LA Protests Calls for National Guard

On Friday, June 5th, hundreds of residents began a riot at a clothing wholesaler in downtown Los Angeles. The situation rapidly increased to a dangerous and uncontrollable scale. Many people, including officers, were left seriously wounded. President Trump ordered the National Guard troops directly to this area in Southern California to “keep the peace.”

After a sighting of agents preparing work near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office, many incorrect assumptions had been made. Many believed officers were preparing a full clean out at a Home Depot. This false information led protestors to block roads in fear of deportation.

Over 100 arrests had been made due to a national concern for the public safety in Los Angeles. Major riots had started in the city of Paramount. The population contained a majority of working-class Latinos. Mr. Essayli, a U.S. attorney for the Central District of California explained the state of the LA situation in a recent interview. “We had Molotov cocktails thrown. We had all kinds of assaults on agents. The state has an obligation to maintain order and maintain public safety, and they’re unable to do that right now in Los Angeles.” Essayli had later sent 2,000 troops to handle the civil unrest.

California governor, Gavin Newsom, had pushed back on the resources given by the federal government. He felt that Trump’ s motive was not so much for a concern of safety but for a national “spectacle.”

Mr. Newsom’s spokesman, Mr. Gardon, questioned Essayli’s decision, stating, “Mr. Essayli may still be learning the ropes of his new job, but even a rookie should know the president doesn’t need to commandeer 2,000 soldiers to respond to a few hundred protesters.”

Much controversy is being held over national immigration policies. The exact solution is still unclear.