Rep. Maxine Waters, 86, had an encounter with armed National Guard troops during the LA migrant protests, where she was captured on video taunting the agents and inquiring if they planned to shoot her. She was denied entry to a government building and was seen addressing the troops, claiming President Donald Trump aims to frighten and intimidate the public, potentially enabling martial law. Waters also expressed concerns about the treatment of people of color in America and urged the National Guard not to use their weapons against peaceful demonstrators.
The incident, which occurred as part of the ongoing L.A. migrant riots, highlights the tensions between law enforcement, protesters, and lawmakers. Waters, who has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration, used the moment to voice her concerns about the use of force and the potential for escalation. She described the situation as a form of intimidation, suggesting that the administration may be trying to incite unrest to justify the deployment of military forces.
Waters was attempting to locate David Huerta, a SEIU union leader who was arrested during the weekend’s protests. She claimed that Huerta was targeted in one of a series of ICE raids described by the union as ‘a violent sweep.’ Despite her efforts, she was prevented from accessing the building, leading to her confrontation with the National Guard. Her actions sparked a debate over the balance between national security and civil liberties, as well as the role of lawmakers in ensuring the safety of peaceful dissenters.