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WESTSIDE - Five days of civil unrest in downtown Los Angeles has confirmed one thing, that government is woefully dysfunctional due to partisan practices by both sides of the political coin.
Friends and family members from back east have called me asking what is going on why do things seem so out-of-control in LA?
For the images on cable television suggest a far worse scenario than reality, as these demonstrations for the most part have been peaceful, but due to intense television coverage it seems to bring out those seeking trouble first , and the actual issue if illegal immigration and ICE raids a secondary topic of conversation.
The protests were ignited by aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations that began on June 6, 2025, targeting areas such as the Los Angeles Fashion District, a clothing wholesaler, and a Home Depot.
Over 100 individuals were arrested during these raids. The federal response intensified when President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom. This move has been criticized as a violation of state sovereignty and an authoritarian overreach. Governor Newsom has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, and Mayor Karen Bass condemned the deployment, stating that the city had been peaceful before the federal crackdown.
Who Is Responsible for the Violence?
While the majority of protests have been peaceful, some have turned violent. In downtown Los Angeles, demonstrators blocked the US 101 freeway, threw fireworks, Molotov cocktails and cinder blocks at police officers, and vandalized and set fire to five Waymo driverless cars. Looting and property damage were also reported in areas like 6th and 8th Streets. The Los Angeles Police Department declared the entire downtown area an unlawful assembly zone and authorized the use of less-lethal munitions to disperse crowds.
Some protesters have accused the federal government of provoking unrest through heavy-handed tactics.
But what does that mean?
Mayor Bass and Governor Newsom argue that the federal deployment exacerbated tensions and undermined local law enforcement. However, critics of the protests, including conservative commentators, argue that the unrest was incited by organized groups and that the federal actions were necessary to uphold the rule of law. Moreover, does local law enforcement oppose additional help during what can be regarded as intense civil unrest?
Complicating and compounding the situation is the political grandstanding on both sides as Trump wants to flex his political muscle while Newsom sees the crisis as opportunity to reinforce his opposition to the President after weeks of reevaluating his own progressive values as he met with conservatives on his own podcast in this leap to the center that clearly occurred in reexamining a run for the presidency in 2028.
In the case of Karen Bass, who has dealt with her own issues as it pertains to the wildfires and her initial response, fighting with Donald Trump is always good political exercise as she anticipates a rough reelection path in 2026 with a probable rematch with billionaire developer Rick Caruso.
In summary, the demonstrations in Los Angeles are a response to federal immigration policies and actions perceived as infringements on state rights. But does the President have the authority to determine when such unrest can be perceived as something that demands a national response, and is no longer just a local concern?
While most of these protests have been peaceful, some have escalated into violence, leading to a complex and ongoing legal question. For the longevity of these demonstrations will surely play a role if this demands a federal response, and does the federal government require invitation to play a role ending such disputes and demonstrations?
It seems the lack of cooperation specifically between the President, the Governor and the Mayor has become the real issue as law enforcement and the military become pawns in this very public media standoff.
For where are the adults in the room?
Time for Trump, Newsom and Bass to put their partisan differences aside and work together for the common good of all concerned.
For this is no way to run a railroad with the whole country observing.
(Nick Antonicello is a thirty-two-year resident of Venice who covers issues of politics and government on the Westside. Have a take or a tip? Contact him at [email protected])
