California: Protests have flared up again and escalated in Los Angeles following Trump’s order to deploy National Guard units to disperse the crowd. Demonstrators against immigration raids had a face off with law enforcement agencies for a third day on Monday (Indian time IST).
The National Guard units reportedly used tear gas to force back protesters. Protesters gathered in downtown LA had been told to leave immediately by police – hours after officers dispersed demonstrators blocking a major freeway in the city, reported the CNN.
Freeway closures: There have been traffic disruption on and off on Sunday. The critical US 101 Freeway that connects LA with other California cities like San Francisco was also affected. The 101 was fully closed for about 90 minutes in the afternoon. Hundreds of protesters had made their way onto the freeway. It was later opened.
HOLY HELL!
Look at what’s happening in LA!
Someone call the National Guard!
Oh, wait… that’s Jan 6… my bad 😳pic.twitter.com/Lioi15FdxT
— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) June 8, 2025
Trump Vs California gov
While some have criticized the US President’s move of deploying National Guard units, Trump defended his move saying that they will “make sure there’s law and order.”
California’s governor Gavin Newsom urged Trump to revoke the troop deployment. Labelling it as an ‘illegal act’, Newsom said the state would file a lawsuit against the Trump administration over deployment of the National Guard. Newsom and LA mayor Karen Bass have urged the administration to end the federal deployment.
Downtown LA unlawful assembly area
Demonstrators have “ignited” self-driving vehicles in downtown Los Angeles, as per the Los Angeles Police Department. The entire Downtown Los Angeles has been now declared an unlawful assembly area. About 300 National Guardsmen are on the ground. It’s the first time a president has called in the National Guard without a state’s request or consent in decades, reports claimed.
Why are there protests?
Authorities and demonstrators have clashed for three days after dozens of people were detained by immigration agents. Intelligence analysts believe protesters are motivated by several factors, including immigration raids, deployment of the National Guard, and agitators who fit profiles of “professional rioters,” the CNN report stated.
