Protests across Los Angeles have surged in intensity following President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to deploy the National Guard to the city over the weekend. The president’s actions, intended to quell unrest, have instead been met with fierce backlash, with demonstrators clashing with Guard members and tensions boiling over into some of the most chaotic scenes the city has seen in years.

 

Two Waymo taxis burn near the metropolitan detention center of downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8.

 

The protests, initially sparked by frustration over civil rights issues and renewed allegations of voter suppression efforts in key states, have grown into a broader expression of dissent against what activists call “authoritarian overreach” from the White House. The situation deteriorated further Sunday night when Guard troops were ordered to use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds near Downtown LA, leading to dozens of injuries and hundreds of arrests.

 

 

President Trump, speaking Monday morning at a press event outside the White House, doubled down on his stance. “If the National Guard can’t do the job, we will send in the Marines,” Trump said. “We will restore order. We will not let Democrat-run cities burn while the radical left tries to undermine our country.”

Trump also hinted at invoking martial law, a move that would grant the federal government sweeping powers and temporarily suspend certain constitutional protections. Legal scholars and civil rights advocates immediately sounded alarms.

“This is dangerous territory,” said ACLU Legal Director Rina Shah. “Martial law is not a tool to manage protest; it’s a declaration of war on civil liberties.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom called the president’s threats “outrageous and unconstitutional” and said the state would not consent to the deployment of additional federal troops. “This is not a war zone,” Newsom said in a televised statement. “This is a democracy, and these are citizens expressing their rights.”

 

Despite calls for de-escalation from city officials and community leaders, Monday night saw further unrest, with fires set near Pershing Square and a major freeway temporarily blocked by demonstrators. Protesters chanted “No troops in our streets” and held signs reading “Democracy, not dictatorship.”

Multiple human rights organizations have begun documenting what they allege are violations committed by federal forces already on the ground. Videos circulating online appear to show unmarked officers detaining people without explanation, as well as confrontations between military personnel and journalists.

The Pentagon has not confirmed any current plans to deploy Marines to Los Angeles but acknowledged it is “evaluating potential assistance options at the president’s request.”

 

As the situation unfolds, concern continues to grow both domestically and internationally. European leaders have issued statements urging restraint, while the United Nations called for the U.S. government to uphold the rights to free assembly and expression.

With tensions mounting and no signs of immediate resolution, Los Angeles remains on edge, and the country watches nervously as a constitutional showdown looms.

This is a developing story.