Tensions hit a boiling point in downtown Los Angeles over the weekend, as dozens of anti-ICE demonstrators set fire to American flags, spat on them, and shouted anti-Trump slogans in a fiery display of anger over immigration enforcement.
In dramatic footage circulating online, masked individuals can be seen surrounding a blazing U.S. flag. Some sprayed accelerant to intensify the fire, while others added a second flag to the flames. Protesters waved flags from countries like Mexico high above the burning stars and stripes, chanting “F-Trump” as the smoke rose.
Protests Turn Chaotic as Police Declare Unlawful Assembly
As the crowd surged through the streets, officers with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department moved in, launching flash bangs in an attempt to break up the gathering. The Los Angeles Police Department later declared an “unlawful assembly” when protesters refused to disperse from the downtown area.
“Agitators have splintered into and through out the Downtown Area,” the LAPD Central Division warned on X. “Residents, businesses and visitors to the Downtown Area should be alert and report any criminal activity. Officers are responding to several different locations to disperse crowds.”
The department reinforced its stance, adding, “An UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY has been declared for the Downtown Los Angeles area.”
Protesters Block Streets Near Entertainment Hub
The demonstrations escalated near the L.A. Live complex, a popular entertainment zone adjacent to the Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center. Police reported that protesters were obstructing traffic at Figueroa and 11th Streets, further intensifying the chaos.
ICE Raids Trigger Presidential Response
The unrest followed reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had been attacked during deportation operations in L.A. President Donald Trump, citing a failure by local leaders to maintain order, swiftly responded by sending in federal reinforcements.
Trump signed a presidential memorandum over the weekend authorizing the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops. “Address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester,” the White House said in a statement.
Governor Newsom Pushes Back Against Federal Troops
California Gov. Gavin Newsom wasn’t having it. The Democrat fired back on social media Sunday, challenging Trump’s actions and demanding that control of the National Guard be returned to state authority.
“I have formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command,” Newsom posted on X, alongside a formal letter to the president.
“We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty – inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they’re actually needed.”
Nation Watches as Flag Burns and Tempers Flare
In a moment captured on camera, one protester spat directly on the flaming American flag, a flashpoint image that has since gone viral. Emotions ran high as the country’s immigration debate once again spilled onto the streets, setting the stage for what could be a long summer of unrest in California’s largest city.
As law enforcement continues to fan out across multiple locations and the National Guard arrives in force, the question remains: how far will the confrontation go — and what will it take to cool it down?
