Image: Etienne Laurent (APA/AFP/Etienne Laurent)
Image: Mario Tama (APA/Getty Images via AFP/Getty Images/Mario Tama)
US President Donald Trump speaks of “violent, insurgent meters” who have taken over Los Angeles – reality looks different. Until early Sunday evening, there were only peaceful protests in the city center of the metropolis. On the edge of this there were later violent riots. However, the situation only really fueled after Trump ordered the use of the national guard and even mobilization of the regular military.
About 300 soldiers of the National Guard – some in combat gear and with automatic weapons – comment on the federal government building from protests and vandalism. In addition, around 500 marine fans of the regular armed forces would be ready to intervene if necessary, the responsible regional command of the military said.
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A use of the regular army inside would be another serious escalation. Soldiers are trained for military missions and the war, not for police tasks such as control of protests in American city centers. Nevertheless, Trump calls for his online language tube Truth in the late morning: “Get the troops !!!”
California’s governor Gavin Newsom speaks of a conscious staging of the President, who with his martial “spectacle” is overriding on applicable law. The Democrat announced a lawsuit by the state against the “illegal, immoral and unconstitutional approach” of the Republican and his government.
Mayor Karen Bass, who had also rejected the national guard’s commitment, spoke of several thousand demonstrators, some of whom had also blocked a highway at times. In the protests, bottles and stones were also thrown on security forces when officials pushed the demonstrators back from the vicinity of the federal and highway buildings.
Tear gas and burning cars
The local police went to the crowd with batons and also tear gas, several rioters were arrested. According to the mayor, there were some cases of vandalism, some taxis went up in flames. Police vehicles were also damaged. Police chief Jim McDonnell nevertheless emphasized that the overwhelming majority of the demonstrators had peacefully exercised their right to freedom of expression.
Bass warned that the intimidating use of the national guard could lead to a further escalation of the protests. A police representative told the CNN broadcaster that experience has shown that after sunset, riots were to be expected from particularly stubborn demonstrators.
Increased missions by the US immigration authority ICE, following Trump’s requirements in the Los Angeles migrant area without valid papers, the first protests had triggered at the end of last week. Therefore, Trump had at least 2,000 soldiers from the National Guard mobilized on Saturday evening (local time) and also did not rule out the use of the regular military.
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Governor Newsom protested vehemently. The mobilization of the national guard without his consent is a “serious violation of the sovereignty of the state,” says a protest letter to US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, which newsoma published on platform X. Newsom got an idea of the situation in Los Angeles and pointed out that there was enough local security forces.
Trump had threatened the demonstrator with blows if they spit on or throw security forces. “They spit, this is their new thing,” said the Republican in front of reporters on the way to Camp David. If that happens, he has a clear message: “You spit, we beat.”
Image: Mario Tama (APA/Getty Images via AFP/Getty Images/Mario Tama)
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Image: Mario Tama (APA/Getty Images via AFP/Getty Images/Mario Tama)
Source: Nachrichten
