Downtown Los Angeles descended into mayhem for the third day in a row as immigration protests exploded into full-blown street warfare \u2014 with police officers caught directly in the line of fire.
\nWhat began as a show of dissent over ICE raids and President Trump\u2019s National Guard deployment has now turned into something far more dangerous. On Sunday, protesters swarmed city streets and even took over the 101 Freeway, targeting California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicles and reportedly trying to set them ablaze.<\/p>\n
In one of the most chilling developments, demonstrators armed with commercial-grade fireworks launched them directly at LAPD officers \u2014 fireworks that \u201ccan kill you,\u201d according to LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell.\u201cTonight we had individuals out there shooting commercial-grade fireworks at our officers that can kill you,\u201d McDonnell said.<\/p>\n
The violence escalated
\nA small fire even broke out behind an LAPD skirmish line, underscoring how volatile the situation had become.<\/p>\n
As the violence escalated, officers scrambled to maintain control. Protesters were seen hurling objects, shielding themselves with anything they could find, and in one alarming instance, a Molotov cocktail was allegedly thrown. Another person is accused of ramming a police line with a motorcycle.<\/p>\n
By nightfall, 27 people had been arrested \u2014 10 by LAPD and 17 by CHP \u2014 and even more chaos was expected.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s escalated now since the beginning of this incident,\u201d McDonnell warned. \u201cIt\u2019s increasingly worse and more\u201cDisgusting\u201d
\nDuring a press conference, the LAPD chief didn\u2019t hold back his disgust at what he called the hijacking of peaceful protests by outsiders.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was even more disgusting that many of the people who are doing this come in from other places just to hurt people and to cause havoc,\u201d he sai<\/p>\n
\u201cDisgusting,\u201d he repeated according to ABC, describing the attacks on police involving Molotov cocktails, fireworks, and rocks.<\/p>\n
City officials are now weighing whether to impose a curfew. According to McDonnell, the possibility was being discussed with the L.A. County Sheriff, and the decision would be reassessed as conditions evolve.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom kept up his verbal attacks on President Trump, accusing the White House of stoking the flames in Southern California. Governor Gavin Newsom has been especially vocal in his criticism of President Donald Trump\u2019s decision to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to California \u2014 a move that\u2019s highly unusual, as presidents typically don\u2019t take such action without the support or request of the state\u2019s governor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions,\u201d Newsom said on X Saturday. \u201cThis is the wrong mission and will erode public trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
The protests broke out across Los Angeles on Friday following the arrest of at least 44 individuals by federal immigration agents. The detentions are part of President Trump\u2019s ongoing immigration crackdown, which has sparked a series of nationwide raids and deportations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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