Los Angeles [US], June 11 (ANI): California Governor Gavin Newsom has strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy military forces in Los Angeles, calling it a “brazen abuse of power,” The New York Times reported. His remarks came during a televised address on Tuesday evening, just before an 8 p.m. curfew imposed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass took effect in downtown areas, forcing crowds of protesters to disperse after days of escalating tension and clashes with police.
The curfew marked a significant moment in the city’s ongoing unrest, which erupted following coordinated ICE raids and subsequent public outcry. As protests intensified in Los Angeles, they also gained momentum nationwide. Demonstrations in Chicago turned violent, with protesters throwing water bottles at officers and vandalizing police vehicles. In New York City, arrests were made near federal buildings in Lower Manhattan. Atlanta police used chemical agents to disperse protesters blocking a highway, indicating rising confrontations between law enforcement and demonstrators across the country.
In Los Angeles, the presence of National Guard troops has grown dramatically. Nearly 5,000 personnel, including Marines, have been deployed throughout the city, and many accompanied immigration officers on raids conducted Tuesday. California state officials had previously sought an emergency court order to confine military personnel to guarding federal buildings downtown—key protest zones—hoping to curb the scope of federal involvement.
Despite these legal efforts, President Trump defended his decision during a speech to troops in North Carolina, describing Los Angeles as “a trash heap” and vowing to “liberate” the city. The New York Times reported that discussions are underway in the Trump administration to expand military deployments to other cities, including Seattle, St. Louis, and Indianapolis. The President has warned that protesters in these areas would be met with “equal or greater force” than what has already been used in L.A.
A federal judge in California has scheduled a hearing for Thursday to review the state’s emergency request to restrict the deployment of federal troops and National Guard forces to the protection of federal properties only. Meanwhile, California has also filed a lawsuit against the federal government, challenging Trump’s decision to assume control over the state’s National Guard for citywide deployment.
As of Tuesday night, over 330 people have been arrested in Los Angeles alone since the protests began Friday. Other cities have seen hundreds more taken into custody, including over 240 in San Francisco and dozens in Austin, Texas.
Amid the unrest, disinformation has flooded social media, including misleading photographs and videos that appear to revive conspiracy theories and falsely implicate immigrants and Democratic leaders. The New York Times noted that this online misinformation campaign is likely designed to stoke division and justify increased federal action.
President Trump also issued a preemptive warning regarding protests expected during a military parade in Washington on Saturday. While acknowledging Americans’ constitutional right to protest, he cautioned, “For those people that want to protest, they’re going to be met with very big force.” (ANI)
About The Author
