Los Angeles (AP) – The Government of California, represented by Gavin Newsom, announced plans to file a lawsuit against President Donald Trump on Monday, as detailed by his administration. This follows a remarkable moment as the National Guard stepped in to confront immigrant protesters who marched down the street in Los Angeles.
“It is illegal and immoral to deploy state security forces without consulting that state’s governor,” Democrat Newsom stated during an MSNBC interview on Sunday.
On Monday morning, the streets of the sprawling city, home to 4 million residents, were eerily quiet. However, the lingering scent of smoke remained a reminder of the previous day, when crowds blocked major highways, prompting police to respond with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flashbang grenades. A heavy law enforcement presence filled the area, with police vehicles barricading roads near federal detention centers that had become the focal point of protests.
While many areas remained largely peaceful, certain downtown blocks saw clashes that resulted in debris and damage. It could take days to clear away remnants of a burning car and address the graffiti. Sunday marked the third and most intense day of protests against Trump’s immigration policies in the region, with approximately 300 security personnel arriving, igniting anger and fear among residents.
As night fell, many protesters were dispersed, leading police to declare an unlawful assembly. Officers moved in to apprehend those who refused to leave. Some individuals, remaining behind makeshift barricades, retaliated by throwing objects at the police. California Highway Patrol officers monitored the situation from the closed southbound 101 Freeway, where projectiles like concrete, rocks, electric scooters, and fireworks were hurled at them, prompting officers to seek cover underneath the elevated train.
The National Guard’s presence was specifically established to safeguard federal buildings, including detention centers downtown, where protesters had concentrated.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell expressed that officers felt “overwhelmed” by the remaining protesters, noting that many were regular troublemakers who appeared to incite conflict.
Throughout the weekend, numerous arrests were made, including one individual apprehended for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police and another for charging a motorcycle into the police lines.
Trump reacted to McDonnell by urging law enforcement to arrest protesters wearing face masks, exclaiming, “It looks really bad in LA!!!”
Governor asserts National Guard presence is unnecessary.
Newsom urged Trump to retract his deployment of the National Guard, stating on Sunday that it represented a “serious violation of national sovereignty.”
In Los Angeles, the governor held discussions with local law enforcement, informing protesters that they would be arrested for acts of violence and property damage brought on by Trump’s agenda.
“Trump seeks chaos, and he incites violence,” he stated. “Stay calm. Stay focused. Don’t give him the excuse he’s seeking.”
This deployment seems to mark the first occasion in decades where the state’s National Guard has been mobilized without the governor’s request, amidst a large-scale government deportation initiative.
McDonnell refuted the Trump administration’s claim that the LAPD had failed to assist federal authorities during protests that followed a series of immigrant attacks, asserting that his department acted swiftly once it received notice of the attacks.
Meanwhile, Newsom has reiterated that California officials are managing the situation. He mocked Trump for his congratulatory messages to the National Guard on social media before their arrival in Los Angeles, declaring on MSNBC that Trump would never dispatch the guards, labeling him a “cold stone liar.”
Such admonitions, however, did not deter the administration.
“It is false for Newsom to suggest that Los Angeles was stable before President Trump intervened,” stated White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson.
Tensions mount as National Guard units arrive
On Sunday morning, National Guard troops assembled in Los Angeles, armed with long rifles and riot shields while protesters chanted “shame” and “go home.” As some demonstrators approached the guards, another group of police moved in, deploying smoke canisters into the street.
Shortly after, the Los Angeles Police Department utilized crowd-control munitions to disperse protesters. Many demonstrators then attempted to block traffic on the 101 Freeway, only to be cleared by state patrol officers.
Nearby, several self-driving Waymo vehicles burned, releasing large plumes of black smoke into the air, which intermittently erupted. By evening, police had cordoned off multiple blocks of downtown Los Angeles.
The sound of flashbang grenades reverberated frequently throughout the night.
Protests continue to escalate over several days
The National Guard’s deployment spread to Paramount, a predominantly Latinx city to the south, following two days of protests that originated in downtown Los Angeles on Friday and included nearby Compton.
Federal agents apprehended immigrants in LA’s fashion district, a Home Depot parking lot, and various other locales on Friday. The following day, they regrouped at a Department of Homeland Security office near another Home Depot in Paramount, although federal authorities later indicated that no enforcement actions occurred at Home Depot.
The weekly number of immigrant arrests in the LA area surpassed 100, according to federal authorities, with even more individuals detained amid the protests, including prominent union leaders accused of obstructing law enforcement.
The Brennan Judicial Center noted that the last time the National Guard was mobilized without the governor’s approval occurred in 1965.
Trump asserts “strong law and order.”
In an Executive Order issued on Saturday, Trump invoked legal authority that permitted the deployment of federal service members during “a risk of rebellion against the authority” of the U.S. government.
He approved the mobilization of 2,000 National Guard members.
On Sunday, Trump mentioned he was prepared to board Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey.
In San Francisco, dozens of protesters were arrested Sunday night after they refused to disband, as reported by police. In a social media statement, the San Francisco Police Department noted that an officer had declared the assembly unlawful as tensions escalated. While many protesters vacated the vicinity, some remained, moving to another area where they vandalized buildings and police vehicles.
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Offenhartz reported from New York, with Associated Press Writer Michelle Price contributing from Bridgewater, New Jersey.
Source: apnews.com