Trump’s national gardists arrive in Los Angeles – Diepresse.com
According to raids from federal authorities against migrants, violent protests occur. U.S. President Donald Trump then sends the national guard. According to US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, the US Marines are also « on the highest alert ». The governor of California fears an escalation of violence.
On the order of US President Donald Trump and against the will of the local authorities, several hundred national guards arrived in the US west coast metropolis of Los Angeles on Sunday. According to the US military, 300 soldiers were sent to three locations in the Los Angeles area to protect federal property and staff. Previously, there had been violent protests in the city after raids from the federal authorities against migrants.
In the Los Angeles business center, soldiers in camouflage suits, with helmets and quick firearms in front of a building complex of the federal authorities. Unknown people had sprayed the words « Our City » (our city) on the outer walls of the building, in which there is also a detention center.
Further demonstrations planned
Further demonstrations were planned for Sunday afternoon (local time/11:00 p.m. CEST), a call for « mass mobilization » in front of the town hall was circulated. Trump had previously ordered 2000 national guards. The government in Washington « encounters lawlessness, the spread of which was approved, » said Trump’s spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
The Democratic governor of the state, Gavin Newsom, rejects mobilization and fears an escalation of the situation. Newsom accused Trump that he does not send 2000 national guards to Los Angeles to react « to the gaps in needs », but « to create a crisis ». « He hopes for chaos so that he can justify more raids, more fear, more control, » said Newsom in online service X and appealed to the residents of the city: « Stay calm. Never apply violence. Remains peaceful. »
Violent clashes on Friday and Saturday
According to raids masked and armed federal official against migrants, violent clashes between US federal police and angry demonstrators had occurred on Friday and Saturday. Demonstrating the officials with objects, the federal officials used glare grenades and tear gas and took several demonstrators in custody.
There were collisions between demonstrators and security forces in the Compton district on Sunday morning. In the center, the smell of pepper spray was in the air, as AFP reporters reported.
With the sending of the national guard, Trump sits across the local authorities. Usually the national guard, a kind of reserve army, is used in natural disasters and occasionally in unrest – such as around 2020, when after the death of the African American George Floyd by police violence was Kriwall.
The US activist Kenneth Roth, former head of the human rights organization Human Rights Watch, said in online service X that it was the first time since 1965 that a president sent the national guard without the governor of the state affected. Roth accused Trump of « creating a spectacle so that he can continue his raids against immigrants ».
Hegseth is considering use of the US marines
« Inscribes that carry foreign flags attack immigration officials, while half of the political leadership of America has decided that border protection is evil, » commented US Vice President JD Vance on X. Trump’s border officer Tom Homan Fox newsThe National Guard will arrive in Los Angeles on Saturday (local time).
US defense minister Pete Hegseth also considered the use of the US marines To support the police against the demonstrators. « The @deptofdefense immediately mobilizes the national guard to support the federal police in Los Angeles. If violence persists, active marines in Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized – they are highest alert, » he wrote to X. In the official announcement, the National Guard said for 60 days or as long as the defense minister would be necessary.
Sanders: Trump moves USA to authoritarian state
The left Senator Bernie Sanders accused Trump to move the USA quickly towards an authoritarian state. « This guy wants the whole power. He does not believe in the constitution. He does not believe in the rule of law, » said Sanders in the broadcaster Cnn. The state of California and the city of Los Angeles would not have asked for mobilizing soldiers from the national guard.
Trump thinks, however, « he has the right to do everything he wants, » complained Sanders on Sunday in the CNN interview. Sanders is one of the most prominent left -wing politicians in the United States. In 2016 and 2020, he had in vain for the Democrats’ presidential candidacy. The currently non-party 83-year-old Senator usually agrees with the Democrats.
In conversation with CNN, Sanders described what he sees as the authoritarian tendencies of the Republican President. « Media that criticize him. He complains. He pursues law firms who have clients who were against him. He tackles the courses that he did not like. The congress, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives, is the US parliament. (APA/dpa/Reuters/AFP)
