Los Angeles became a flashpoint of civil unrest this weekend as thousands clashed with National Guard troops deployed by the Trump administration in an unprecedented immigration enforcement operation. The third consecutive day of protests saw tear gas, rubber bullets, and burning autonomous vehicles engulf downtown streets.
Federal-State Standoff Intensifies
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the deployment as a "serious breach of state sovereignty," demanding troop withdrawal while meeting with local officials. The mobilization marks the first unauthorized activation of state guard units since 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson intervened during civil rights marches in Alabama.
Chaos on the 101 Freeway
Protesters blocked major thoroughfares, hurling concrete chunks and electric scooters at law enforcement from freeway overpasses. Four Waymo self-driving cars were torched near clashes, their lithium batteries creating explosive fireballs. Police declared multiple unlawful assemblies as crowds dispersed into adjacent neighborhoods.
Immigration Raids Spark Outcry
The unrest follows federal agents' detention of over 100 immigrants in LA's fashion district and home improvement store parking lots last week. While authorities denied conducting Sunday operations at a Paramount Home Depot, protesters surrounded DHS facilities fearing renewed raids.
Historical Parallels Emerge
Legal experts note parallels to 20th-century civil rights confrontations, with President Trump vowing to stop "violent people" during a New Jersey press briefing. As night fell, National Guard units maintained positions outside detention centers while cleanup crews addressed fire damage across downtown.
