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Armed Marines were seen patrolling parts of Los Angeles on Friday, as tensions mount ahead of mass protests against President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration raids and military show of force.
The unprecedented deployment, which includes 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops, has drawn sharp criticism from local officials and civil rights advocates, who view it as an alarming sign of creeping authoritarianism.
The Marines, equipped with semi-automatic rifles, were stationed around a federal building approximately 18 kilometres from the protest zone. Their presence sparked confusion and concern among residents. “Taxpayer dollars could be used for other things,” said RonNell Weaver, questioning the necessity of military forces so far from the demonstrations.
AFP journalists reported seeing one man detained by Marines before being handed over to police, though military officials declined to clarify the reason, marking a rare instance of US military personnel directly interacting with civilians on American soil.
President Trump, who has touted the deployment as essential to maintaining order amid what he calls a “rebellion,” bypassed California Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections to mobilise the state’s National Guard.
A federal judge ruled the move unlawful on Thursday, stating that the unrest in Los Angeles did not amount to an insurrection. However, a higher court has temporarily blocked that ruling, with a full hearing scheduled for next week.
The troop deployment coincides with a major military parade planned in Washington, D.C., ostensibly to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army. The parade, which will include tanks and heavy artillery, also happens to fall on Trump’s 79th birthday, fuelling accusations that the event is more about spectacle than patriotism.
In response, a grassroots campaign known as the “No Kings” movement is organising protests in over 2,000 locations across the US, including a major rally in Los Angeles. Organisers have promised a 20-foot-tall inflatable effigy of Trump dressed in a diaper—a symbol that first gained notoriety during protests in the UK.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell warned that the city could see “unprecedented” crowds, while LA Mayor Karen Bass urged demonstrators to remain peaceful. “Exercise your First Amendment right, but don’t give them a reason to roll out more troops,” she said at a news conference.
Sheriff Robert Luna also encouraged restraint, cautioning against the potential for agitators to turn peaceful protests into violent confrontations. “It’s a good cause, but we do not want people destroying property or harming others,” he said.
Protests began after Trump ordered an aggressive campaign of immigration raids, with masked federal agents supported by uniformed troops rounding up undocumented migrants in multiple cities.
Critics say the move is part of Trump’s broader plan to instil fear and tighten control, with some warning it sets a dangerous precedent.
California Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a press conference and handcuffed on Thursday by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, escalating tensions further. The senator had been condemning the raids when he was abruptly escorted offstage, sparking outrage from Democratic colleagues.
Meanwhile, outside the federal detention centre in downtown LA—one of the focal points of the protests—about 100 demonstrators gathered peacefully on Friday evening, despite a city-imposed curfew. Interestingly, theatregoers attending a performance of Hamlet were exempt from the restrictions, underscoring the surreal juxtaposition between civil unrest and cultural life.
As the weekend approaches, all eyes are on Los Angeles and Washington, where Trump’s parade and the mass protests are set to collide in a defining moment for the nation’s political climate.
