Amidst the protests and incidents of night violence, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday imposed curfew overnight in some parts of the city, while the United States President Donald Trump announced the deployment of additional 2,000 National Guard soldiers and Marines in the city.
Curfew in downtown LA
Los Angeles Mayor Caren Bass on Tuesday imposed a “curfew” in the city’s main area to “stop sabotage and loot”. Bass said in a press conference that he has announced the local emergency and the curfew will be in force from 8 pm on Tuesday night to 6 am on Wednesday. Bass said that after looting in 23 business establishments, “We reached an important point”.
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The curfew will be applicable in a square mile (2.59 square kilometers) area of the main area of the city, including the area where protests have been taking place since Friday. According to Los Angeles police chief Jim McDonal, the city was growing “illegal and dangerous behavior” in the city since Saturday. He said, “Curfew is an essential solution to protect life and property after the increasing unrest in the entire Los Angeles for several consecutive days.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the soldiers of ‘National Guard’ started providing security to immigration agents while arresting people in Los Angeles. In the photographs posted by American Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday, National Guard personnel are providing security to the officers who are arresting people.
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Trump: ‘We will liberate Los Angeles’
In a fierce speech in Fort Brag, Trump described LA protesters as “animals” and “a foreign enemy”, and said he would “liberate Los Angeles and make it again independent, clean and safe.” This speech was originally to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army. President Donald Trump has ordered to send additional 2,000 National Guard personnel and 700 marines to Los Angeles, doubling the military presence despite protests from California governor Gavin Newsom and local authorities. Police officials say the influx of soldiers complicates logistics in dealing with protests.
Newsom said that ‘democracy is being attacked’
California Governor Gavin Newsom said during a brief public address on Tuesday that President Donald Trump is “laying military nets” at Los Angeles. Newsom said that Trump’s immigration action has overtaken the arrest of criminals and those detained include “dishwashers, gardeners, daily wage laborers and seamstress”. He said that Trump’s decision to deploy California National Guard without his support should be a warning for other states. Newsom said, “California may be in the first place – but it will not be clearly finished here.”
The names of controversial military bases were changed
Trump also announced a plan to restore names of seven American military bases changed under the Biden administration. Names replaced bases include Fort Hood, Fort Gordon, Fort Rakar and others.
How did it start
The disturbance in Los Angeles began after the federal immigration enforcement raids intensified. Demonstrations became violent over the weekends, protesters blocked the highways and set the vehicles on fire. Officials say the protests are limited to some blocks in Downtown in LA, a city with a population of 40 lakhs.