Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) criticized fellow Democrats late Monday for their silence regarding the violent protests occurring in Los Angeles.
“This is really disorderly and creates true confusion,” Fetterman shared in a recent post.
He went on to say, “My party loses its moral high ground when it condones actions like burning cars, destroying buildings, or attacking law enforcement.”
Fetterman expressed concerns about how these events reflect on issues of free speech, peaceful protests, and immigration—highlighting that these should not be undermined.
A large group of protesters has been demonstrating in Los Angeles for several days in response to arrests made by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE). In reaction to the protests, President Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard members and numerous Marines.
On Friday, hundreds of protesters approached a federal building in Los Angeles, leading to the detention of 44 individuals by ICE. Local lawmakers pointed out that the ICE facilities are so overcrowded that many detainees are left to sleep outside in tents.
That same day, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) called for peaceful protests. “Los Angeles has a strong tradition of peaceful demonstrations for immigrant rights. We need to uphold that legacy and not fall into the traps set by the Trump administration,” she stated.
Mayor Bass continued, urging, “Protest peacefully. We won’t tolerate looting or vandalism,” but the city did not clarify whether it would intervene in federal law enforcement activities.
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) and Mayor Bass both labeled the deployment of Trump’s National Guard as “inflamatory” and unjust.
“This is a blatant abuse of power. We will seek to stop it legally. Checks and balances are being compromised,” Newsom remarked.
“This is a red line, and they’re overstepping!” he added, expressing alarm about the situation.
In response, officials from the Trump administration promised to arrest and charge protesters who break the law.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller criticized Mayor Bass in a Saturday post, suggesting that her commentary on the protests was irrelevant. He emphasized that federal law supersedes all.
Dan Bongino, Deputy FBI Director, supported the federal response to ICE actions, stating, “The right to assemble and protest doesn’t give anyone the right to assault or obstruct law enforcement.”
He concluded, “The time of chaos on our streets is over. There are only two options: obey the law or face consequences.”
