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By James Bickerton
News Reporter
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Mayor Karen Bass has imposed a curfew on parts of downtown Los Angeles after several days of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, some of which turned violent.
Newsweek contacted Bass for comment on Wednesday via telephone and voicemail message outside regular office hours.
The Context
Since June 6, when a series of ICE raids targeted suspected illegal immigrants, demonstrations have taken place daily in Los Angeles against immigration enforcement, with several dissolving into rioting in which police officers were attacked, vehicles set ablaze and some businesses looted.
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In response, the Trump administration ordered the deployment of 700 Marines and 4,000 California National Guard soldiers to protect federal buildings, despite objections and a legal challenge from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
This is the first time a president has deployed National Guard troops against the wishes of a state's governor since desegregation protests in Alabama during 1965. The move has sparked intense controversy.
What To Know
The curfew took effect at 8 p.m. Pacific time and applies until 6 a.m., covering a roughly 1-square-mile area between the 5 Freeway, 110 Freeway and 10 Freeway. Authorities have warned that the curfew could be in place for several days.
Bass said in a news conference, "If you do not live or work in downtown L.A., stay away."
Those who live or work in the area covered by the curfew along with "credentialed media representatives" are exempt, the city said in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement, published on the city's official website, also said: "Mayor Karen Bass has issued a curfew for Downtown Los Angeles. The curfew will be in place starting tonight from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Mayor Bass was joined by elected, law enforcement and business leaders this afternoon to make the announcement.
"In addition to the curfew, Mayor Bass noted that hundreds of officers from police and sheriffs departments from across the region and state are working alongside LAPD through a unified command structure."
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On X, formerly Twitter, Bass added, "Law enforcement will arrest individuals who break the curfew, and you will be prosecuted."
Tuesday afternoon saw hundreds of anti-ICE demonstrators gather around federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles, some of whom briefly blocked the 101 Freeway before being pushed off by police.
Independent journalist Brendan Gutenschwager shared a video on X of police warning several hundred demonstrators near the 300 North Los Angeles Federal Building, "You will be subject to arrest if you don't leave the area now."
At 9:17 p.m. PT, the reporter added, "Most of the crowd has now dispersed from the blocks near the 300 North Los Angeles Federal Building."
According to NBC Los Angeles, at least 200 people have been arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol since the demonstrations began, including more than 100 on Monday.
Anti-ICE demonstrations also took place in Austin, where several protesters appeared to throw paint and vandalize property, CBS Austin reported. Governor Greg Abbott announced that Texas National Guard troops would be deployed across the state to enforce "peace and order."
What People Are Saying
David Silbey, a military expert and history professor at Cornell University, said in a statement provided to Newsweek: "Active-duty military are restricted from certain law enforcement actions by the Posse Comitatus Act (the National Guard and the Coast Guard are exempt from this)—that restriction can be lifted if President Trump invokes the Insurrection Act by claiming there is an insurrection going on that the state cannot stop. Soldiers aren't normally trained in law enforcement activities and so there's always the risk that they use a lot of violence in response to protests or rioting. The obvious result would be people getting killed."
Journalist Anthony Cabassa wrote on X: "Police have again kettled in protestors and media, and placed us under arrest. Media are told they will be allowed to leave. Police ARE enforcing curfew tonight by order of Mayor Bass."
California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X on Tuesday: "Donald Trump deployed more than 700 active U.S. Marines—men and women trained in foreign combat, not domestic law enforcement. We honor their service and bravery. But we do not want our streets militarized by our own Armed Forces. Not in L.A. Not in California. Not anywhere."
He added in a later post: "If you incite violence or destroy our communities, you are going to be held accountable. That kind of criminal behavior will not be tolerated. Full stop."
What Happens Next
Further protests in Los Angeles and other cities are expected over the next few days. It remains to be seen whether the steps taken by federal and state officials will control the situation.
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