Governor Criticizes "Deliberate Provocation of Protesters"
Calls Deployment a Move to Manufacture Crisis
On June 8 (local time), 300 members of the National Guard, ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump to suppress large-scale protests sparked by opposition to illegal immigration crackdowns, arrived in Los Angeles (LA).
On the 8th (local time), tensions escalated as the National Guard was deployed in downtown Los Angeles, California, USA. Photo by AP News Agency
According to AP News Agency and CNN, U.S. authorities announced that a total of 300 National Guard troops were deployed and began operations in three key areas of LA that morning. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem appeared on CBS and stated, "The National Guard deployed today is a force specially trained to respond to this type of crowd situation." Secretary Noem further explained that the National Guard troops "will provide security for the execution of (illegal immigration crackdown) operations and ensure that peaceful protests can take place."
Secretary Noem avoided directly responding to protesters' claims that illegal immigrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were not being provided with basic water and food in detention facilities, saying, "When violence occurred, it became extremely difficult to allow people in and out of those facilities."
Dan Bongino, Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), posted on X (formerly Twitter) that morning, warning, "Illegal immigration crackdown operations will continue, and anyone who interferes with the operations by using violence will be investigated and prosecuted." He added, "Numerous arrests have already been made in LA and New York," and cautioned, "If (protesters) choose violence, it will not end well, so choose wisely."
The large-scale protests in LA were triggered on June 6, when ICE, the FBI, and others raided the downtown clothing wholesale market and a Home Depot store, arresting and detaining 44 illegal immigrants working in those areas. Protests against the authorities broke out in succession at the ICE raid sites, around the federal detention center where illegal immigrants are held, and in the Paramount area, which is home to a large Hispanic community. That morning, there were also reports of physical clashes between a small group of protesters and authorities in the Compton area south of LA.
President Trump criticized Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom of California and others on the previous day via a post on the social media platform Truth Social, claiming they were not responding properly to the protests. He declared, "The federal government will intervene to resolve riots and looters." Subsequently, the White House announced that President Trump had signed an order to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to LA.
CNN reported that this is the first time in 33 years since the 1992 LA Riots, which were triggered by issues of racial discrimination against Black Americans, that a U.S. president has mobilized the National Guard for protest suppression under federal authority. Human rights organizations also pointed out that this is the first time since former President Lyndon Johnson sent troops to Alabama in 1965 to protect civil rights demonstrators that a president has deployed the National Guard without a request from a governor.
Governor Newsom criticized the Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard as "a measure intended to deliberately provoke protesters" and said, "This is not based on necessity but is meant to manufacture a crisis." He added, "President Trump is hoping for chaos to justify more crackdowns and control," and urged protesters, "Remain calm and never resort to violence. Maintain peace."
Organizations participating in these protests are organizing a large solidarity rally in front of LA City Hall that afternoon. Karen Bass, the Democratic mayor of LA, stated, "Everyone has the right to protest peacefully, but reports of unrest in areas outside the city are deeply concerning." She warned, "Violence and destruction cannot be tolerated, and those who participate in such acts will be held accountable."
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