By Sola Adeniji| M10News | June 9, 2025
Los Angeles descended into chaos over the weekend as violent protests erupted in response to sweeping immigration raids ordered by former President Donald Trump
The unrest, marked by arson, attacks on police, and clashes with the National Guard, prompted Trump to demand a military crackdown, declaring: “Bring in the troops!”
The city saw key roads barricaded by demonstrators, while at least four self-driving Waymo vehicles were torched, sending plumes of thick black smoke into the skyline.
Law enforcement responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, flash-bang grenades, and crowd dispersal tactics to try to regain control of the situation.
Among those injured was British photojournalist Nick Stern, 60, from Hertford, England, who was hit by a rubber bullet while documenting the demonstrations. Stern told the Metro that he passed out from the intense pain and later underwent surgery for a severe thigh wound.
At the heart of the unrest are controversial immigration enforcement operations, part of Trump’s pledge to detain 3,000 undocumented migrants daily.
The raids triggered an outpouring of public anger, especially in California—a state with one of the largest immigrant populations in the country.
Thousands took to the streets, particularly around downtown Los Angeles, to protest what many called a militarised crackdown. Protesters clashed with police and National Guard troops stationed outside key federal buildings, including an immigration detention centre that became a flashpoint.
Tensions reached a boiling point as demonstrators hurled rocks, broken concrete, electric scooters, and even fireworks at officers on the 101 freeway. The California Highway Patrol was forced to retreat under an overpass for protection as makeshift barricades went up.
Despite the presence of nearly 1,000 National Guard personnel, the LAPD described the force as overwhelmed. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said his officers were met with an “unmanageable volume” of resistance, accusing known agitators of hijacking peaceful protests.
Authorities confirmed dozens of arrests across the city, including one individual detained for throwing a Molotov cocktail and another for ramming a motorcycle into a police cordon. The city declared an unlawful assembly order, allowing police to arrest anyone who failed to disperse.
Trump, posting on Truth Social, slammed what he described as “weak” local leadership and demanded more aggressive action. “Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!” he wrote. He also urged Chief McDonnell to arrest all masked demonstrators immediately.
The protests appeared to simmer down slightly by late Sunday, though intermittent violence continued. National Guard troops stood shoulder-to-shoulder outside federal buildings with riot shields and assault rifles as demonstrators shouted “shame!” and “go home!”
Police used smoke canisters and crowd-control rounds to push back protesters who refused to leave. Explosions echoed throughout the night as flash bangs and burning vehicles rocked the downtown core, bringing the city to a near-standstill.
One of the more disturbing developments came when at least four autonomous Waymo cars were set ablaze by protesters. The electric vehicles exploded one by one, highlighting how rapidly the violence had spiraled.
In a late-evening statement, California Governor Gavin Newsom denounced the deployment of federal troops, calling it a “serious breach of state sovereignty.” He issued a formal request for their immediate withdrawal, arguing it escalated tensions instead of resolving them.
Newsom, who had travelled to Los Angeles to meet with local officials and police, emphasised that federal overreach was inflaming the situation. “This is not a war zone—it’s our community,” he said.
As the city begins to recover, questions remain about whether this moment represents a turning point in the national debate over immigration enforcement and federal intervention in local affairs. One thing is clear: Los Angeles is on edge, and the country is watching closely.
— M10News Report
Sola Adeniji| Category: U.S. Politics|US News
Published by: https://m10news.com
