Democrats and media outlets have been referring to the anti-ICE raids in Los Angeles with peaceful terms, despite several instances of violence and destruction. This includes statements from prominent Democrats like Sen. Alex Padilla and Sen. Cory Booker, as well as claims from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass that the unrest is limited in scope.
Democrats and Media Downplay Violence in LA Anti-ICE Protests Amid National Guard Involvement
Media outlets and elected Democrats have made the rounds in recent days, often using the word ‘peaceful’ to describe the anti-ICE unrest in Los Angeles over the weekend despite rioting and violence that has resulted in destruction and injured police officers, a video review by Fox News Digital finds.
Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., recently stated on MSNBC that ‘the vast majority of protesters and demonstrators are peaceful,’ adding that they are ‘passionate.’ Similarly, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., remarked on Sunday’s ‘Meet the Press’ on NBC that ‘a lot of these peaceful protests are being generated because the president of the United States is sowing chaos.’
On CNN, a California Democrat House member said she doesn’t know what the ‘so-called’ violence is ‘all about.’ Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass downplayed the extent of the violence, stating that it is ‘isolated to a few streets’ and not city-wide civil unrest.
ABC7 Los Angeles anchor Jory Rand cautioned law enforcement from escalating tensions by interfering, warning that they risk turning ‘what is just a bunch of people having fun watching cars burn into a massive confrontation and altercation between officers and demonstrators.’ Rep. Nanette Barragán, a Democrat representing California’s 44th Congressional District, also said on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ program that ‘we are having an administration that’s targeting peaceful protests.’
Former Vice President Kamala Harris sparked controversy when she referred to the unrest as ‘overwhelmingly peaceful,’ while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton posted on X, ‘California Governor Newsom didn’t request the National Guard be deployed to his state following peaceful demonstrations. Trump sent them anyway. It’s the first time in 60 years a president has made that choice. Trump’s goal isn’t to keep Californians safe. His goal is to cause chaos, because chaos is good for Trump.’
While there were examples of some peaceful protests at the outset, by the end of the day Friday property destruction and violence broke out, leading to increasingly violent events over the next few days and resulting in injured officers. The Department of Homeland Security stated in a press release that ‘last night, over 1,000 rioters surrounded a federal law enforcement building and assaulted ICE law enforcement officers, slashed tires, defaced buildings, and taxpayer funded property.’
Several officers have been injured in the rioting, which included rocks and other projectiles being thrown at them, and dozens of people have been arrested related to the protests and rioting. Conservatives on social media have blasted the various media outlets and Democrats who have used peaceful phrasing to describe the protests despite the various examples of violence, property destruction, and burning cars.
President Donald Trump sent in the National Guard over the weekend, sparking outrage from local Democrats, and announced on Monday the mobilization of Marines to help quell the rioting.