The recent disruption in Southern California, amplified by President Trump’s push for increased immigrant deportations, has caused significant anxiety amongst Democratic leaders. They are increasingly concerned that this clash is highlighting an issue that might prove detrimental to their party. The unusual choice of President Trump to deploy military personnel to suppress the local protests, despite strong objections from local officials, has triggered intense criticism from Democratic members.
During a confidential weekly meeting on Tuesday, Democratic senators listened attentively to points raised by their colleagues from California, Alex Padilla, and Adam Schiff. They outlined a nuanced picture, clearly distinguishing between isolated incidents of destruction in Los Angeles and the majority of demonstrators who took to the streets peacefully to protest against Trump’s initiatives on deportations.
Meanwhile, President Trump was in the Oval Office, recounting tales of violence to the press. The President pointedly asked, “Did you spot the individual launching rocks at the police vehicles?” For Democrats, the sporadic but powerful images of turmoil in Southern California have awkwardly propelled the subjects of immigration and crime into spotlight. These subjects have consistently yielded political benefits for Republicans in the previous years.
Democrats fear that the President is laying a treacherous political snare with provocations so extreme that they cannot be overlooked. President Trump’s unheard-of move to use military forces to suppress protesters on home soil, despite the objections of local authorities such as Governor Gavin Newsom, has stirred a fierce pushback from Democrats. They argue that the President’s actions were dictatorial and contrary to the Constitution.
Governor Newsom passionately declared in a Tuesday night speech, “Our democracy is under attack right in front of us.” As the Governor voiced his concerns, protests continued to gain momentum in other cities, stretching far beyond Southern California. In response to the unrest, the Mayor of Los Angeles declared a curfew for specific sections of downtown on Tuesday.