LOS ANGELES, June 9 — California National Guard troops were deployed to the streets of Los Angeles yesterday to help quell a third day of protests over President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement, as the state's Democratic governor called their deployment unlawful.
National Guard troops were stationed around federal government buildings, as police and protesters clashed in separate demonstrations over federal immigration raids in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles police declared several rallies to be "unlawful assemblies" alleging that some protesters threw concrete, bottles and other objects at police. Several self-driving cars from Alphabet's Waymo were set ablaze on a downtown street on Sunday evening, video footage showed.
"Arrests are being initiated," the police department wrote in a post on social media. Los Angeles police deployed officers on horseback to attempt to control the crowds.
Demonstrators shouted "shame on you" at police and some appeared to throw objects, according to video. A group of protesters blocked the 101 Freeway, a major thoroughfare in downtown Los Angeles.
Groups of protesters, many carrying Mexican flags and signs denouncing US immigration authorities, gathered in several spots around the city. The Los Angeles branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation organised speakers outside of City Hall for an afternoon rally.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he requested the Trump administration withdraw its order to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles County, calling it unlawful.
Newsom accused Trump of trying to manufacture a crisis and violating California's state sovereignty. "These are the acts of a dictator, not a President," he wrote in a post on X.
The White House disputed Newsom's characterisation, saying in a statement that "everyone saw the chaos, violence and lawlessness".
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Police officers stand amid tear gas during a protest against federal immigration sweeps in downtown Los Angeles, California, US, on June 8, 2025. — Picture by REUTERS[/caption]
Earlier, about a dozen National Guard members, along with Department of Homeland Security personnel, pushed back a group of demonstrators that amassed outside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles, video showed.
US Northern Command said 300 members of the California National Guard had been deployed to three areas in the Los Angeles area. Their mission was limited to protecting federal personnel and property.
Trump in a social media post yesterday, called the demonstrators "violent, insurrectionist mobs" and said he was directing his cabinet officers "to take all such action necessary" to stop what he called "riots”.
Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, he threatened violence against demonstrators who spit on police or National Guard troops, saying "they spit, we hit." He did not cite any specific incidents.
"If we see danger to our country and to our citizens, it will be very, very strong in terms of law and order," Trump said.
— Reuters
