President Donald Trump, known for his inconsistent values and irrational responses to citizenship and visa status, leaves Los Angeles with no choice but to protest against the violation of immigrant rights and the vast separation of families across the country.
Throughout June, several cities across the U.S. protested against a series of immigration sweeps across California and other states, in which border towns reside. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made it a mission to scout for immigrants in public facilities such as Home Depot, construction sites and small neighborhoods. This pattern against immigrants has become a common occurrence, mobilizing protestors across the country against occupations at pivotal sites in their cities.
In response to the people’s opposition towards ICE’s heinous actions, Trump deployed an exhaustive number of National Guard and Marines to the regions with high rates of protests. The reasoning behind Trump’s commitment to the deployment was to “assist law enforcement agents endangered by peaceful protestors.” While National Guards and Marines were meant to emphasize an increase in protection towards federal buildings and police agents, National Guards shared their unease, infused by the poor treatment inflicted on citizens.
Unauthorized violence became a point of contention as the National Guard expressed their concern towards law enforcement agents exploiting their positions to physically harm peaceful protestors. “I felt that we were protecting the people from the police,” said D.C. Guardsmen Spec. Isaiah Lynch. While advocating for basic human rights, protestors soon became victims of law enforcement’s excessive use of tear gas, physical aggression and rubber bullets. As the imprudent use of force against innocent protestors escalated a new conflict in Northern California District Court concluded that Trump had violated the 1878 law.
After strictly reviewing the violent threats against peaceful protestors, California Gov. Gavin Newsom called Trump out on his eagerness to earn authoritarianism through the violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, an act created to protect civilian government affairs from military interference.
With much time granted to Trump’s administration and no order to remove remaining guards by a district judge for the Northern District of California, Judge Breyer, Trump’s attorneys concluded the deployment was legal due to the protection it was meant to cater to law enforcement agents. In addition to Judge Breyer’s decision, he asked the Pentagon not to engage in any form.
The true reasoning behind Trump’s command was to protect law enforcement, and the outcome of his actions: vigorous use of violence towards protestors. The government is meant to uplift the rights of its citizens; however, it becomes impossible to do so when the country’s president is unable to be held accountable.
The Posse Comitatus Act was unquestionably broken, as the National Guard’s fear-mongering tactics were imposed on protesters. When National Guards were there to assist in maintaining peace, they brought the wrath of vicious law enforcement agents onto peaceful protestors. While it is a setback to have a federal judge dismiss the heinous measures Trump used to excuse his animosity, one must acknowledge the great efforts of the peaceful protestors who took part in such a monumental protest. Los Angeles’ decision to protest enables a sense of power and dominance, giving America the confidence to fight against those reinforced by elitism.
