Protesters in Los Angeles have taken part in weekend demonstrations where they burned and spat on the American flag, prompting police intervention as they attacked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting immigration raids. The events, captured on video, show dozens of individuals, some wearing masks, surrounding a burning flag and spitting on it before adding a second flag to the fire. Many of the participants held flags of South American countries like Mexico and chanted anti-Trump slogans, such as ‘F-Trump.’ The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has moved in to disperse the crowds, using flash bangs to clear the area. The Los Angeles Police Department declared an ‘unlawful assembly’ as protesters did not disperse in the downtown area, urging residents and businesses to be alert to any criminal activity.
Amid the unrest, California Republicans have criticized Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass for their handling of the situation, claiming that the state’s response has been inadequate. The protests have taken place in the L.A. Live area, an entertainment complex in downtown Los Angeles, where protesters blocked traffic on Figueroa and 11th streets. President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to address the ‘lawlessness’ in the area, reportedly in response to ICE agents being attacked on the streets of L.A. during immigration raids. Newsom has publicly opposed the deployment, claiming the move is a breach of state sovereignty and that it has diverted resources from where they are most needed. The situation has sparked a broader debate over the role of state versus federal authority in managing such demonstrations and the implications for immigration policy in the U.S.
The footage from the weekend’s riots also shows officers with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department moving in to disperse the crowds, shooting flash bangs as they went. The Los Angeles Police Department declared an