A section of downtown Los Angeles will fall under a nighttime curfew beginning tonight, following five consecutive days of civil unrest sparked by federal immigration raids. The situation, which has spiraled into widespread looting, clashes with police, and over 150 arrests, prompted Mayor Karen Bass to take emergency action.
“We reached a tipping point,” Bass declared during a press briefing, as she announced the emergency declaration in the wake of 23 businesses being damaged on Monday night.
The curfew, which spans from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, will be enforced within a one-square-mile zone stretching from the 5 Freeway to the 110 Freeway, and between the 10 Freeway and the interchange where all three major highways converge—an area that’s become the epicenter of the recent protests.
The restrictions will not apply to residents, individuals working in the area, or the unhoused population, who are exempt from the order.
“If you do not live or work in downtown LA, stay away,” Bass warned.
Unrest broke out after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted sweeping raids across various businesses, targeting suspected undocumented immigrants. The backlash was immediate, with demonstrations erupting throughout the city.
Protests quickly descended into chaos, with highways shut down, law enforcement vehicles pelted with projectiles, and entire streets set ablaze as fires raged and looters broke into stores under the cover of night.
The situation intensified when President Trump bypassed Governor Gavin Newsom and mobilized thousands of National Guard members to quell the disturbances. Trump compared the scenes in Los Angeles to the widespread riots that engulfed the country in 2020 after George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell noted that the violence escalated throughout the weekend. He reported that 27 individuals were detained on Saturday, followed by 40 on Sunday and another 114 on Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“The curfew is a necessary measure to protect lives and safeguard property following several consecutive days of growing unrest throughout the city,” McDonnell said.
As tensions mounted, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to reinforce the National Guard and support local law enforcement efforts.
The federal personnel have primarily been assigned to safeguard federal installations and assist ICE agents operating in the region.
Despite the intensified security presence, protesters have continued to flood the streets. Around 600 demonstrators attempted to take control of the 101 Freeway near the federal immigration building on Tuesday afternoon. Police intervened before they could block traffic completely.
Vehicles were briefly stopped, but law enforcement eventually cleared the roadway and redirected protestors off the freeway.
Meanwhile, downtown streets were overrun with peaceful demonstrators later in the day. Some drivers paused to observe, undeterred by the congestion. However, the standoff didn’t last long—officers resorted to firing non-lethal rounds to break up the crowd and restore order.
{Matzav.com}