Los Angeles is buzzing with tension as protests against President Donald Trump's immigration raids stretch into their fifth day. Mayor Karen Bass has declared a curfew for a confined area in downtown due to rising vandalism and looting. As the National Guard steps in to protect federal agents, Trump has promised to "liberate" the city, facing criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom who claims it’s an "assault" on democracy.
After the curfew began, police fired rubber bullets at crowds to disperse them. Earlier reports revealed nearly 200 arrests on Tuesday alone. Mayor Bass highlighted the need for the curfew to restore order, noting significant looting during the unrest.
Simultaneously, the protests spread to other major US cities, causing riot police to respond with tear gas in Atlanta and resulting in arrests in New York. While LA faced chaos, life continued elsewhere in the city, with schools open and tourists exploring the area.
Bass blamed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for fuelling the unrest through targeted raids on Latino neighborhoods. National Guard troops have been dispatched to support ICE, without arrest authority, costing taxpayers $134 million according to the Pentagon.
Trump described the protests as a threat to peace, stating he would use all resources to quell the violence, further escalated by his remarks at a military base taunting state officials.
As a federal court denied a California request to block troop deployment, the political feud between Trump and Newsom intensifies. With Trump's goal of increased deportation looming, tensions in LA remain high, leading many to question the state of democracy in America today.
