Protests spread across US despite Trump threats, Los Angeles crackdown
Protests against Donald Trump's harsh immigration policies spread Wednesday across the United States despite a military-backed crackdown in Los Angeles and a threat by the Republican president to use 'heavy force'.
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In Los Angeles, where the unrest began last Friday, an overnight curfew in the downtown area saw police make 25 arrests by morning.
Heavily armed officers patrolled near government buildings, and storekeepers boarded up windows to protect against vandalism.
US Marines – ordered by Trump to deploy in addition to more than 4,000 National Guard soldiers – were expected to make their first appearance on the streets on Wednesday.
The mostly peaceful protests ignited over a sudden escalation in efforts to apprehend migrants who were in the country illegally.
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Pockets of violence – including the burning of self-driving taxis and hurling stones at police – triggered a massive response from authorities using tear gas and other crowd-control weapons.
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