Trump given control over California National Guard over weekend as US braces for mass protests
Sophisticated subversive groups are exploiting the anti-ICE protest to create mayhem across the US as a new ruling gives President Donald Trump control over the National Guard until Tuesday.
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As the sun began to set on the sixth consecutive day of protests in Downtown Los Angeles, thousands of people who had marched across the city for hours opposing immigration raids gathered outside City Hall chanting, waving flags, painting hearts on their faces, dropping flowers at the feet of police, and line dancing in the street.
The festival-like atmosphere evaporated as the sound of flash-bang grenades and less-lethal rounds punctuated the Latin language country song a large group had been dancing to.
Within seconds, their chants of “peaceful protest” and music were replaced with screams and the loud bangs of munitions being fired as the LAPD officers, many on horseback, advanced on the crowd in a wall from all sides, sending people fleeing in terror.
It was still an hour before the 8pm curfew that had been set in place by LA Mayor Karen Bass in a bid to stop the looting and vandalism seen in earlier days, but law enforcement declared the gathering unlawful and began moving in to clear the streets.
This dramatic and sudden collapse in order from peace to frightening chaos has not been unusual in Los Angeles as a more sinister element intent on inciting violence and inflicting damage infiltrates the gatherings.
In this instance, it was a thug who threw a can at police, shattering the delicate order.
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said there had been sophisticated anarchists working in groups to create as much chaos as possible, communicating over radio, monitoring police channels and attempting to draw police attention to stop them making arrests.
In the past week dozens of businesses have been looted, law enforcement officials attacked, police cars pelted with rocks, bricks and scooters, buildings and landmarks vandalised, and vehicles set alight in dystopian scenes on the streets of LA.
“When I look at the people who are out there doing the violence, that’s not the people that we see here in the day who are out there legitimately exercising their First Amendment rights,” he said.
“These are people who are all hooded up, they’ve got a hoodie on, they’ve got face masks on. They’re people that do this all the time. They get away with whatever they can.”
Los Angeles born Raul Gomez, the son of Mexican immigrants, has been selling flags to protesters all week and said every day, he had seen a group of men dressed in all black wearing ski masks emerge at dusk.
“The problem ones are the ones with their faces covered up,” he said.
“You don’t even know what race they are, they’re just out there chasing trouble.
“You’ve got good apples and then you’ve got bad apples ruining it for everyone else.”
Senator Josh Hawley who chairs the subcommittee on crime and counter-terrorism has launched an official investigation into a number of groups he alleges are funding and orchestrating the violent demonstrations in LA. They have all denied acting illegally.
But there is clear evidence of organisation on the ground.
One man who asked to remain anonymous said he had taken part in protests every day since they began and noticed they had become far more organised as the days went on, with leaders having a plan of where to march, what messages to chant, and issuing directions to protesters on how to interact with law enforcement.
Supplies are also being handed out to protesters. People walk through the crowd registering voters, handing out bottled water and stations are set up with first aid kits, protective equipment, and food – many in clip-seal bags scrawled with a phone number to call if arrested.
The line goes to an organisation named Jail Support in LA which describes itself as “a grassroots collective dedicated to supporting anti-repression work in Los Angeles”.
When asked who paid for the supplies, most of the distributors said “we did” but would not expand on who “we” was or if they were connected to a group.
Others said they had been given the supplies via donations, but would not disclose the source.
On Thursday, the FBI arrested a ringleader who allegedly distributed dozens of face masks to anti-ICE protesters from the back of a pick-up truck. He has been charged with conspiracy to commit civil disorders.
Many on the street say they only decided to join the protests after President Donald Trump chose to federalise the National Guard and send in the US Marines against the wishes of California’s leaders.
As people fled the chaos on Thursday night, they raged against Mr Trump’s heavy-handed response, however it was the local law enforcement officers not under his control who were involved in that scene.
Similarly on Wednesday evening, the first night of the curfew, it was officers from the LAPD and Sheriff’s Department who corralled and arrested those remaining on the streets as the National Guard stood silently across the road.
In an intimidating show of force, hundreds of officers pointing their weapons advanced from all sides and blocked the exit of those trying to leave, firing less-lethal munitions.
As I tried to exit the area, my press credentials were met with the barrel of a weapon from a gung-ho officer who raised his less-lethal projector at me from only a few metres away.
After several minutes of attempting to calmly communicate with the officer, his colleague intervened, telling him “let her pass, man, she’s press”.
It was a similar case for dozens and dozens of other local and foreign journalists on scene and who were also eventually allowed to leave the area.
The uprising that began in LA a week ago in response to widespread arrests of migrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers has now spread across the country, including to Missouri and Texas where the Governors have announced the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops in anticipation of further unrest.
Hundreds of people have been arrested at protests in New York, Colorado, Washington DC and Chicago, and as the country braces for a day of mass demonstrations on Saturday in what is being dubbed No Kings Day, there are no signs of an end to the upheaval.
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