LA protests live: teargas and rubber bullets fired as Trump deployment of national guard branded ‘alarming abuse of power’
‘An alarming abuse of power’: Democratic governors condemn Trump’s deployment of National Guard
Democratic governors have condemned Donald Trump’s decision to deploy the California national guardan action they called “an alarming abuse of power”.
“Governors are the Commanders in Chief of their National Guard and the federal government activating them in their own borders without consulting or working with a state’s governor is ineffective and dangerous,” the governors write in a statement, which California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, posted on X.
In their statement, the governors add that their executive authority to control each of their respective national guards must be respected, adding:
We stand with Governor Newsom who has made it clear that violence is unacceptable and that local authorities should be able to do their jobs without the chaos of this federal interference and intimidation.
Every single Democratic Governor agrees:
Donald Trump’s attempts to militarize California are an alarming abuse of power. pic.twitter.com/gmHuZpxWdc
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 8, 2025
Key events
Here are some pictures coming out of LA.
This is from ABC News:
Protesters block 101 freeway, says LAPD
Protesters have temporarily blocked traffic on the 101 freeway this afternoon, LAPD central division has said, with all traffic on both lanes stopped.
⚠️Traffic Advisory⚠️ Demonstrators have walked onto the 101 freeway blocking SB lanes of traffic. All traffic both NB and SB lanes have been stopped.
— LAPD Central Division (@LAPDCentral) June 8, 2025
NBC News reports that protesters using an on-ramp from the area of the Edward R Roybal Federal Building temporarily blocked traffic on the 101 Freeway.
They streamed down an on-ramp into the southbound lanes as police tried to control the situation.
Protesters surrounded officers arriving in SUVs as crowds also massed at three major intersections in the area. The sound of less-lethal rounds being fired at protesters echoed off the high-rises and enveloped the scene near the federal complex.
Protesters continued to gather in downtown Los Angeles today despite the police declaration of an unlawful assembly and authorization to arrest anyone who throws items at officers.
‘Send the national guard home,’ says California representative, adding Trump using ‘theater’ to distract from his ‘failed policies’
Donald Trump wanted to create civil unrest by calling in the national guard to Los Angeles, representative Nanette Barragán has told CNN.
Telling CNN there is no need for national guard troops, and the Los Angeles police department “has it under control”, Barragán, a Democrat, urged protesters to keep it peaceful.
This is the president’s way to create some theater. It’s very dangerous, it creates mistrust and it’s a misuse of the National Guard.
She added that sending in troops is Trump’s way to distract the country from his “failed policies”.
“This is a president who didn’t even send in the national guard on January 6 … so this president really has no credibility when it comes to law and order,” she said.
“We just need to end these mass deportations, these raids that are happening in Los Angeles,” she said. “Send the national guard home.”
Los Angeles police are shooting less-lethal rounds into crowds of protesters in downtown LA, NBC News reports.
Newsom formally requests Trump administration rescind ‘unlawful’ deployment of national guard
California’s governor, Gavin Newsomsaid he has made a formal request to the Trump administration to rescind its “unlawful” deployment of national guard troops in LA and return them to his command, calling the deployment “a serious breach of state sovereignty”.
“We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved,” Newsom said in a post on X. “This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California.”
I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command.
We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while… pic.twitter.com/tOtA5dcfxc
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 8, 2025
Earlier, in a joint statement by Democratic governors condemning Trump’s deployment of the California national guard as an “alarming abuse of power”, Newsom and the other governors wrote: “Governors are the Commanders in Chief of their National Guard and the federal government activating them in their own borders without consulting or working with a state’s governor is ineffective and dangerous.”
The Los Angeles Times reports that LAPD has been forcing protesters back away from the Metropolitan detention center.
The push and pull continues … it’s now LAPD, not DHS or the Guard, forcing people back down Alameda away from MDC. A lot of people are running onto the adjacent metro line to get away from less lethal launcher weapons. Very dangerous situation.
— James Queally (@JamesQueallyLAT) June 8, 2025
Officers have been seen pushing and striking protesters with batons this afternoon, according to a CNN field crew. They report that loud bangs rung out as officers deployed flash bangs in an attempt to disperse the crowd, who waved flags and signs with messages like “ICE out of our communities”.
LAPD has also issued a dispersal order, as the Los Angeles Times reported earlier.
A DISPERSAL ORDER has been issued by the Incident Commander on Alameda between Aliso and 2nd St.
An UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY has been declared.
Leave the area.
— LAPD Central Division (@LAPDCentral) June 8, 2025
LAPD authorizes use of ‘less lethal munitions’ on crowd
As the Los Angeles Times reported earlier, the Los Angeles police department has declared the protest outside the Metropolitan detention center an “unlawful assembly”. It has also authorized “use of less lethal munitions” and orders everyone to leave the area or face arrest.
The Incident Commander has declared an UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY in the area of Alameda between Temple and Aliso St.
All persons must leave the area or be subject to arrest.
— LAPD Central Division (@LAPDCentral) June 8, 2025
The use of less lethal munitions has been authorized by the Incident Commander.
Persons throwing items at officers will be detained and arrested.
An UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY has been declared by the Incident Commander.
— LAPD Central Division (@LAPDCentral) June 8, 2025
