LAPD Declares "Unlawful Assembly" Across Downtown Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA – June 9, 2025 – The city of Los Angeles plunged into a state of heightened tension today as the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) declared an "unlawful assembly" across large swathes of downtown, issuing dispersal orders and making dozens of arrests amid escalating protests against recent federal immigration raids and the deployment of the California National Guard. The declaration, which gives law enforcement the authority to use force and make arrests, came after a weekend of increasingly violent confrontations between demonstrators and police, marked by acts of vandalism, arson, and direct assaults on officers.
The unrest, which began on Friday, June 6, immediately following a large-scale operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that saw the arrest of numerous undocumented individuals across Los Angeles County, has intensified significantly over the past 72 hours. What began as peaceful demonstrations outside federal buildings and detention centers quickly devolved into chaotic scenes. Protesters, incensed by President Donald Trump's perceived crackdown on immigration and the surprise deployment of National Guard troops to quell the unrest, took to the streets in large numbers, clashing with law enforcement and causing widespread disruption.
On Sunday evening, the LAPD Central Division declared the entirety of downtown Los Angeles an unlawful assembly, urging all individuals to leave the area immediately. This broad declaration followed a series of more localized unlawful assembly orders earlier in the day, targeting specific hot spots including the Civic Center area, sections of the 101 Freeway, and the vicinity of the federal building and Metropolitan Detention Center. Police officials reported that some demonstrators had thrown projectiles, including bottles and concrete pieces, at officers and vehicles, leading to the use of "less-lethal munitions" such as tear gas, smoke canisters, and rubber bullets to disperse crowds.
Images and aerial footage from the scene depicted a city in turmoil. Multiple vehicles, including at least four Waymo self-driving cars, were set ablaze, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky. Street furniture and dumpsters were torched, and businesses, including a shoe store, reported shattered windows and looting. Graffiti, much of it anti-ICE and anti-Trump, marred public and private buildings, including the LAPD Headquarters and the U.S. Courthouse. Protesters also managed to block traffic on key arteries, including the 101 Freeway, for extended periods, further exacerbating the city's gridlock.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell addressed the media, confirming that 39 arrests had been made by Sunday evening – 29 on Saturday and 10 on Sunday. He also stated that several officers had sustained injuries, with reports of "incendiary devices" being hurled at mounted police patrols and a motorcycle attempting to breach a police skirmish line. McDonnell emphasized that the LAPD's role was to ensure public safety and prevent violence, clarifying that his department does not participate in civil immigration enforcement in compliance with the California Values Act. He expressed frustration at the lack of information from federal partners regarding the ICE operations, attributing it to the state's sanctuary policies.
The deployment of approximately 300 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles, authorized by President Trump without the explicit request of California Governor Gavin Newsom, has been a major point of contention and a catalyst for much of the intensified protest. Governor Newsom has vehemently condemned the deployment, labeling it "illegal" and "immoral," and has even threatened legal action against the Trump administration for what he views as a "serious breach of state sovereignty." He reiterated that state and local authorities are best positioned to manage internal security and has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Guard. The presence of uniformed troops, carrying long guns and riot shields, has further inflamed tensions, leading to direct confrontations with protesters who chanted "shame" and "go home."
Civil liberties advocates and immigrant rights organizations have voiced grave concerns over the aggressive tactics employed by law enforcement and the National Guard, as well as the broad nature of the "unlawful assembly" declarations. They argue that such measures risk stifling legitimate protest and infringing upon constitutional rights. Calls for peaceful protest have come from various community leaders, who nonetheless stand in solidarity with those affected by the immigration raids.
As of Monday morning, the situation remained volatile. While some areas saw a reduction in protest activity overnight, organizers have called for a fourth consecutive day of demonstrations. The LAPD continued to warn citizens to avoid downtown areas, advising that arrests would continue for anyone failing to comply with dispersal orders. The ongoing clashes in Los Angeles underscore the deep divisions within the United States over immigration policy and the role of federal intervention in local affairs, setting the stage for what appears to be a prolonged period of unrest and legal battles in the city.
Source@DW