I spent hours in the downtown area, as protests against Donald Trump’s deportation programme grew from small demonstrations to a situation which the California governor described as putting America on the brink of authoritarianism.
Martha Kelner was forced to wear a gas mask while reporting on the LA immigration riots (credit: Martha Kelner/Sky News)
The central and south American flags, sold by street vendors, became a symbol of these protests, which spread across five or six streets. The smell of tear gas hung in the air, leaving my team and I regularly reaching for our gas masks.
The deployment of active duty military is usually reserved for the most extreme situations, especially when it’s against the wishes of the state’s governor, in this case Gavin Newsom. But Trump called in national guard troops and brought the fight to Newsom’s door.
The fires were a big story for Newsom and gave him a lot of airtime, even if he was criticised, by some, for his handling of the disaster. It’s no secret that he harbours presidential ambitions for 2028. After Biden dropped out of the race last summer, there was speculation over whether he would throw his hat in the ring.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has spoken out against Donald Trump’s actions in LA (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)The protests in Los Angeles were initially sparked by immigration raids carried out by federal agents in Paramount, a city within LA County known for its large Latino population. News of the raids spread quickly, prompting local residents to take to the streets in protest. The demonstrations grew, reaching downtown Los Angeles where tensions escalated and violence broke out.
‘It’s so unfair’
“My father got deported on 6 June,” she said, holding back tears, “I’m here for him and two of my uncles that were deported. Our parents worked so hard to get us here because they wanted us to have a better life. It’s so unfair.”
“I’m born and raised in LA so it makes me sad that people are using violence and doing graffiti,” said Giovanni. “When I was little, I used to get into fights and the principal would always ask me, ‘who threw the first punch?’ Right now, the people who are throwing the first punch are the LAPD, and the military.
“We’re not out here being violent. It’s not until they start it with us that they get a reaction. That’s exactly what Donald Trump wants, he wants the reaction.”
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