LA Enforces Curfew Amid Protests Against Trump's Policies

LOS ANGELES, Jun 11 (AP) – On Tuesday night, Los Angeles police implemented a downtown curfew, promptly making arrests as it took effect. Officers on horseback and crowd control projectiles were deployed to disperse a large gathering protesting against President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

Members of the National Guard, stationed with plastic shields, observed but did not partake in the arrests.

As the night progressed, most protesters dispersed, although smaller altercations persisted. Officials justified the curfew as a measure to prevent vandalism and theft by those aiming to cause disruptions.

Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Trump's heavy National Guard presence in L.A., accusing him of creating a “military dragnet.” Marines were also deployed, but none were seen on Tuesday.

Newsom sought a court injunction to halt the military's assistance to federal immigration agents. He warned that such actions could exacerbate tensions and lead to civil unrest. The court scheduled a hearing for Thursday, allowing the administration to proceed in the interim.

This shift could see troops participating in enforcement actions like deportations, as Trump has vowed.

Despite objections from city and state leaders, Trump has mobilized over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines, initially to protect federal buildings.

Protests have spread to cities like Dallas, Austin, Chicago, and New York, with arrests reported in these locales.

In Texas, Austin police used chemical irritants to disperse protesters, and the Texas National Guard remains on standby, according to Governor Greg Abbott's spokesperson. San Antonio police confirmed troop deployment but lacked specifics.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency, implementing an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, in response to extensive looting.

The curfew covers a one-square-mile area downtown, the main protest site since Friday, but does not affect residents, the homeless, media, or emergency workers.

Police Chief Jim McDonnell emphasized that escalating unrest since Saturday necessitated these measures.

Trump hinted at possibly invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces domestically if necessary, marking one of the president’s most drastic emergency powers.

Referring to protesters as “animals” in a Fort Bragg speech, Trump described Los Angeles’s situation in severe terms, countered by Bass and Newsom.

Newsom labeled Trump’s moves as an “assault” on democracy, cautioning that California may be the first state affected but likely not the last.

He urged citizens to resist compliance with Trump's demands, following immigration raids that sparked protests with thousands rallying and police using tear gas and rubber bullets.

Federal immigration enforcement has continued, including reports of ICE presence at public venues and heightened security at school events amid fears of ICE intervention.

Police reported 197 arrests on Tuesday, with most related to curfew violations and freeway blockades. Violent incidents, including assaults and vandalism, led to injuries, with two officers hospitalized.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated the military's domestic presence might expand. The Pentagon reported that deploying the National Guard and Marines costs $134 million.

(AP) RD RD

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