Pastor Urges Christians to Pray for LA as Trump Sends Hundreds of Marines

US Marines Deployed Amid LA Protests

President Trump ordered hundreds of US Marines to Los Angeles on Monday to manage the anti-ICE protests that began over the weekend. Reports indicate that about 700 Marines from the 2nd Battalion and 7th Marines stationed at Twentynine Palms were deployed to the city, while an additional 500 were sent from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California.

“I think we’re handling it well,” Trump remarked. “The situation was deteriorating, but now it’s turning around.”

Earlier in the week, Trump activated the National Guard, criticizing both Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass as the protests intensified and escalated into violence against law enforcement.

“Newsom’s handling of the situation was awful,” Trump stated. “I mean, I have a good relationship with him, but he’s really dropped the ball.”

In response, California filed a lawsuit against Trump, alleging that his actions aimed to create disorder.

“This is a manufactured crisis. He’s seizing control of the state militia and spreading fear, which violates the Constitution,” Newsom asserted. “The powers he’s claiming could allow him to send troops anywhere. All governors, regardless of their party, should oppose this blatant overreach. It’s an alarming trend toward authoritarianism.”

The Marines are expected to support the approximately 2,000 National Guard troops already in the city. Currently, around 300 troops are in place, with plans for further expansion.

In an interview, Pastor Mario Adriel Ortiz discussed the importance of prayer during such tumultuous times. He emphasized the need for spiritual reflection over social commentary.

“I think it’s essential to pray first,” Ortiz noted. “We need to bring God into our conversations. What does the Gospel say about these issues?”

Ortiz expressed that Christians should prioritize their faith above political affiliations: “If you follow Christ, you should be a Christian first, before identifying with any political party.”

“Our initial reaction should be to pray, not to pass judgment,” he concluded, referencing a scripture that highlights the importance of prayer.