U.S. Protests Surge Amid Trump’s Warnings

• Los Angeles anticipates a second night of curfew.
• Isolated incidents of violence are familiar to LAPD officers.
• Approximately 1,000 troops deployed by Trump are overseeing facilities.

LOS ANGELES: Protests regarding strict immigration policies erupted across the U.S. on Wednesday, following several days of demonstrations in Los Angeles, where California is gearing up for a legal battle with the White House over President Trump’s military deployment.

In Los Angeles, the nation’s second-largest city, around 1,000 individuals gathered for a sixth day of protests, mostly marching peacefully through the streets.

A second night of curfew is anticipated as local leaders seek to control vandalism and looting that affected several city blocks in the expansive 500-square-mile metropolis.

“For the most part, everything is just fine here at Ground Zero,” remarked Lynn Sturgis, a 66-year-old retired educator, speaking to AFP. “Our city is not burning; it’s not on fire, contrary to what our dreadful leader is trying to convey.”

These largely peaceful demonstrations were sparked by an uptick in efforts to detain migrants living in the country unlawfully.

While there were some violent moments—such as the igniting of self-driving taxis and throwing rocks at police—these incidents were nothing the 8,500 Los Angeles Police Department officers hadn’t managed before.

Trump’s election victory last year was partly based on promises to tackle what he termed an “invasion” by undocumented immigrants.

Now, he is using this situation to gain political leverage, ordering the California National Guard to assist despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s protests, marking the first time a U.S. president has taken such action in decades.

“We’re going to ensure a safe country,” he declared to reporters before attending a theatre performance. “We wouldn’t have seen what happened in Los Angeles; if I wasn’t here, this city would have been ablaze.”

Of the approximate 4,700 troops deployed by Trump, about 1,000 are currently guarding facilities and working alongside ICE agents, according to Scott Sherman, Deputy Commanding General Army North, who is overseeing operations. The remaining troops, including around 700 active-duty Marines, are either mustering or receiving training to manage civil disturbances.

The Pentagon has indicated that this deployment will cost taxpayers around $134 million.

Governor Newsom, a Democrat, criticized Trump for allegedly escalating political tensions for his own benefit. His legal team was expected in court on Thursday to seek a temporary restraining order, aiming to restrict troops from accompanying immigration officers during detentions.

Administration lawyers dismissed the request as a “blatant political stunt.” Newsom warned the militarization could extend beyond California’s borders. “Democracy is under attack right before our eyes,” he stated. “California might be first, but it won’t end here.”

Growing Nationwide Protests

Despite Trump’s threats to send the National Guard to other Democratic-led states against governors’ wishes, protesters remain resolute.

Demonstrations have surfaced in St. Louis, Raleigh, Manhattan, Indianapolis, and Denver.

In San Antonio, hundreds rallied near city hall while Texas Governor Greg Abbott deployed the state’s National Guard.

A national “No Kings” movement is planned for Saturday, coinciding with Trump’s attendance at a highly unusual military parade in Washington, D.C. This event, featuring warplanes and tanks, celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and also happens to fall on Trump’s 79th birthday.

‘Inflamed’ Situation

The Trump administration is framing the protests as a violent threat to the nation, justifying military force to assist immigration agents and law enforcement.

However, Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles claims the chaos was incited by Washington. “A week ago, everything was peaceful in Los Angeles,” she explained. “Disruptions started on Friday due to raids… that is the source of the turmoil. This was provoked by the White House.”

Arrests by masked and armed men continued on Wednesday. A pastor from Downey, an LA suburb, reported that five armed individuals in out-of-state vehicles seized a Spanish-speaking man from her church parking lot. When she demanded their badge numbers and names, they refused.

“They aimed their rifle at me and said, ‘You need to back off,’” Lopez recounted to KTLA. Footage obtained by AFP showed what appeared to be federal agents pursuing a vehicle in Boyle Heights while deploying a smoke device, with masked individuals armed with automatic weapons ordering a man out of the car, leaving his wife and children shaken, according to witnesses.