The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) swiftly enforced a curfew in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, initiating arrests immediately after it took effect. This comes amidst continued protests against President Donald Trump’s mass immigrant deportation policies.
Members of the National Guard were observed behind plastic shields but did not appear to be directly involved in arresting protesters, as reported by the Associated Press. While sporadic clashes persisted hours later, they were significantly smaller than those of previous nights. Officials justified the curfew as necessary to prevent vandalism and looting by “instigator” protesters aiming to cause unrest.
California’s Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, earlier accused Trump of establishing a “military network” over the country’s second-largest city through the deployment of National Guard troops. Trump has also dispatched Marines, though none were seen on the streets Tuesday. Trump activated over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines, despite objections from Los Angeles and California leaders. Initially, their deployment was for the protection of federal buildings.
The protests have spread to other major U.S. cities, including Dallas and Austin in Texas, Chicago, and New York, where thousands gathered and police made numerous arrests.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local state of emergency on the fifth day of protests and announced the curfew would run from 8:00 PM Tuesday to 6:00 AM Wednesday, expecting it to last for several days. “We have reached a turning point,” Bass stated during a press conference on Tuesday, noting that 23 businesses had been looted.
The curfew covers a 2.5 square kilometer area in downtown, where protests have been concentrated since Friday. The city of Los Angeles spans approximately 2,300 square kilometers. The curfew does not apply to residents living in the designated area, homeless individuals, accredited media, or public safety and emergency personnel, according to LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. McDonnell stated that “illegal and dangerous” behavior has escalated since Saturday. “The curfew is a necessary measure to protect lives and preserve property after several consecutive days of increasing unrest in the city,” McDonnell said.
Trump has described Los Angeles in alarming terms that, according to Bass and Newsom, are far from the truth. In a public address Tuesday evening, Newsom called Trump’s actions “the beginning of an attack on democracy.” “California may be first, but it is clear it will not end here. Other states are next in line,” he warned. Newsom cautioned citizens against inciting violence but urged them to resist the president’s actions. “What Donald Trump wants most is your submission, your silence. To become accomplices in this moment,” he said. “Do not enable him.”
The protests began Friday after federal immigration officials arrested dozens of workers in Los Angeles. Protesters blocked a major highway and burned cars over the weekend, with police responding with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades. The demonstrations have largely focused on downtown, a city of 4 million residents. Thousands have gathered peacefully in front of City Hall, and hundreds more protested near a federal complex housing a detention center for immigrants arrested during raids. Despite the protests, federal officials have continued immigration raids across the county, with local officials and community groups reporting their presence in libraries, car washes, and stores like Home Depot.
