‘Stealing our friends': LA police break up protests as unrest moves across US
Los Angeles: Police acted more aggressively to disperse protesters after the sixth day of demonstrations in Los Angeles, while rallies over immigration raids continued to spread across the United States and the Trump administration warned it could send troops to other American cities.
In LA, which has been the focus of unrest, vandalism and looting since Friday's raids, protesters again gathered outside federal government buildings in the city centre, but they were fewer in number and had mostly left the city ahead of the second night of an 8pm curfew.
At 6.30pm, crowds outside City Hall were ordered to disperse, and police began firing rubber bullets and making arrests about 7pm. The few remaining were corralled into a city intersection, arrested and loaded onto a police bus, and by 9pm the streets of central Los Angeles were eerily quiet.
Protests popped up in other parts of Los Angeles such as Inglewood, and police were preparing to move to 'full mobilisation' on Saturday ahead of what are expected to be resurgent demonstrations across the United States as President Donald Trump holds a major military parade in Washington.
The protests have spread to a string of cities including New York, Seattle, Denver, San Antonio and Chicago. Los Angeles demonstrator Karen Haas, 44, said she expected protests to grow in her city and across the country as long as the immigration raids continued.
'I just think what's happening is despicable and disgusting,' she said in between confronting Homeland Security officers outside a federal building. 'I don't know why we have all these armed officers in our community stealing our friends and our neighbours and our family.'
About 600 people have been arrested across the country since the weekend, mostly for failing to leave an area when requested. There have also been a handful of more serious charges, including assault against police officers, and possession of a Molotov cocktail and a gun.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said officials would consider lifting the curfew if there were fewer arrests on Wednesday evening (Thursday AEST), saying she hoped that 'Angelenos got the message last night'.
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News.com.au
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- News.com.au
US appeals court allows Trump control of National Guard in LA
A US appeals court on Thursday ruled that President Donald Trump could continue control of National Guard troops in Los Angeles, over the objections of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump ordered the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines into Los Angeles this month in response to protests over federal immigration sweeps -- a move opposed by city leaders and Newsom. A lower court judge had last week ordered Trump to return control of the California National Guard to Newsom, saying the president's decision to deploy them to protest-hit Los Angeles was "illegal." But a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that Trump was within his rights when he ordered 4,000 members of the National Guard into service for 60 days to "protect federal personnel performing federal functions and to protect federal property." "Affording appropriate deference to the President's determination, we conclude that he likely acted within his authority in federalizing the National Guard," they said in their 38-page ruling. Trump celebrated the decision in a post on Truth Social Thursday night, calling it a "BIG WIN." "All over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done," Trump wrote. - 'Not a king' - The state of California had argued that Trump's order was illegal because it did not follow the procedure of being issued through the governor. The judges said Trump's "failure to issue the federalization order directly 'through' the Governor of California does not limit his otherwise lawful authority to call up the National Guard." But the panel said it disagreed with the defendants' primary argument that the president's decision to federalize members of the California National Guard "is completely insulated from judicial review." Governor Newsom responded to the decision saying Trump "is not a king and not above the law." "Tonight, the court rightly rejected Trump's claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court," he posted on X. "We will not let this authoritarian use of military soldiers against citizens go unchecked." Newsom added in a separate post on his personal X account "the fight doesn't end here", adding "we will press forward with our challenge to President Trump's authoritarian use of US military soldiers against citizens." The state could request the case to be reheard, or it could petition the Supreme Court for intervention. - Immigration tensions - The ruling comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Los Angeles, which has become ground zero of Trump's immigration crackdown across the United States. The city has seen scattered violence but mostly peaceful protests in recent weeks, ignited by an escalation in federal immigration sweeps that have targeted migrant workers in garment factories, car washes and other workplaces. Local media reported further raids across the city on Thursday targeting Home Depot stores, a home improvement retailer where day laborers often gather in parking lots seeking work. The protests, though largely peaceful, saw sporadic and spectacular violence. Damage included vandalism, looting, clashes with law enforcement and several torched driverless taxis. Trump, who has repeatedly exaggerated the scale of the unrest, also sent 700 US Marines to Los Angeles despite the objections of local officials, claiming that they had lost control of the "burning" city. It was the first time since 1965 that a US president deployed the National Guard over the wishes of a state governor. Trump appointed two of the judges on the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit panel, and former president Joe Biden appointed the third, the New York Times reported Thursday.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Vance stirs the pot in California, after a tense week
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A spokesperson for Padilla, Tess Oswald, noted in a social media post that Padilla and Vance were formerly colleagues in the Senate and that Vance should know better. "He should be more focused on demilitarising our city than taking cheap shots," Oswald said. Responding to the outrage, Taylor Van Kirk, a spokesperson for Vance, said of the vice president: "He must have mixed up two people who have broken the law." Vance's visit to Los Angeles to tour a multi-agency Federal Joint Operations Centre and a mobile command centre came as demonstrations calmed down in the city and a curfew was lifted this week. Vance echoed the president's harsh rhetoric toward California Democrats as he sought to blame them for the protests in the city. "Gavin Newsom and (Los Angeles Mayor) Karen Bass, by treating the city as a sanctuary city, have basically said that this is open season on federal law enforcement," Vance said after he toured federal immigration enforcement offices. 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Trump has said that without the military's involvement, Los Angeles "would be a crime scene like we haven't seen in years." Earlier Friday, Newsom urged Vance to visit victims of the deadly January wildfires while in Southern California and talk with Trump, who earlier this week suggested his feud with the governor might influence his consideration of $40 billion in federal wildfire aid for California. "I hope we get that back on track," Newsom wrote on X. "We are counting on you, Mr Vice President." Vice President JD Vance has used an appearance in Los Angeles to renew criticism of the city's officials over violent unrest there, and rebut claims that it was fuelled by the Trump administration sending in federal officers. Vance also referred to US Senator Alex Padilla, the state's first Latino senator, as 'Jose Padilla,' a week after the Democrat was forcibly tackled and handcuffed by officers for speaking out during a news conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. "I was hoping Jose Padilla would be here to ask a question," Vance said, in an apparent reference to the altercation at Noem's event. "I guess he decided not to show up because there wasn't a theatre." In a statement on X, California Governor Gavin Newsom responded to Vance's reference to "Jose Padilla," saying the comment was no accident. Jose Padilla also is the name of a convicted al-Qaida terrorism plotter during President George W Bush's administration, who was sentenced to two decades in prison. A spokesperson for Padilla, Tess Oswald, noted in a social media post that Padilla and Vance were formerly colleagues in the Senate and that Vance should know better. "He should be more focused on demilitarising our city than taking cheap shots," Oswald said. Responding to the outrage, Taylor Van Kirk, a spokesperson for Vance, said of the vice president: "He must have mixed up two people who have broken the law." Vance's visit to Los Angeles to tour a multi-agency Federal Joint Operations Centre and a mobile command centre came as demonstrations calmed down in the city and a curfew was lifted this week. Vance echoed the president's harsh rhetoric toward California Democrats as he sought to blame them for the protests in the city. "Gavin Newsom and (Los Angeles Mayor) Karen Bass, by treating the city as a sanctuary city, have basically said that this is open season on federal law enforcement," Vance said after he toured federal immigration enforcement offices. "What happened here was a tragedy," Vance added. "You had people who were doing the simple job of enforcing the law and they had rioters egged on by the governor and the mayor, making it harder for them to do their job. That is disgraceful.' Newsom's spokesperson Izzy Gardon said in a statement, "The Vice President's claim is categorically false. The governor has consistently condemned violence and has made his stance clear." At City Hall, Bass said Vance was "spewing lies and utter nonsense." She said hundreds of millions of dollars were wasted by the federal government on a "stunt." The friction in Los Angeles began June 6, when federal agents conducted a series of immigration sweeps in the region that have continued since. Amid the protests and over the objections of state and local officials, Trump ordered the deployment of roughly 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city. Trump has said that without the military's involvement, Los Angeles "would be a crime scene like we haven't seen in years." Earlier Friday, Newsom urged Vance to visit victims of the deadly January wildfires while in Southern California and talk with Trump, who earlier this week suggested his feud with the governor might influence his consideration of $40 billion in federal wildfire aid for California. "I hope we get that back on track," Newsom wrote on X. "We are counting on you, Mr Vice President." Vice President JD Vance has used an appearance in Los Angeles to renew criticism of the city's officials over violent unrest there, and rebut claims that it was fuelled by the Trump administration sending in federal officers. Vance also referred to US Senator Alex Padilla, the state's first Latino senator, as 'Jose Padilla,' a week after the Democrat was forcibly tackled and handcuffed by officers for speaking out during a news conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. "I was hoping Jose Padilla would be here to ask a question," Vance said, in an apparent reference to the altercation at Noem's event. "I guess he decided not to show up because there wasn't a theatre." In a statement on X, California Governor Gavin Newsom responded to Vance's reference to "Jose Padilla," saying the comment was no accident. Jose Padilla also is the name of a convicted al-Qaida terrorism plotter during President George W Bush's administration, who was sentenced to two decades in prison. A spokesperson for Padilla, Tess Oswald, noted in a social media post that Padilla and Vance were formerly colleagues in the Senate and that Vance should know better. "He should be more focused on demilitarising our city than taking cheap shots," Oswald said. Responding to the outrage, Taylor Van Kirk, a spokesperson for Vance, said of the vice president: "He must have mixed up two people who have broken the law." Vance's visit to Los Angeles to tour a multi-agency Federal Joint Operations Centre and a mobile command centre came as demonstrations calmed down in the city and a curfew was lifted this week. Vance echoed the president's harsh rhetoric toward California Democrats as he sought to blame them for the protests in the city. "Gavin Newsom and (Los Angeles Mayor) Karen Bass, by treating the city as a sanctuary city, have basically said that this is open season on federal law enforcement," Vance said after he toured federal immigration enforcement offices. "What happened here was a tragedy," Vance added. "You had people who were doing the simple job of enforcing the law and they had rioters egged on by the governor and the mayor, making it harder for them to do their job. That is disgraceful.' Newsom's spokesperson Izzy Gardon said in a statement, "The Vice President's claim is categorically false. The governor has consistently condemned violence and has made his stance clear." At City Hall, Bass said Vance was "spewing lies and utter nonsense." She said hundreds of millions of dollars were wasted by the federal government on a "stunt." The friction in Los Angeles began June 6, when federal agents conducted a series of immigration sweeps in the region that have continued since. Amid the protests and over the objections of state and local officials, Trump ordered the deployment of roughly 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city. Trump has said that without the military's involvement, Los Angeles "would be a crime scene like we haven't seen in years." Earlier Friday, Newsom urged Vance to visit victims of the deadly January wildfires while in Southern California and talk with Trump, who earlier this week suggested his feud with the governor might influence his consideration of $40 billion in federal wildfire aid for California. "I hope we get that back on track," Newsom wrote on X. "We are counting on you, Mr Vice President." Vice President JD Vance has used an appearance in Los Angeles to renew criticism of the city's officials over violent unrest there, and rebut claims that it was fuelled by the Trump administration sending in federal officers. Vance also referred to US Senator Alex Padilla, the state's first Latino senator, as 'Jose Padilla,' a week after the Democrat was forcibly tackled and handcuffed by officers for speaking out during a news conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. "I was hoping Jose Padilla would be here to ask a question," Vance said, in an apparent reference to the altercation at Noem's event. "I guess he decided not to show up because there wasn't a theatre." In a statement on X, California Governor Gavin Newsom responded to Vance's reference to "Jose Padilla," saying the comment was no accident. Jose Padilla also is the name of a convicted al-Qaida terrorism plotter during President George W Bush's administration, who was sentenced to two decades in prison. A spokesperson for Padilla, Tess Oswald, noted in a social media post that Padilla and Vance were formerly colleagues in the Senate and that Vance should know better. "He should be more focused on demilitarising our city than taking cheap shots," Oswald said. Responding to the outrage, Taylor Van Kirk, a spokesperson for Vance, said of the vice president: "He must have mixed up two people who have broken the law." Vance's visit to Los Angeles to tour a multi-agency Federal Joint Operations Centre and a mobile command centre came as demonstrations calmed down in the city and a curfew was lifted this week. Vance echoed the president's harsh rhetoric toward California Democrats as he sought to blame them for the protests in the city. "Gavin Newsom and (Los Angeles Mayor) Karen Bass, by treating the city as a sanctuary city, have basically said that this is open season on federal law enforcement," Vance said after he toured federal immigration enforcement offices. "What happened here was a tragedy," Vance added. "You had people who were doing the simple job of enforcing the law and they had rioters egged on by the governor and the mayor, making it harder for them to do their job. That is disgraceful.' Newsom's spokesperson Izzy Gardon said in a statement, "The Vice President's claim is categorically false. The governor has consistently condemned violence and has made his stance clear." At City Hall, Bass said Vance was "spewing lies and utter nonsense." She said hundreds of millions of dollars were wasted by the federal government on a "stunt." The friction in Los Angeles began June 6, when federal agents conducted a series of immigration sweeps in the region that have continued since. Amid the protests and over the objections of state and local officials, Trump ordered the deployment of roughly 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city. Trump has said that without the military's involvement, Los Angeles "would be a crime scene like we haven't seen in years." Earlier Friday, Newsom urged Vance to visit victims of the deadly January wildfires while in Southern California and talk with Trump, who earlier this week suggested his feud with the governor might influence his consideration of $40 billion in federal wildfire aid for California. "I hope we get that back on track," Newsom wrote on X. "We are counting on you, Mr Vice President."
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Japan scraps US meeting after defence demands
Japan has cancelled a regular high-level meeting with its key ally the US after the Trump administration demanded it spend more on defence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had been expected to meet Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Defence Minister Gen Nakatani in Washington on July 1 for annual security talks. But according to the Financial Times, Tokyo scrapped the meeting after the US asked Japan to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, higher than an earlier request of 3 per cent. Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday that President Donald Trump's government was demanding its Asian allies, including Japan, spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence. An unnamed US official told Reuters that Japan had "postponed" the talks in a decision made several weeks ago. A non-government source familiar with the issue said he had also heard Japan had pulled out of the meeting but not the reason for it doing so. The Financial Times said the higher spending demand was made in recent weeks by Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, who has also recently upset another key US ally in the Indo-Pacific by launching a review of a project to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. In March, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said other nations do not decide Japan's defence budget after Colby called for Tokyo to spend more to counter China, during his nomination hearing. Japan and other US allies have been engaged in difficult trade talks with the United States over Trump's worldwide tariff offensive. The paper said the decision to cancel the July 1 meeting was also related to Japan's July 20 upper house elections, expected to be a major test for Ishiba's minority coalition government. Japan's move comes ahead of a meeting of the US-led NATO alliance in Europe next week, at which Trump is expected to press his demand that European allies boost their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. Japan has cancelled a regular high-level meeting with its key ally the US after the Trump administration demanded it spend more on defence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had been expected to meet Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Defence Minister Gen Nakatani in Washington on July 1 for annual security talks. But according to the Financial Times, Tokyo scrapped the meeting after the US asked Japan to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, higher than an earlier request of 3 per cent. Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday that President Donald Trump's government was demanding its Asian allies, including Japan, spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence. An unnamed US official told Reuters that Japan had "postponed" the talks in a decision made several weeks ago. A non-government source familiar with the issue said he had also heard Japan had pulled out of the meeting but not the reason for it doing so. The Financial Times said the higher spending demand was made in recent weeks by Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, who has also recently upset another key US ally in the Indo-Pacific by launching a review of a project to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. In March, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said other nations do not decide Japan's defence budget after Colby called for Tokyo to spend more to counter China, during his nomination hearing. Japan and other US allies have been engaged in difficult trade talks with the United States over Trump's worldwide tariff offensive. The paper said the decision to cancel the July 1 meeting was also related to Japan's July 20 upper house elections, expected to be a major test for Ishiba's minority coalition government. Japan's move comes ahead of a meeting of the US-led NATO alliance in Europe next week, at which Trump is expected to press his demand that European allies boost their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. Japan has cancelled a regular high-level meeting with its key ally the US after the Trump administration demanded it spend more on defence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had been expected to meet Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Defence Minister Gen Nakatani in Washington on July 1 for annual security talks. But according to the Financial Times, Tokyo scrapped the meeting after the US asked Japan to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, higher than an earlier request of 3 per cent. Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday that President Donald Trump's government was demanding its Asian allies, including Japan, spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence. An unnamed US official told Reuters that Japan had "postponed" the talks in a decision made several weeks ago. A non-government source familiar with the issue said he had also heard Japan had pulled out of the meeting but not the reason for it doing so. The Financial Times said the higher spending demand was made in recent weeks by Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, who has also recently upset another key US ally in the Indo-Pacific by launching a review of a project to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. In March, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said other nations do not decide Japan's defence budget after Colby called for Tokyo to spend more to counter China, during his nomination hearing. Japan and other US allies have been engaged in difficult trade talks with the United States over Trump's worldwide tariff offensive. The paper said the decision to cancel the July 1 meeting was also related to Japan's July 20 upper house elections, expected to be a major test for Ishiba's minority coalition government. Japan's move comes ahead of a meeting of the US-led NATO alliance in Europe next week, at which Trump is expected to press his demand that European allies boost their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. Japan has cancelled a regular high-level meeting with its key ally the US after the Trump administration demanded it spend more on defence. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had been expected to meet Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Defence Minister Gen Nakatani in Washington on July 1 for annual security talks. But according to the Financial Times, Tokyo scrapped the meeting after the US asked Japan to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product, higher than an earlier request of 3 per cent. Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Saturday that President Donald Trump's government was demanding its Asian allies, including Japan, spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence. An unnamed US official told Reuters that Japan had "postponed" the talks in a decision made several weeks ago. A non-government source familiar with the issue said he had also heard Japan had pulled out of the meeting but not the reason for it doing so. The Financial Times said the higher spending demand was made in recent weeks by Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior Pentagon official, who has also recently upset another key US ally in the Indo-Pacific by launching a review of a project to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. In March, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said other nations do not decide Japan's defence budget after Colby called for Tokyo to spend more to counter China, during his nomination hearing. Japan and other US allies have been engaged in difficult trade talks with the United States over Trump's worldwide tariff offensive. The paper said the decision to cancel the July 1 meeting was also related to Japan's July 20 upper house elections, expected to be a major test for Ishiba's minority coalition government. Japan's move comes ahead of a meeting of the US-led NATO alliance in Europe next week, at which Trump is expected to press his demand that European allies boost their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP.
