LA Protests: Trump Deploys U.S. Marines
A breakdown of the latest, the fundamentals, & what you can do
The Latest
As of this morning, 700 U.S. Marines and 2,000 National Guard members are en route to Los Angeles to join the already 2,000 members of the National Guard who are there responding to the protests against ICE that unfolded over the weekend.
The National Guard is there to respond but reportedly doesn’t have sufficient food, water, or shelter. A problem that is only gonna double in size with the arrival of 2K more members.
Note: So far Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act, meaning that these federal officials cannot act like domestic law enforcement (police officers). They can only deescalate. That said, late Monday, the Pentagon was quickly distributing guidelines to Marines about use of force, when they can intervene, when they can’t.
Recall that these Marines are not used to being deployed against their fellow Americans.
What Happened
Last week, reports indicated ICE was detaining legal immigrants showing up to routine ICE-check-ins, shoving them into the basement of federal buildings, and leaving them with no food and water.
But it was a story fighting for airtime amid the chaotic, crazy news cycle last week, until Friday, June 6, when ICE showed up at LA work places to detain people.
People later showed up to protest at federal buildings, where they clashed with ICE as federal officials arrested Service Employees International Union (SEIU—a massively large labor union) President, David Huerta, along with over 100 others.
(ICE also showed up at an elementary school graduation, as parents ran and children screamed not knowing when or if they’ll see their parents again.) Which is explained in this harrowing video (you can watch without having TikTok):
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Protesters allegedly fought ICE Friday throwing eggs at the officers and chanting ICE has to go. ICE responded with pepper balls and non-lethal bullets, which are still bullets that can kill, but they’re made of rubber.
The next day, ICE then showed up in Paramount, CA at Home Depot, with the intent to enter and arrest, but residents spotted the ICE vans, spread the word and about 100 people showed up to protest. They fought against ICE as officials threw tear gas into the crowd. Both exchanged physical barbs.
Protesters also showed up downtown to protest in front of the Metropolitan Detention Center. At that point, this was the extent of the protests, and LAPD seemingly had it under control.
But around 6:00 PM Saturday night, Trump deployed 2,000 members of the National Guard to address the “migrant invasion” in LA. Against the wishes of CA Gov Gavin Newsom, and LA Mayor Karen Bass.
This was the first time in 60 years a president has overruled the state to send in the National Guard — the last time being when LBJ sent the Guard to Alabama to desegregate schools in 1965.
Protests continued Sunday, picking up across LA, as protesters closed down the freeway and set fire to Waymo cars, showcasing overall frustration with the surveillance-heavy tactics of this administration. While violence was depicted by cable news, reports indicate that the demonstrators were largely peaceful Sunday though there were some people who threw bottles at unoccupied police cars, as officials threw tear gas and some sort of noxious substance that caused people to scatter.
On Sunday morning, Trump declared that protesters are no longer allowed to wear masks…despite deployment of noxious substances.
Sunday afternoon, the CA city of Glendale announced that it would terminate its 18-year long contract with ICE, meaning that ICE can no longer house federal immigration detainees at the city’s police department facility.
Meanwhile, protests raged late into Sunday, dispersing around midnight.
On Monday, protestors convened around a swath of federal government buildings and continued to protest late into the day.
By Monday afternoon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered 700 Marines to LA. Trump declared he was sending another 2,000 members of the National Guard.
Again, there wasn’t enough federal funding to support the first tranche.
The same afternoon, Gov. Newsom sued the president for “unlawfully bypass[ing]” the governor, by deploying the state’s National Guard and putting them under federal control.
Also on Monday, Trump called for the arrest of Newsom, suggesting it would be a great idea for Border Czar Tom Homan to arrest him.
Meanwhile, solidarity protests also sparked up in cities across the nation, from Dallas to NYC.
The Fundamentals
So, let’s break down a few fundamentals.
First — why is this happening? The conspiracy theorist in me is struck by the timing.
If we are to believe what Newsom and Bass are arguing, that Trump is manufacturing a crisis and creating violent circumstances to give him more authority, then it certainly feels like a very convenient (albeit intense) way to achieve two, maybe three, goals.
The Potential Goals:
Divert the media from talking about the Epstein files: After Elon’s explosive bombshell Thursday, Democrats tepidly demanded AG Pam Bondi release the Epstein files. It feels like a convenient way to distract others from demanding that the USG publish the rest of the files to prove that Trump isn’t in them.
Pass the Big Beautiful Budget (BBB) bill: It also feels like a very convenient way to whip enough Republican votes to pass the big budget bill. Yes, it passed the House, but, so far, it’s basically been dead in the Senate and doesn’t have enough votes. The bill includes over $150 billion in funding for immigration enforcement, which would fast track deportation to an unprecedented level.
Perhaps Trump thinks he can wield what’s happening in LA, particularly the sensationalized reports, to get Senate Republicans on board. Probably by publicly doxxing them as people who support “radical socialist Democrats,” “LA migrant invasion,” and “open borders.”
Trump is losing big time popularity points on his key issues: the economy and immigration. Perhaps he sees this as a way of reminding people who supported him of the violent protestors on the other side, and gaining traction on the law and order side. Contrasting himself with lawless Democrats. Gaining back the support from Latinos for Trump, for example.
The alternative view is that Trump genuinely sees this as a huge problem and is responding in the way he sees fit, and as Commander in Chief believes that he retains the sole authority, and solution, to the country’s immigration problem. That begs the question then, why he rejected Congress’s 2023 bipartisan border security bill to begin with. Perhaps he didn’t think it was stringent enough? Who knows.
What you can do:
Call your Senators’ offices (and your Representatives’ offices) and tell them to vote NO on the Trump’s big, beautiful budget bill. Tell them, among other reasons, you oppose the $150 billion dollars allocated to immigration enforcement in the bill. Tell them that you oppose the mass deportations, and rounding up of innocent people.
Note: Yes the bill passed the House, however, presuming the Senate does not pass the House version (99% sure they won’t) it has to go back through the House to be reconciled, meaning that they’ll have to pass the Senate’s version and take a second vote.
Look, I know calling your reps is a frustrating response. But, in this case, it’s super fckn practical and highly critical to do if you don’t support mass deportations. Think about what we’re seeing now and supercharge it by 1000– that’s what this bill would do.
Use your voice and speak up when you see something in your neighborhood, or share what you see online (after checking its source).
One of the most important tools we have right now is community. The goal is to spread awareness, cut through the noise, and inform people. Let them know that these are not criminals being taken from the streets: these are neighbors, friends, colleagues.
I’m gonna keep brainstorming ways to respond. If you have any ideas, drop them in the comments, or shoot me a note.
In the meantime, I leave you with this below quote, from one of my favorite, new artists, Doechii.
Irrespective of your party, I encourage you to engage in this provocative, thought exercise. Remembering our basic, civic education.
Stay safe. We’ll stay reporting.
-Smartt Takes
Another informative issue. Not the type of President our Founding Fathers had in mind.
FWIW: Progressives Are Letting The World Know That Anarchy, Violence Against Law Enforcement, and Chaos Rule The Day
https://torrancestephensphd.substack.com/p/progressives-are-letting-the-world