LA protests: Los Angeles under curfew for second night with marines expected to be deployed

The Guardian

2 days ago

Update:
Date: 2025-06-12T08:16:06.000Z
Title:
Content: Here is a Guardian graphic showing where the curfew in Los Angeles has been imposed.
Update:
Date: 2025-06-12T08:11:52.000Z
Title: Marines to deploy on LA streets within two days with authority to detain civilians
Content: US marines will join national guard troops on the streets of Los Angeles within two days, officials said on Wednesday, and would be authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration officers on raids or protesters who confront federal agents, reports Reuters.
President Donald Trump ordered the deployments over the objections of California governor Gavin Newsom, causing a national debate about the use of the military on US soil and animating protests that have spread from Los Angeles to other major cities, including New York, Atlanta and Chicago.
Los Angeles on Wednesday endured a sixth day of protests that have been largely peaceful but occasionally punctuated by violence, mostly contained to a few blocks of the city's downtown area.
The protests broke out last Friday in response to a series of immigration raids. Trump in turn called in the national guard on Saturday, then summoned the marines on Monday.
'If I didn't act quickly on that, Los Angeles would be burning to the ground right now,' said Trump at an event at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
According to Reuters, the US military said on Wednesday that a battalion of 700 marines had concluded training specific to the LA mission, including de-escalation and crowd control. They would join national guard under the authority of a federal law known as Title 10 within 48 hours, not to conduct civilian policing but to protect federal officers and property, the military said.
'Title 10 forces may temporarily detain an individual in specific circumstances such as to stop an assault, to prevent harm to others, or to prevent interference with federal personnel performing their duties,' the northern command said.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement:
If any rioters attack Ice law enforcement officers, military personnel have the authority to temporarily detain them until law enforcement makes the arrest.'
US army Maj Gen Scott Sherman, who commands the taskforce of marines and guardsmen, told reporters the marines will not carry live ammunition in their rifles, but they will carry live rounds.
More on this story in a moment, but first here is a summary of the latest developments:
A curfew came into effect for the second consecutive night in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, where police used horses and munitions to disperse protesters. Police declared the gathering near city hall unlawful shortly before the curfew, and began firing and charging at protesters shortly afterwards.
Donald Trump was booed and cheered while attending the opening night of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center, his first appearance there since becoming president and appointing himself chair.
All 12 members of the prestigious Fulbright program's board resigned in protest of what they describe as unprecedented political interference by the Trump administration, which has blocked scholarships for nearly 200 American academics.
David Hogg will not run again for a vice-chair position at the Democratic National Committee, after members voted to void and re-do his election. The move ends months of internal turmoil over Hogg's outside activism, particularly his vow to primary 'asleep-at-the-wheel' Democrats.
Los Angeles county district attorney Nathan Hochman said media and social media had grossly distorted the scale of protest violence. 'There are 11 million people in this county; 4 million of which live in Los Angeles city. We estimate that there's probably thousands of people who have engaged in legitimate protest, let's say 4,000 people,' Hochman said.