,000 people had gathered in downtown Los Angeles across multiple protest sites, all of which she claimed were mostly peaceful. “It’s not surprising that some conflict arises at the end of protests. I wish there was none, but it didn’t define the day,” she stated, pointing out that there were few arrests.
Despite her assurances, footage taken by reporters suggested that the situation was more turbulent than she indicated. On Saturday, as tensions escalated around 2:30 PM, protesters were seen confronting the National Guard near federal buildings.
Law enforcement attempted to disperse the crowds after declaring the assembly illegal, and chaos ensued. Emergency alerts were sent out to the downtown area, highlighting the confusion.
According to reports, tear gas was ultimately deployed as authorities tried to clear protesters who were reluctant to leave. The confrontations continued for hours, with tensions peaking as some activists engaged directly with the police.
By around 8:40 PM, the streets, which had earlier been bustling with thousands, were much quieter, following an imposed curfew at 8 PM.
