Chaos Unfolds In Los Angeles As Protesters and US Law Enforcement Clash

Downtown Los Angeles saw intense clashes on Sunday as immigration protests stretched into their third day. What began as peaceful demonstrations escalated into violence, with protesters and law enforcement facing off in the streets and even on the 101 Freeway.

Fires, Freeway Blockades, and Arrests

Protesters hurled objects and tried to set fire to stranded CHP vehicles on the freeway. Some even used random debris to shield themselves from advancing officers. A total of 29 people were arrested Sunday—10 by the LAPD and 19 by the California Highway Patrol. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said one individual allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail, and another tried to ram a police line with a motorcycle. “It’s escalated now since the beginning of this incident,” McDonnell said. “Tonight we had individuals out there shooting commercial-grade fireworks at our officers that can kill you.”

Officials Trade Blame

California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly criticized President Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard. He described the move as “purposefully inflammatory” and warned it would “only escalate tensions.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem fired back, saying, “If he was doing his job people wouldn’t have gotten hurt the last couple of days.” She cited injured officers and vehicles set ablaze. “Governor Newsom has proven that he makes bad decisions,” she added.

LAPD Defends Its Response Time

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons accused LAPD of taking “over two hours” to respond to a Friday standoff at the federal building downtown. Chief McDonnell denied this, stating, “It didn’t happen.” He said the actual response time was under 40 minutes and explained that the department wasn’t notified in advance about the federal operation. Factors like traffic, crowd size, and tear gas deployment by federal agents affected the timing, he noted.

Mayor Bass Urges Peace and Blames Federal Action

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticized President Trump’s decision to send troops, calling it unnecessary and dangerous. “Deploying federalized troops on the heels of these raids is a chaotic escalation,” she said. “This is the last thing that our city needs.” Bass encouraged residents to protest peacefully, adding, “No matter where you were born, the First Amendment Right gives you the ability to protest peacefully, not create chaos or vandalize property.”

As tensions remain high and arrests continue, city leaders are calling for calm while criticizing federal actions. The coming days will test how Los Angeles navigates the delicate balance between civil protest and public safety.