LOS ANGELES — Tensions soared in Los Angeles as thousands of demonstrators flooded downtown streets in response to President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops and a sweeping immigration enforcement campaign, the Associated Press reported.
The third straight day of protests on June 8 turned violent as demonstrators clashed with law enforcement and blocked a major freeway, while at least four self-driving Waymo vehicles were set on fire.
Los Angeles police in riot gear and National Guard troops patrolled the area surrounding the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal facility where immigrants detained on June 5 were being held. Police used tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades to disperse crowds after declaring an unlawful assembly by early evening.
Authorities said the demonstrators grew increasingly aggressive, creating makeshift barricades from park furniture and throwing objects at officers. Fires burned into the night, and downtown blocks were shut down under emergency orders.
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The unrest continued after Trump deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles without a formal request from Gov. Gavin Newsom — a rare move that hasn’t occurred in decades. Trump cited Title 10 authority, which allows the federal government to deploy troops in response to “a form of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.” While Trump authorized the deployment of at least 2,000 National Guard personnel for up to 60 days — or longer, at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense — as of June 9, approximately 300 troops had been sent. Additional active-duty military personnel could also be deployed at the Defense Secretary’s discretion to protect federal functions and property.
Newsom condemned the deployment in a letter to the White House, calling it a “serious breach of state sovereignty.”
“What we’re seeing in Los Angeles is chaos that is provoked by the administration,” added Mayor Karen Bass. “This is about another agenda, not public safety.”
A White House spokesperson dismissed those claims, saying, “It’s a bald-faced lie for Newsom to claim there was no problem in Los Angeles before President Trump got involved.”
Federal authorities said the number of immigrants arrested in the Los Angeles area over the past week has surpassed 100. In addition, at least 56 protesters have been arrested as of June 9, according to NBC News.
Protesters throw rocks at CHP officers
A video released by KTLA shows protesters hurling rocks, electric scooters and signs from an overpass at CHP officers parked on the freeway below — at least one of whom was not wearing a ballistic helmet.
The video shows large stones and blocks of cement raining down toward officers standing beside their vehicles. A smoke canister initially deployed on the bridge to disperse the protesters was also thrown at the officers below, prompting the officers to remove their helmets to apply gas masks.
The officers ran for cover under the bridge as projectiles continued to fall toward them. Protesters also shot “commercial grade fireworks” at officers, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said.
LASD Sheriff Robert Luna discusses law enforcement response
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna spoke with CBS News on June 8 to address the law enforcement response to the protests. More than 100 LASD deputies had been deployed to assist the LAPD with the response at the time of the interview, Luna said.
The sheriff also stated that he had put in a mutual aid request for other agencies within and outside of L.A. County to respond to the protest scene.
“Earlier today, there were some really good people out there protesting and demonstrating. And then you had people who were acting unlawfully, which meant they were attacking police officers, deputy sheriffs and causing a lot of destruction,” Luna said. “If you are out here, and that’s what you’re doing, there’s a high likelihood that you are going to jail.”
Luna warned that the sheriff’s department “booking teams” would be deployed to patrol downtown.
“Word to the wise: Go home, unless you want to end up in one of our county facilities tonight,” Luna said.
“We are here until we bring calm back to Los Angeles … You need to get out,” he said.
Luna stated that deputies were violently attacked and injured, including one deputy who was hospitalized due to burns from fireworks thrown by a protester.
He also stated that a Molotov cocktail was thrown at law enforcement during the protest.
“I just want to say that that is sickening,” Luna told CBS in reference to the Molotov cocktail. “That has nothing to do with legitimate protesting or demonstration. [That is] a criminal act that has no business being done anywhere.”
Luna also stated that federal law enforcement operations leading up to the protests had contributed to an erosion of trust in local law enforcement. He said that his goal is to work on better communication with federal agencies.
“There are things we definitely disagree on, but there is something we do agree on, and that is [that] I don’t want any federal agent getting hurt or attacked violently, and I don’t want any [local law enforcement] being injured or hurt… and I want to show humanity and empathy to the community members as well,” Luna said.
The sheriff reaffirmed that his agency does not work with ICE on immigration operations and stated that while he seeks to improve communications with federal law enforcement, he did not anticipate being informed of specific upcoming operations.
“The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department does not go out and enforce civil immigration laws. We don’t have the staffing nor the training nor the time to do that.”
Video shows motorcyclists drive through police line
CNN has released bystander footage showing two motorcyclists driving through a line of officers responding to protests.
The footage begins by showing officers taking one biker into custody as shouts and loud pops from less lethal guns ring out in the background.
A second motorcyclist can then be seen striking multiple officers as she rode through the line. The bike fell to the ground after it struck officers, and the suspect jumped off of it before raising her hands and being taken into custody.
Downtown businesses looted overnight, Waymo vehicles set on fire
Lootings of businesses were first reported overnight on June 8, KTLA reported. Armed officers responded quickly to an Adidas store and recovered some of the stolen merchandise, which was later seen piled atop law enforcement vehicles.
More property destruction included at least four self-driving Waymo vehicles that were set on fire, sending plumes of smoke into the city skyline.
FBI offers $50K reward for protester suspected of assaulting officer
The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a masked suspect who allegedly assaulted a federal officer and damaged an FBI vehicle, the New York Post reported.
The incident occurred on June 7 in the city of Paramount. According to federal authorities, the unidentified man threw rocks at law enforcement vehicles, injuring a federal officer and causing damage to government property.
Surveillance images released by the FBI show the suspect wearing a motorcycle helmet and sunglasses during the protest, while a separate photo captures him wearing a cap and face covering to conceal his identity.
Officials are urging anyone with information about the suspect to come forward. The FBI is asking the public to contact its Los Angeles Field Office with any tips related to the identity or whereabouts of the suspect involved in the Paramount incident. Tips can be submitted at 1-800-CALL-FBI or at tips.fbi.gov.
