The downtown curfew enacted by Los Angeles MayorKaren Bass in response toDonald Trump’s “chaotic escalation” of the response to immigration protests has been lifted.
Authorities enforced the curfew between 8 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday. The LAPD said that it made “mass arrests” after the restriction was imposed.
Approximately 700 U.S. Marines mobilized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will arrive in the city “soon” after training in Seal Beach, 30 miles south. Troops are authorized to temporarily detain individuals until law enforcement agents arrive to make an arrest, Major General Scott Sherman said this morning.
The administration is now considering deploying troops to other cities to quell further protests, an official told the New York Times.
Gavin Newsom says the presence of troops exacerbates tensions and has asked for an emergency injunction to halt the deployment, arguing it is “unlawful” and “unnecessary.” A hearing is set for Thursday.
In a televised address on Tuesday, Newsom lambasted Trump’s “brazen abuse of power.” Earlier in the day, Trump called the city “a trash heap” and promised to “liberate” it.
Where things stand today…
- A battalion of 700 U.S. Marines ordered by President Trump will not arrive in Los Angeles today from a staging point at Seal Beach. Up to 4,000 National Guard troops have already been deployed and are stationed outside two federal buildings.
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass lifted the downtown overnight curfew, which was implemented in response to what she called President Trump’s “chaotic escalation” of the ICE raids protest response; the LAPD reported “mass arrests” after the curfew was imposed.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom is seeking an emergency injunction to halt the troop deployment, denouncing it as “unlawful,” “excessive,” and exacerbating tensions in the city.
- Trump defended his decision to deploy troops, claiming Los Angeles would be “burning to the ground” without his intervention; however, some residents and workers in the Little Tokyo neighborhood downtown argue the military presence is inflaming the protests.
- Protests that originated in Los Angeles have spread to at least 35 cities across the U.S., prompting hundreds of arrests and varying responses from local authorities, with some cities experiencing peaceful demonstrations and others facing clashes with police.
Fox News dishonestly spins Trump’s ‘receipts’ about Newsom call, which actually prove governor is right
Instead, the call log that Trump handed over to Fox News anchor John Roberts Tuesday showed that Newsom was right all along. That didn’t seem to matter to the right-wing network, though, as multiple hosts and reporters still dishonestly spun for the president despite their “receipt” supporting the governor’s claim.
Justin Baragona has the story.
Downtown LA ‘bustling’ after end of curfew; Marines due on streets ‘soon’
The Associated Press reports that the streets of downtown Los Angeles began bustling with residents walking dogs and commuters clutching coffee cups after the overnight curfew was lifted at 6 a.m. today.
Officials said at least two dozen people were arrested for violating the curfew, but overall, there were fewer clashes between police and demonstrators than on previous nights.
There were still no signs of Marines expected to be deployed to Los Angeles on Wednesday, joining the National Guard troops that are protecting federal buildings and ICE agents making arrests.
Troops deployed to Los Angeles are allowed to temporarily detain individuals until law enforcement agents arrive to arrest them, Major General Scott Sherman, who is leading the deployment of the 4,700 troops, said this morning.
The troops on the ground did not have the authority to arrest individuals.
Sherman said that the 700 Marines are receiving training on how to handle civil disturbances, and they would not have live ammunition in their rifles during the deployment.
He added that the Marines would not be deployed to the streets of Los Angeles on Wednesday, but they would be there “soon.”
Earlier, CNN reported that the Marines were still being trained 30 miles south of the city in Seal Beach, California.
Hegseth claims troop deployment in LA ‘lawful and constitutional’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that the deployment of thousands of troops to Los Angeles was about maintaining law and order as federal agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency carry out their duties.
“The mission in Los Angeles… it is about maintaining law and order on behalf of law enforcement agents, who deserve to do their job without being attacked by mobs of people,” Hegseth told lawmakers during a Senate hearing.
Hegseth added that the deployment of the 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines was lawful and constitutional.
Rhode Island Democratic Senator Jack Reed pushed back, saying that law and order is a civil function under the Constitution and is not the purview of the U.S. military.
“This is not only, I think, illegal, but also a diminution of the readiness and focus of the military,” the senator said
Sheinbaum: 61 Mexican nationals detained; will raise Kristi Noem comments with U.S.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says 61 Mexican nationals have been detained in Los Angeles amid the ICE raids.
Sheinbaum, speaking at her daily morning press briefing, also said she would discuss the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary’s accusation that she had incited violence with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Wednesday, as he visits Mexico.
She rejected Noem’s comments as “completely false” on Tuesday, publishing a video of her in her morning press briefing calling for Mexicans to act in peace in the Los Angeles protests.
Sheinbaum added more details Wednesday, claiming her opponents had “completely taken out of context” her previous comments suggesting that Mexicans could protest a tax on remittances proposed by Trump.
“We have never called for a violent demonstration,” she said. “We are against all violent acts. We’ve always supported peaceful protests.”
Noem made the shocking allegation in the Oval Office on Tuesday.
“Claudia Sheinbaum came out and encouraged more protests in LA, and I condemn her for that,” she said. “She should not be encouraging violent protests that are going on.”
Sheinbaum actually said: “We do not agree with violent actions as a form of protest.”
“Burning police cars appears to be more an act of provocation than of resistance,” she continued. “We condemn violence, no matter where it comes from.”
Here’s her initial reaction to Noem’s accusation:
As LAPD made arrests, National Guard troops stood watch behind plastic shields
Los Angeles Police Department officers began making arrests shortly after last night’s downtown curfew went into effect, while deploying officers on horseback and using crowd control projectiles to break up a group of hundreds of demonstrators.
Members of the National Guard, deployed to protect federal buildings by the Trump administration, stood watch behind plastic shields, but did not appear to participate in the arrests Tuesday night, according to the Associated Press.
Hours later, many of the protesters had dispersed, although sporadic confrontations continued, which were much smaller than those of previous nights.
The demonstrations have been mostly concentrated downtown, and the curfew covers a 1-square-mile (2.5-square-kilometer) section that includes an area where protests have occurred since Friday in the sprawling city of 4 million, which spans more than 500 square miles.
Marines still undergoing training, report says
CNN reports that the 700 Marines mobilized to head to the Los Angeles area on Monday night are still undergoing training as of Wednesday morning, and it is not yet clear when they will be deployed onto the streets to help with protests.
The network cites a US Northern Command spokesperson, who said that, as of this morning, the Marines “have NOT completed their [Standing Rules for the Use of Force] and nonlethal weapons training, and I do not have an estimate of when they will be employed by Task Force 51.”
Trump continues to fundraise off LA unrest
President Donald Trump’s political operation continues to fundraise off the unrest in Los Angeles triggered by his administration’s immigration policies.
A new fundraising email bears the subject line: “I said send in the troops!”
American flags BURNED. Cars TORCHED. Property VANDALIZED. Rioters were HURLING CINDER BLOCKS at our Cops and Troops.
This is happening RIGHT NOW in California.
What do their failed leaders have to say? Take a look for yourself:
Gavin Newscum – “Protests are managed.”
Elizabeth Warren – “Peaceful protests.”
Kamala Harris – “Overwhelmingly peaceful.”
LIES. ALL OF IT.
The email continues:
If I didn’t “SEND IN THE TROOPS” to Los Angeles, that once beautiful and great City would be burning to the ground right now due to these incompetent leaders.
And now, Gavin Newscum wants to SUE ME and OUR GREAT TROOPS for protecting America.
THIS IS SICK!
The troops sent in by the administration are guarding two federal buildings in the sprawling city, according to Mayor Karen Bass.
The riots are spreading to cities across our Great Nation — but as long as we stand together, we will keep America safe, arrest criminals, and deport illegals!
ICYMI: Trump calls LA a ‘trash heap’ of ‘chaos and disorder’
President Donald Trump on Tuesday turned what was meant as a celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, for soldiers at one of the nation’s most storied military bases, into a bellicose campaign-style rally as he attacked Democratic elected officials and denigrated the country’s second-largest city as a cesspool made rotten by “uncontrolled migration.”
Andrew Feinberg reports.
In pictures: National Guard stand guard as officers detain two people in Los Angeles
