U.S. protests spread to other cities as L.A. braces for military presence
發佈日期: 2025-06-12 22:00
TVB News
Protests over federal immigration raids and President Donald Trump's move to mobilise the military in Los Angeles are spreading nationwide.
Largely peaceful protests have taken place in multiple cities across the U.S., with the Marines set to join National Guard troops in downtown LA before the weekend.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has sued Trump and the Defence Department in trying to block the military deployment, with a hearing set for Thursday.
National Guard troops conduct riot drills at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach in Orange County, California.
Soldiers kick out at riot shields, form defensive lines and practise standing their ground ahead of being deployed to the streets of downtown Los Angeles.
About 2,000 National Guard troops are expected to be mobilised on Thursday, possibly to be joined by 700 Marines under a federal law known as Title 10.
The military says the soldiers are being trained in de-escalation and crowd control.
Major General Scott Sherman, commander of Task Force 51, said: "On Title 10, on federal orders, these soldiers do not conduct law enforcement operations like arrests or search and seizure. They are strictly used for the protection of the federal personnel as they conduct their operations and to protect them, to allow them to do their federal mission.
Troops will, however, be allowed to detain anyone deemed a threat and hold them until the arrival of police who can arrest them.
On Wednesday night, officers from the Los Angeles Police Department were busy enforcing an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. More than 20 people were detained, mostly on curfew violations.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, standing with more than 30 mayors from California cities, rejected remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that L.A. would be burning had he not sent in the troops.
"A week ago, everything was peaceful in the City of Los Angeles and in all of the representatives' behind me, in their cities as well," said Bass. "This was provoked by the White House. The reason why, we don't know."
In Baltimore, in the state of Maryland, city and state leaders gathered to denounce Trump's response to the unrest in L.A., one calling it "ugly, reprehensible and hateful."
Protests and arrests were also reported in Las Vegas, Nevada, Spokane, Washington state,San Antonio, Texas and other cities, including Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Boston, Denver, Atlanta and Chicago.
More than 1,800 activist groups are reportedly planning massive protests on Saturday nationwide, including in Washington, D.C. where a military parade will be held to mark the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary, and the day is also Trump's 79th birthday.
