LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Southland law enforcement agencies were bracing Monday for a possible fourth day of protests over federal immigration raids in the area, following a weekend that saw demonstrations devolve into violence that included burning of vehicles, fireworks launched at police and widespread graffiti in downtown Los Angeles.
A strong police presence was noticeable throughout the Civic Center area Monday, with officers standing guard over businesses with shattered glass windows, looted shelves and copious amounts of graffiti.
The Los Angeles Police Department reported Sunday it made 10 arrests and the California Highway Patrol said it made 19 arrests, mostly marchers who were on the Hollywood (101) Freeway in downtown.
The LAPD also reported reporting looters broke into a shoe store and other businesses between Sixth Street and Broadway on Sunday.
A reporter from Australia was seen shot by law enforcement in the leg with rubber bullets during a broadcast. A shirtless man driving a mini-van was taken into custody after doing donuts near protesters on the streets in downtown around 9 p.m. Sunday.
National Guard troops arrived in downtown Los Angeles at 4 a.m. Sunday after President Donald Trump ordered their deployment, over the strenuous objection of local Democrats, led by Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom. By early afternoon they were facing off with angry protesters as they tried to protect the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and the Metropolitan Detention Center on Alameda Street downtown.
Additionally, 500 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines were being prepared to deploy and assist the National Guard troops on the ground.
At about 6 p.m. Sunday, the Los Angeles Police Department requested mutual aid from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department which sent more than 100 deputies to support the LAPD and the California Highway Patrol.
Sheriff Robert G. Luna then requested mutual assistance from law enforcement agencies inside and outside of the county, and the department coordinated with the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to deploy additional resources in hopes of quelling the violence.
Around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, police shut down the Hollywood (101) Freeway for the second time that day due to protesters on an overpass throwing rocks, debris and firecrackers at California Highway Patrol officers and vehicles in southbound lanes, causing severe damage to the vehicles.
The LAPD went on Tactical Alert, declared an unlawful assembly in the area of Alameda Street between Second and Aliso streets and battled with more than 1,000 demonstrators who marched from Boyle Heights to the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building.
Troops on horseback, ground and air resources were deployed with less- lethal munitions to combat the protesters.
On Sunday evening, police declared an unlawful assembly for the entire Civic Center area of downtown, and closing traffic on Spring Street between Temple and First streets, where demonstrators used chairs from Grand Park and other items to blockade the street. Less-lethal munitions were authorized and were used.
Around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, protesters used pink chairs, possibly from nearby Grand Park in an attempt to establish barricades in multiple locations, including Spring and Temple streets, outside City Hall and LAPD Headquarters.
Meanwhile, black smoke emanated from about a half-dozen Waymo driverless cars that were summoned to Los Angeles Street only to be destroyed and set on fire. Authorities allowed the vehicles to burn themselves out rather than send in firefighters to extinguish them.
“Burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, posing risks to responders and those nearby,” officials stated.
Video also showed multiple LAPD vehicles vandalized.
“These images are unacceptable … these kids on the car, folks that are taking advantage of this, these aren’t peaceful protesters, a lot of these folks. A lot of great people out there doing the right thing, but then you get these insurgents groups coming in, sort of these anarchists that are there to create real problems, and they’re just playing right into Donald Trump’s hands,” Newsom told NBC’s Jacob Soboroff. “They need to be called out. They need to be arrested. It is wrong to destroy other people’s property and it is wrong to create the conditions that only exacerbate this. But Donald Trump, at the end of the day, is the sponsor of these conditions.”
By 7 p.m. Sunday, the car fires were extinguished by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Around 9 p.m. Sunday, the LAPD declared the entirety of downtown an unlawful assembly, telling all demonstrators to leave immediately. Police said demonstrators marched to the LA Live area and slowed traffic on Figueroa near 11th Street by walking through the center of the roadway. A single police cruiser was struck by a bicycle thrown by a pedestrian in the area. A second police vehicle was pelted with items after showing up to assist.
Arrests were reported as some protesters threw bottles and other objects at officers and attempted to breach police lines.
Two people riding motorcycles were detained after they allegedly attempted to breach a skirmish line at the intersection of Alameda and Temple streets and injured two officers, according to the LAPD.
The officers were being treated at the scene by medical personnel and said to be in stable condition. Another officer was reportedly injured when a flaming substance was thrown at, but no officer was transported to a hospital.
On Sunday night, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell echoed Newsom’s comments about “anarchist” agitators taking advantage of legitimate civil rights protests to cause damage and inflame violence. McDonnell stated the LAPD was overwhelmed Sunday night by the number of protesters, with attacks on officers that included Molotov cocktails, hammers and stones.
“We recognize that immigration enforcement operations can cause a deep fear and anxiety, particularly in immigrant communities. That’s why we’re committed to transparency, accountability and treating every Angeleno with respect, regardless of their immigration status. … Our job is to keep everyone safe,” McDonnell said. “We will continue to support peaceful protests and enforce the law on criminal action.”
“The LAPD supports and protects the First Amendment right to free speech. We’re committed to treating every Angeleno with respect, regardless of their immigration status. … Our job is to keep everyone safe,” he said.
“I’ve seen civil unrest before, and generally, the second and third days are more violent,” McDonnell said, adding that he had spoken with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who said he would be filing charges where appropriate … “and won’t be shy about that.”
When asked how difficult it was to keep the city safe when so many officers were deployed to a single location, the police chief said it was difficult, and that only calls of great importance, such as a crime of violence, would receive a response.
He also said the LAPD has a very good relationship with the National Guard after working closely together for months during the Palisades Fire that ignited Jan. 7.
Earlier in the day, the National Guard announced details about their deployment.
“@TheCalGuard 79th IBCT has deployed approximately 300 soldiers to 3 separate locations in the greater Los Angeles area. They are conducting safety and protection of federal property & personnel,” the U.S. Northern Command posted at 9:07 a.m. Sunday.
“The National Guard is present and actively protecting federal assets in Los Angeles,” U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli posted on social media. “Anyone thinking about showing up to damage federal property or to assault our agents, think again.”
During Sunday’s protest near the Metropolitan Detention Center on Alameda Street, National Guard members threw tear gas canisters and smoke grenades toward the demonstrators.
The Presidential Memorandum posted Saturday on the White House website ordered the deployment of the Guard in light of “numerous incidents of violence and disorder (which) … threaten to continue in response to the enforcement of Federal law by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other United States Government personnel who are performing Federal functions and supporting the faithful execution of Federal immigration laws.”
The order states, in part that “The members and units of the National Guard called into Federal service shall be at least 2,000 National Guard personnel and the duration of duty shall be for 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said he has placed U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County on “high alert” to be deployed if needed.
The chaos began with a series of immigration enforcement raids Friday that sparked demonstrations featuring dozens of arrests and profane and threatening graffiti left on government buildings, and continued Saturday with violent protests in Paramount during the day and in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday evening.
Despite the unruly crowds, Bass said federal reinforcements were not needed, and she laid blame at the feet of the Trump administration, saying it escalated the violence with the deployment of National Guard troops.
“I’m very disappointed that he chose to do this, because it’s just not necessary,” Bass said. “There was protests last night in Los Angeles — my understanding is that there were about 120 protesters. Several of them did commit acts of vandalism, but there was nothing that was happening in downtown Los Angeles that the Los Angeles Police Department could not manage to deal with, so to me, this is completely unnecessary, I think it’s the administration just posturing. To have 100 troops in Westwood, where nothing had happened at all, and 100 downtown is just overreach.”
Newsom, who typically only deploys the California National Guard upon request from local law enforcement, accused Trump of trying to create a “spectacle” rather than acting on a “legitimate need.”
The governor later said he had “formally requested the Trump administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command. We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed.”
“Rescind the order. Return control to California,” he said.
Trump addressed the situation in a social media post Sunday.
“A once great American city, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by illegal aliens and criminals,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our federal agents to try and stop our deportation operations. But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve.
“Order will be restored, the illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
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