Unlawful assembly declared in downtown LA as protests escalate
ReutersProtests against immigration raids in Los Angeles escalated on Sunday as US President Donald Trump called to "bring in the troops".
Rising unrest saw a major freeway blocked and a row of self-driving cars set on fire as law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets and flash bangs to control the crowd.
Police called downtown LA an "unlawful assembly" area at 23:15 local time on Sunday (07:15 BST on Monday) after three days of protests and dozens of arrests.
Demonstrations began outside the Federal Building, in downtown LA, on Friday after it emerged Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were carrying out raids across the city.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, along with the LA mayor Karen Bass, said in separate comments on Saturday that they believed local police could handle the protests.
But on Saturday night, after two days of clashes between demonstrators and immigration authorities, Trump went against Newsom's wishes and ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard.
On Sunday morning, the first group of troops began arriving in the city, staging outside a detention centre where illegal immigrants are taken once detained.
Newsom called Trump's decision to deploy soldiers "illegal" and "immoral" and threatened to sue the istration.
"Donald Trump has created the conditions you see on your TV tonight... he's putting fuel on this fire," he said in an interview with MSNBC on Sunday evening as tensions flared. "[It's] an unconstitutional act, and we're going to test that theory with a lawsuit tomorrow," Newsom added.
Typically, a state's National Guard force is activated at the request of the governor.
In this case, Trump has circumvented that step by invoking a specific provision of the US Code of Armed Services titled 10 U.S.C. 12406, which lists three circumstances under which the president can "federalise" the National Guard.
Pockets of the city were thrown into chaos on Sunday night, with repeated bangs heard as police faced off with protesters.
Many of those involved were carrying Mexican flags or signs deriding federal immigration authorities, who arrested 118 unauthorised immigrants across LA on Friday - according to CBS, which cited information from ICE.
A row of self-driving Waymo vehicles - that serve as taxis in LA - had their tyres slashed, windows smashed and exteriors spray painted before they were torched by protesters.
Multiple patrol vehicles blocking a highway were damaged when protesters hurled objects - including E-scooters - at them.
Fires were started across the city as protesters lit large fireworks. Several businesses reported looting late in the night, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said.
Many downtown streets were littered with debris, glass, cinder blocks and burn marks.
Buildings were covered in new graffiti, much of which contained graphic language against immigration enforcement.
In one particularly chaotic scene, a van driving erratically veered into a large group of protesters and appeared to hit several people.
The driver, who was shirtless, was later arrested and police said he would face multiple charges.
The same day, an Australian news reporter was filmed being struck by what appeared to be a rubber bullet fired by law enforcement. And a British photographer underwent emergency surgery after being struck in the leg by another non-lethal bullet. The BBC has asked the LAPD for comment.
Police said they made 27 arrests, on top of the 29 on Saturday. Separately, at least 60 people were taken in at related protests in San Francisco.
On his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump called for an end to the protests.
In one post, he wrote: "Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!"
It is unclear which troops Trump was referring to as National Guard soldiers have already arrived, following his instruction.
On Saturday evening, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to activate the US Marine Corps if protests persisted.
He posted on X: "Under President Trump, violence & destruction against federal agents & federal facilities will NOT be tolerated. It's COMMON SENSE. The @DeptofDefense is mobilizing the National Guard IMMEDIATELY to federal law enforcement in Los Angeles. And, if violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized - they are on high alert."
Jose Barrera, the national vice president of the League of United Latin American citizens (LULAC), told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the White House wanted "to create civic unrest" in LA.
Barrera said there was "no need" for Trump to deploy the National Guard when there are 17,000 police personnel in the city.
He says deploying the troops "increases tensions" and confrontation, which set a "dangerous precedent".
In a statement, the White House said that Trump "rightfully stepped in to restore law and order because of Gavin Newsom's feckless leadership and his refusal to stop the violent attacks on American law enforcement".