Los Angeles Mayor Comments on National Guard Deployment
On Tuesday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass spoke on MSNBC’s “Everything with Chris Hayes,” expressing concern about potential cuts to violence prevention subsidies during protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the city. This came after President Donald Trump’s decision to send the National Guard to Los Angeles amid escalating riots and demonstrations.
In June, the deployment followed a surge in unrest related to increased ICE actions. When Hayes asked Bass about the National Guard’s involvement while discussing crime issues in Washington, DC, she remarked, “Both cities—Los Angeles and Chicago—along with Washington, DC, are all testing grounds.” She highlighted that the presence of troops in Los Angeles felt unnecessary, as their main role appeared to be standing around without taking action.
Despite objections from Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom regarding the National Guard’s role, Los Angeles experienced significant unrest, including looting and vandalism. Following the military’s installation in federal buildings, the violence persisted, as reported by observers.
By mid-June, with protests ongoing, the LAPD declared illegal assemblies in downtown areas, prompting Bass to impose a curfew. She noted that much of the military personnel was confined to bases, indicating some dissatisfaction with being used in such a capacity. Reflecting on past events from the ’80s and ’90s, Bass emphasized the need for prevention strategies to effectively address crime without cutting off funding.
Following these developments, Trump indicated he might deploy the National Guard to Chicago, labeling the city’s situation a “disturbance,” while local officials, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, opposed this, pointing out a decline in crime rates.
Statistics from the Chicago Police Department indicated a 25% drop in murders over the last year, although the rate remains higher than pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, while overall crime in Los Angeles has decreased, there has been a troubling rise in officer-involved shootings during the first half of this year compared to the last.
