Protests in L.A.-USA explained: What’s Fueling the Surge of Civil Unrest?

Protests in L.A.- USA surge—understand the triggers, locations, and government crackdown; How Trump’s use of National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles sparked curfews, court battles, chaos in Major Cities, and a coast‑to‑coast civil‑rights backlash

Source: Index.hr

Introduction

Images of protests and violence—once scenes familiar only from the Middle East, a South American dictatorship, or parts of Africa—have in recent days flooded the streets of the United States. Police and military presence on city blocks, brutality, rubber bullets, brawls, and tear gas: such scenes have become a reality on American soil.

President Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to the streets of Los Angeles in an attempt to contain the demonstrators marks the first time in roughly sixty years that a U.S. president has unilaterally activated a state’s National Guard without the governor’s consent—an action not seen since Lyndon Johnson sent troops to protect civil-rights marchers in 1965. calmatters.org.

What sparked the protests?

Deep divisions in American society over President Trump’s immigration policies brought tensions to a boil. The most recent catalyst was the arrest and detention of approximately forty-four people during sweeping ICE operations—a final straw that drove many into the streets demanding justice.

While lawlessness of the streets is never desirable, confrontations were predictable given the administration’s insistence on imposing a daily ICE arrest quota of 3,000 immigrants, triple the previous target, thereby sowing fear not only among migrants but across broader communities. reuters.com

How the protest began and what it became

What started as peaceful gatherings in front of federal buildings and highway blockades—most notably on Interstate 101—rapidly morphed into waves of violence and vandalism. By sending National Guard troops into Los Angeles without the approval of Governor Gavin Newsom or local officials, President Trump only added fuel to the fire.

Governor Newsom denounced the move as unconstitutional and filed suit against the federal government. time.com

Clashes between law enforcement and protesters escalated; LAPD deployed tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades, while some demonstrators set vehicles aflame and confronted officers directly.

Participants and scale

Students, activists from groups like the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, and ordinary citizens carried Mexican and Central American flags, chanting slogans such as “Nobody is illegal” and “We belong here.” Estimates of participation vary widely: ICE claimed over 1,000 protesters, while LAPD estimated up to 8,000 at the peak of demonstrations. abcnews.go.com

Source: CNN YouTube

Official response

• Mayor Karen Bass imposed a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., condemned the raids as repressive, and declared a local state of emergency. theguardian.com

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that if violence continued, active-duty Marines from Camp Pendleton could be deployed.

  
  

• President Trump activated 2,000 National Guardsmen—later increasing the total to 4,000—and 700 Marines under Title 10 authority, invoking “emergency measures” to “restore law and order,” nymag.com

Trump used his Truth Social platform to criticize Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass for inadequate leadership, labelling protesters “paid insurgents” and “infiltrators,” while Democrats decried threats to constitutional rights and civil liberties.

Demonstrations soon spread to cities including New York, Chicago, Denver, and Seattle, reigniting debates over police militarization and state repression. washingtonpost.com

What happens next?

Far from subsiding, the unrest is set to escalate. On Saturday, nationwide protests under the banner “No Kings Day” are planned at 1,500 locations. Simultaneously, President Trump is organizing a military parade in Washington to mark the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary—coinciding with his own 79th birthday.

Ezra Levin, co-founder of the progressive group Indivisible (behind “No Kings Day”), says interest in the protests has exploded following recent events in Los Angeles.

On Tuesday, Trump warned that demonstrators “will be met with extreme resistance,” declaring,

“For those planning protests, you will face very heavy pushback. I hadn’t heard of protests until it started, but these are people who hate our country, and they will encounter very tough opposition.”

Conclusion

American public opinion remains deeply split. Trump supporters firmly back strict immigration enforcement and mass deportations, while opponents question the legality and morality of such measures.

Moreover, debates swirl over the limits of state power and the potential abuse of authority—some argue that several of the administration’s actions verge on unconstitutional. Without a negotiated path forward, the divide will only widen, likely leading to further protests, more violence, and fresh confrontations.

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