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| Protester Arrested During Federal Immigration Clash |
On June 6, federal agents arrested 44 people in three ICE raids across L.A. County. Protests erupted near a Home Depot and a clothing store in the Westlake district . By nightfall, about 200 demonstrators faced off with riot police. Tear gas and flash-bang grenades were used to clear the streets .
The unrest spread next day to Compton, where a car was set ablaze on Atlantic Boulevard. Smoke and flames framed protesters waving Mexican flags . Images of burning vehicles and scuffles with police have dominated headlines and social feeds.
President Trump seized on the chaos. He ordered 2,000 National Guard troops and nearly 700 Marines to L.A. streets—moves critics called heavy-handed and illegal under state law . Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass denounced the deployment. Bass warned that L.A. was becoming a federal “test case” for military force against U.S. citizens .
Into this breach stepped Chuck Rocha, a seasoned Democratic strategist. On June 10, Rocha said the riots were “playing right into Trump’s hands” . He argued that images of fire and confrontation strengthen Trump’s message of chaos and the need for order.
Rocha, president of Solidarity Strategies, cut his teeth organizing labor campaigns and advising Bernie Sanders. He warned his own party that violent protest risks ceding the “moral high ground” to Republicans . He urged Democrats to press for peaceful action and policy change instead.
Numbers Tell the Tale
44 arrests by ICE on June 6 in Los Angeles .
200 protesters ordered to disperse on the first night .
2,000 National Guard troops deployed .
700 Marines sent to support federal agents .
Some local leaders see fault on both sides. LA Police Chief noted some arrests were for throwing chunks of concrete at officers . Yet civil-rights groups decried federal force, calling it a threat to free speech and state sovereignty .
A law-professor specializing in domestic deployments warned that sending troops on U.S. soil revives dark chapters in history, from Kent State to the Ludlow Massacre . He said such actions risk eroding trust in both police and government.
Political analysts point to a pattern. Trump has long highlighted unrest to justify a hardline agenda. During the 2020 protests, he used violent clashes to frame himself as the man of order . Rocha fears L.A. protests will follow that same script.
Conversely, immigration advocates argue raids sparked the anger. They say ICE targets businesses without clear notice, stoking fear in immigrant communities. They call for reforms to avoid repeating these clashes .
Small businesses near the Metro Detention Center saw windows smashed. Waymo taxis were torched on city streets . Residents report disruption to daily life and rising tension between neighbors.
Yet some Angelenos support the protests. A pension-fund analyst said peaceful marches raise awareness of policy failures. She stressed non-violence as the key .
Legal battles loom. California sued the Trump administration over troop deployment, citing the Posse Comitatus Act . Courts may decide if federal force in cities violates federal law.
Democrats face a choice. Shake down violence and risk alienating the base. Or call for calm and see critics charge them with coddling chaos. Rocha notes that unity around clear, peaceful aims could blunt Trump’s law-and-order pitch .
Can peaceful protest reclaim its power in L.A.? Or will images of riots keep playing to Trump’s strength? Readers are encouraged to share thoughts below.