LOS ANGELES: The focus keyphrase Trump LA curfew dominated headlines as tensions flared across downtown LA. The city enforced a curfew after five days of protests sparked by President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration raids.
Mayor Karen Bass announced the overnight curfew in a one-square-mile downtown area, citing growing concerns over vandalism and looting. “We reached a tipping point,” she said, hoping the order would curb violence.
Police reported making mass arrests, with over 197 people detained just on Tuesday. Most arrests were for failing to disperse. Despite the curfew starting at 8 PM local time, groups continued gathering, prompting police to use rubber bullets to break up the crowds.
Protests erupted after Trump launched a wave of immigration enforcement raids last Friday. The president sent in 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to assist federal agents. Though these troops can’t make arrests, they are guarding federal buildings and personnel.
Trump justified the move by claiming it was necessary “to prevent the city being conquered by a foreign enemy.” His declaration that he would “liberate” LA drew fierce backlash from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who accused the president of launching an “assault on democracy.”
Newsom warned that other states could be next, saying, “He again chose escalation; he chose more force.” He’s widely seen as a possible Democratic contender in future elections.
Despite dramatic images circulating online, LAPD chief Jim McDonnell clarified that the unrest is not city-wide. “This is a concentrated issue in a small area, not the entire city,” he said.
As tensions rise, the nation watches LA — now caught between local governance and federal force.
