A Protest, a Pretext, a Power Grab

The L.A. Protests Are Real. So Is the Federal Overreaction.

Over the past three days, Los Angeles has become the focal point of national attention after ICE raids reignited protests against immigration enforcement, racialized policing, and federal overreach. Videos of tear gas, freeway shutdowns, and federal troops in downtown have gone viral, but the narrative is quickly spinning beyond the facts.

Before fear, misinformation, or outrage takes over, let’s start with what we know.

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USA Today

What We Know So Far: A Verified Timeline

Friday, June 6

• ICE launched aggressive immigration raids across Los Angeles, including a heavily publicized sweep outside a Home Depot.

• Protesters rapidly mobilized in neighborhoods like Boyle Heights, calling the raids “state terror.”

• LAPD responded with crowd control tactics: tear gas, rubber bullets, and arrests, primarily in areas near downtown.

• The protests were intense, but not violent in the traditional sense of insurrection. No buildings were breached. No fires lit. No weapons involved.

Saturday, June 7

• Demonstrations grew, including marches to the Metropolitan Detention Center.

• Tensions increased; more arrests occurred as protesters clashed with LAPD and ICE.

• No National Guard units were deployed, despite some federal rhetoric already heating up online.

• At least one vehicle was set on fire in the Compton/Paramount area, and protest-related graffiti began appearing downtown.

• The situation remained tense but manageable. Protesters chanted, blocked streets, and demanded immigrant protections.

Sunday, June 8 (Day 3)

• 300 National Guard troops arrived unrequested by California officials, marking a major escalation.

• Protesters blocked the 101 Freeway; Guard and LAPD responded with tear gas, flashbangs, and arrests.

• Additional Waymo self-driving cars were torched downtown, part of a continuation of limited vehicle arson from Saturday.

• Protest-related graffiti spread across downtown, including on federal buildings and freeway structures.

• No buildings were breached. No looting reported. No verified attacks on officers.

• Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass condemned the Guard deployment as “purposefully inflammatory.”

For comprehensive reporting, consider viewing the timeline compiled by CBS Local 4, which has curated articles about each tweet, memo, and action.

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The Fog of Protest: Misinformation Is Already Spreading

As this story unfolds, so does the noise. On social media, videos loop out of context, old footage resurfaces labeled as “breaking,” and speculation quickly drowns out verification. That’s not new. It’s what always happens in moments like this, and we’ve seen it before.

Already, clips of burning vehicles are circulating without clear locations or timestamps. Some were filmed on Saturday but are being reshared as if they happened last night. Others are being framed as proof of a coordinated uprising, despite no verified reports of attacks on federal buildings or armed protesters.

Even trusted voices can amplify falsehoods when emotions run high. A single miscaptioned photo or panicked tweet can spark overreaction from law enforcement or help justify it. We’ve seen this cycle during the George Floyd protests, the Capitol insurrection, and even as far back as the Arab Spring.

So here’s the reminder: what you share matters. Take a breath. Fact-check before reposting, and remember that it’s okay not to react in real-time. The truth will take days, even weeks, to settle, but misinformation can escalate in minutes.

This moment calls for clarity, not chaos. For discipline, not drama.

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If You Choose to Protest: Staying Safe Without Feeding the Fire

Most people showing up to protest want the same thing: to be heard, to defend human dignity, and to return home safely. However, the risk increases when tensions escalate, especially with federal forces deployed on the ground.

That’s why preparation matters—not to scare you, but to help protect both yourself and the movement.

Who Shows Up at a Protest?

Every protest, from the March on Washington to Ferguson to January 6, tends to include a familiar mix of people. Understanding these roles can help you navigate the space safely and strategically.

1. Peaceful Protesters
   The vast majority are organizers, families, students, and workers. They show up for justice, chanting, marching, and holding signs. They want to be seen, not feared.

2. Opportunists
   These people are not there for the cause. They stir chaos, loot, burn, or act recklessly, often under the cover of the crowd. They vanish when real danger arrives.

3. Agent Provocateurs
   They want escalation. Sometimes they’re law enforcement officials, and occasionally they are political agitators. Their goal is to trigger violence and discredit the movement.

4. Bystanders
   There may also be spectators and wanderers. They film, watch, or drift into the crowd, but they’re just as vulnerable in a crisis.

Recognizing who’s around you can help you avoid trouble. If someone is baiting the police, trying to light something on fire, or encouraging confrontation, walk away. They’re not part of your movement. They’re not protecting your message. And their actions could put you at risk of harm or arrest.

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If You Attend a Protest: Stay Grounded, Stay Safe

Go during the day.
Daylight is your friend. Visibility is better, organizers are easier to identify, and media coverage is more likely. After sunset, the risk of escalation increases, so if you're not there with a specific purpose (such as medical work or observation), leave before nightfall.

Dress for anonymity and protection.
Wear neutral colors, avoid clothing with branded or political messages, and cover visible tattoos. Bring goggles or shatter-resistant glasses, a face covering, and a small water bottle. A Sharpie is essential. Write the number of a legal aid group or emergency contact directly on your arm in case you're detained and lose access to your phone.

Stick with people you trust.
Stay with a buddy or group if you can. If you're alone, gravitate toward legal observers, medics, or experienced marshals who can help de-escalate the situation. Avoid wandering toward provocateurs or splinter groups.

If violence breaks out, back away and sit down.
This is counterintuitive, but effective. Moving away slowly, then sitting down with your hands visible, signals to law enforcement and others that you pose no threat. It can protect you physically and legally.

This isn’t fear. It’s focus. The most powerful protest is one that speaks clearly, holds the line, and refuses to give the opposition the chaos they crave.

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The Real Threat Isn’t the Protest. It’s the Escalation

Let’s be clear: this is not martial law. However, what we’re seeing bears a striking resemblance to the early groundwork for it.

On Sunday morning, just 48 hours after protests began, President Trump authorized the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, without any formal request from local authorities. That move alone is rare. What’s more troubling is that the memorandum authorizing the deployment doesn’t name specific cities or incidents. It gives a 60-day window and leaves the door open for rapid expansion to any area where “verified threats” appear.

Just hours later, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly announced that Marines at Camp Pendleton are on “high alert” and ready to deploy if protests continue. This was not a leak. It was a tweet. A public warning.

No Secretary of Defense in modern history has telegraphed active-duty military readiness so quickly in response to protest.

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A Chilling Contradiction

On January 6, 2021, during the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol, Trump refused to authorize the National Guard for hours, even as police were attacked. On January 20, 2025, during his second inaugural day, he pardoned nearly all of the 1,500 individuals convicted for that attack.

And now, five months later, his administration warns that any attacks on ICE or federal officers during peaceful protests will trigger an “immediate and severe” federal response.

When the violence comes from his base, it’s forgiven. When dissent comes from the marginalized, it becomes militarized.

That’s not law and order. That’s political policing.

Let’s be clear. If a peaceful sit-in is a 0 on the scale and January 6th is a 10, the current situation in Los Angeles is perhaps a 3. What is occurring there is not comparable to the BLM protests in Portland during 2020. It does not warrant this level of response. It is no wonder, then, that Governor Newsom did not use his power to call in the National Guard, that the Mayor of LA reported that everything was under control, and that Governor Newsom has called for the National Guard to be removed immediately. The current protests and altercations are similar to the anti-immigration policy protests in the same city in February of this year, which did not elicit such a strong federal response.

What Comes Next & What We Must Not Do

Here’s the hard truth: this moment is volatile by design. The administration moved fast—faster than it needed to—because it may be trying to provoke something bigger. It wants confrontation. It wants footage. It seeks to portray dissent as a danger.

So what happens next depends on what we do.

We Cannot Give Them the Excuse

This is the most important line in this entire piece:

Do not give them the excuse.

Every fire lit, every scuffle started, every act of recklessness—no matter how isolated—will be used to justify something worse. Troop deployments. Federal arrests. Suppression of future protest. The movement for immigrant dignity and justice could be rebranded overnight as a security threat.

We cannot let that happen.

What We Must Do:

• Stay focused on the message: Immigration raids are not law and order. They are a form of political terror.

• Stay peaceful—even when pushed. Especially when provoked.

• Stay grounded in truth. Don’t share unverified videos. Don’t amplify disinformation.

• Support one another. Bail funds, legal aid, street medics, safe spaces—all are frontline work.

• Document everything—safely, strategically, and with clarity.

This movement has power. However, we can’t counter their aggression by matching it. We wield it by exposing it and surviving it.

Let’s show up smart. Let’s stay on message. Let’s make sure history remembers who escalated and who refused to take the bait.

Bibliography:

• “National Guard Troops Arrive in Los Angeles as Immigration Protests Continue.” CBS News Los Angeles, June 8, 2025.

• “Demonstrators Light Car on Fire during Protests over Immigration Operations in LA.” CBS News Los Angeles, June 7, 2025.

• Hegseth, Pete [@PeteHegseth]. “Active‑duty Marines at Camp Pendleton are on high alert and ready to deploy if violence continues.” X (formerly Twitter), June 8, 2025.

• Mayor Bass [@MayorKarenBass]. “This is a difficult time for our city… Everyone has the right to peacefully protest.” X, June 7, 2025.

• Newsom, Gavin [@GavinNewsom]. “The federal government is taking over the California National Guard… This is the wrong mission.” X, June 7, 2025.

• Pete Hegseth Threatens to Send Marines to LA ICE Protests.” The Daily Beast, June 8, 2025.

• “LA Protests Live: California Governor and LA Mayor Urge Trump to Remove National Guard Troops.” The Guardian, June 8, 2025.

• “Trump Sparks Backlash as He Orders National Guard to Quell L.A. Immigration Protests: ‘Purposefully Inflammatory.’” Time, June 7, 2025.

• Reuters. “National Guard Deployed amid Escalating ICE Protest in L.A.” June 8, 2025.