Los Angeles Enforces Curfew Amid Widespread Protest Expansion Across US Cities

A curfew was imposed on the fifth consecutive night of unrest as hundreds of US Marines arrived in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday under orders from Trump, escalating tensions in the nation’s second-largest city.

As the clock ticked down to mere minutes before the curfew commenced, hundreds of demonstrators stood their ground before law enforcement, raising their hands in a gesture of non-aggression and chanting the refrain “peaceful protest.”

Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines to address the protests ignited by his immigration raids has intensified tensions in Los Angeles and set off demonstrations in multiple other cities.

Despite facing opposition from local and state officials, Trump has dispatched more than 4,000 National Guard troops along with 700 Marines to the city of Los Angeles.

Authorities reported that various groups remained on the streets in defiance of the curfew, prompting “mass arrests” to be initiated. Earlier, law enforcement officials announced that 197 individuals had been detained on Tuesday, exceeding twice the total number of previous arrests.

Political leaders have expressed apprehensions regarding a national crisis, marking the most intense flashpoint so far in Trump’s assertive efforts to deport migrants, followed by actions against protestors who take to the streets in opposition.

In a video address, California Governor Gavin Newsom commented on what he described as a flagrant misuse of authority by Trump, which heightened an already volatile scenario, endangering the safety of citizens, law enforcement, and the National Guard. Newsom remarked that this marked the beginning of a downward trajectory.

Trump once again opted for an escalation of tensions, prioritizing forceful measures and dramatic gestures rather than focusing on public safety, raising concerns that democracy is facing significant threats.

“California might be the pioneer, but it is evident that it won’t stop there. Other states are set to follow suit,” he stated.

Demonstrations have expanded to numerous cities across the nation, including Dallas and Austin in Texas, as well as Chicago and New York. In New York, a rally drew a crowd of a thousand people, resulting in multiple arrests.

Trump suggested the possibility of employing the Insurrection Act, a legal provision that allows for the deployment of military forces within the United States to address civil disturbances or uphold federal statutes. This seldom-invoked power is among the most severe options accessible to a US leader in times of domestic turmoil.

“If faced with an insurrection, I would definitely consider invoking it. We’ll see,” stated Trump from the Oval Office.

Subsequently, Trump referred to the protesters as “animals” and “a foreign enemy” during an address at Fort Bragg.

Trump has characterized the ongoing turmoil in Los Angeles in stark terms, a portrayal that Newsom asserts is far from accurate.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump asserted that Los Angeles would be “burning to the ground right now” had he not sent troops to the city.

Governor Gavin Newsom, who is largely anticipated to be positioning himself for a presidential bid in 2028, along with various state and local officials, has criticized Trump’s response, labeling it as an extreme over-reaction to what were predominantly peaceful demonstrations.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused Trump of deploying troops with the intention of escalating tensions for political gain, asserting that these actions have complicated the efforts of local law enforcement to manage the situation.

Jean Guerrero, a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times, stated that the aim is to provoke a violent response from protesters to divert attention from the actual issues at hand. She highlighted that families are facing separation, communities are undergoing devastation, and the citizens of Los Angeles are taking a firm stand against these developments.

Deploying active military forces to address civil disturbances is an exceedingly uncommon occurrence.

California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed on X that recent actions are less about ensuring public safety and more about appeasing Trump’s ego, which he described as perilous.

The U.S. Marines are extensively trained for global conflict scenarios, spanning regions from the Middle East to Africa. They are also utilized for swift deployments during emergencies, including potential threats to American embassies.

Senator Jack Reed, the leading Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed serious concerns over Trump’s decision to deploy active-duty Marines.

He stated that, from the inception of the nation, it has been unequivocally expressed by the American populace that military forces should not engage in law enforcement activities within the United States.