U.S. Northern Command confirmed on Sunday that roughly 500 U.S. Marines were prepared to deploy to Los Angeles and the surrounding area in California following massive left-wing protests that turned into violent riots over the weekend.
On Sunday, U.S. Northern Command announced that in addition to the 300 members of the California National Guard deployed to the Los Angeles area and the roughly 2,000 National Guardsmen authorized by President Donald Trump to be deployed in response to the violent protests in Los Angeles, “Approximately 500 Marines from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines at Twentynine Palms, California, are in a prepared to deploy status should they be necessary to augment and support the DoD’s protection of federal property and personnel efforts.”
The Post Millennial reported that activists protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Los Angeles have held demonstrations in the area since last Friday. According to the outlet, many of the protesters displayed Mexican flags and called for ICE officials not to execute Trump’s illegal immigrant deportation operations.
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According to NBC Los Angeles, at least five Waymo self-driving vehicles were set on fire by protesters, resulting in two of the cars exploding and releasing toxic gas in the area. The outlet also reported that protesters took over the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles during the weekend protests.
A video shared on social media shows a massive crowd of protesters and rioters in the Los Angeles area over the weekend.
In a Saturday statement on X, formerly Twitter, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed the violent riots in the Los Angeles area, saying, “The violent mob assaults on ICE and Federal Law Enforcement are designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from our soil; a dangerous invasion facilitated by criminal cartels (aka Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK.”
“Under President Trump, violence & destruction against federal agents & federal facilities will NOT be tolerated. It’s COMMON SENSE,” Hegseth added. “The @DeptofDefense is mobilizing the National Guard IMMEDIATELY to support federal law enforcement in Los Angeles. And, if violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert.”
Shortly after 12:00 a.m. on Monday, the Los Angeles Police Department Central Division released a statement, declaring that the downtown Los Angeles area was an “UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY.” The Los Angeles Police Department instructed protesters to immediately leave the area.
