On Sunday afternoon, tensions escalated in Los Angeles as clashes erupted between police and protesters on the highway, prompting authorities to label a demonstration outside the Metropolitan Detention Center as “illegal.”
Throughout the day, dozens of protesters were taken into custody. In response to what President Trump termed the “rebellious mob,” approximately 300 National Guard members were deployed in the city.
Protesters initiated a blockade on the 101 highway around 3:30 PM, a response to an immigration raid carried out by the Trump administration. In the ensuing confrontation, officers used tear gas and other projectiles to disperse the crowd, successfully reopening the highway by 5 PM.
Shortly after 3 PM, the LAPD announced that another group of protesters gathered outside the prison in Alameda had been deemed unlawful, with arrests in process.
“An illegal assembly has been declared in the Alameda area between Second St. and Aliso St. A dispersal order has been issued, and arrests are ongoing,” the LAPD stated on social media.
CNN reported instances where officers advanced on protesters, utilizing flashbangs and tear gas to control the crowd.
Mayor Karen Bass expressed concern over the protests and criticized Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard, emphasizing the city’s commitment to protecting the right to peaceful protest.
“While we uphold Angelenos’ constitutional rights to protest peacefully, acts of violence and destruction are unacceptable, and those responsible will face accountability,” she posted on social media.
She later indicated that the chaos of the day was “provoked by the administration.”
Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino also delivered a warning amidst the tensions, stating that authorities would pursue all leads related to assaults on federal officers amid ongoing investigations and arrests.
All 23 Democratic governors released a statement on Sunday condemning Trump’s decision to mobilize California’s National Guard. They argued that the use of such powers was unnecessary and merely served to escalate the situation.
The office of Governor Gavin Newsom sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegses, requesting the immediate withdrawal of troops from the city.
Before departing for Camp David on Air Force One, Trump briefly spoke with reporters. While he mentioned plans to meet military leaders, he did not elaborate on those discussions.
In response to questions about potentially invoking military powers during the escalating situation, Trump indicated that he did not yet view the protests as a “rebellion.” However, he later referred to the demonstrators as “rebel mobs” in a social media post.
Trump remarked, “I’ve instructed Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses, and Attorney General Pam Bondy to coordinate with relevant agencies to take necessary actions to alleviate the situation in Los Angeles and end the immigrant influx.”
“Order will be restored, undocumented individuals will be removed, and Los Angeles will regain control,” he asserted.
