Anti-ICE Protests Break Out in LA

Last week, ICE began raids throughout southern California, leading to protests in downtown LA. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Brass sharply condemned the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops, for which Newsom has since sued the President. Next, the President ordered 700 Marines into the streets, against US citizens, before ordering an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to move into the city. After a district court ruled Trump must return control of the National Guard to the governor, the case moved to a federal appeals court, today.

Democrats Increasingly Targeted by Political Violence

As political tensions have risen in the last few years, we have been facing a shocking spike in political violence.

“The Anti-Defamation League found that from 2022 through 2024, all of the 61 political killings in the United States were committed by right-wing extremists. That changed on the first day of 2025, when a Texas man flying the flag of the Islamic State group killed 14 people by driving his truck through a crowded New Orleans street before being fatally shot by police.”

Nicholas Riccardi, AP News

In the last week, the President called for the arrest of Governor Newsom, while Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, called for the governor to be “tar and feathered.”

While asking questions at a press conference in LA, US Senator Alex Padilla was forcefully removed and arrested. Today, following an immigration hearing in Manhattan, NYC Comptroller was arrested while accompanying an individual out of the courtroom. Both are Democrats.

All of this has been tragically overshadowed by the events of Saturday morning in Minnesota. Former Minnesota Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated in their home. MN Senator John Hoffman was shot 9 times, and his wife, Yvette, was shot 8 times, both luckily survived. Both former Speaker Hortman and Senator Hoffman are Democrats.

The shooter, arrested yesterday, was allegedly posing as a police officer to gain access to the victims homes, and wore a full-head latex mask. It was later learned the shooter had intended to enter two other homes, one home was empty and the shooter was spotted and fled another home. Police found No Kings signs, firearms, ammunition, and a list of 45 total elected officials in the the accused’s vehicle.

No Kings and a Military Parade

The events Saturday led Governor Tim Walz to ask the people of Minnesota not to participate in the No Kings protests planned around the state. However, thousands still gathered at the State Capitol, and in cities and towns across the country, with attendance estimations ranging from 5 million to over 10 million, depending who you ask. Most estimates are around 5 to 6 million. Should that be the case, the No Kings protest would be the largest in US History.

In stark contrast, the president hosted a military parade to celebrate the 250th birthday of the US Army. Announcement of the parade fueled the growth of the No Kings movement, with many criticizing the $45 million cost that could’ve been invested in veterans’ futures and the coincidence that the parade would fall on Trump’s birthday. If our President wanted a parade to celebrate our military, why did it have to be his birthday? Why couldn’t he host it on Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Veteran’s Day? Why do something so reminiscent of dictators?

I attended the protest Saturday, and I would say it was one of the best days of my life. Seeing a wide variety of people from in and around my community brought me to tears the moment I saw the crowd. I have never been so proud to be an American, because I believe we have to stand up to that which tries to restrain our freedom. Our country began in protest of a king who wanted to push his beliefs onto the citizens of Britain and it’s territories, and protest is what will keep us free from those kings. I am proud to have been part of what is being called the largest protest in US history, because we need no modern kings.

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Sources Cited:

Marines deployed to LA to respond to immigration protests | AP News. (2025, June 10). AP News. https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-protests-national-guard-trump-14c9dda32663d7d2c45f2b1c5a1d219c

Quinn, M., & Rosen, J. (2025, June 17). Federal appeals court considers Trump’s deployment of National Guard in Los Angeles. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-national-guard-los-angeles-deployment-appeals-court/

Trump says border czar should arrest California Governor Newsom. (2025, June 9). Reuters. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-hints-he-would-support-arrest-california-governor-newsom-2025-06-09/

Peller, L., Pecorin, A., & Murray, I. (2025, June 10). Speaker Johnson, backing Trump’s LA actions, says Newsom should be “tarred and feathered.” ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/speaker-johnson-backing-trumps-la-actions-newsom-tarred/story?id=122689990

Sen. Alex Padilla forcibly removed from Kristi Noem’s news conference | AP News. (2025, June 12). AP News. https://apnews.com/article/alex-padilla-noem-immigration-protest-california-f67d220a0254473c53c16aa96f554239

Brad Lander, NYC mayoral candidate, arrested at immigration court | AP News. (2025, June 17). AP News. https://apnews.com/article/brad-lander-nyc-immigration-court-arrest-6ed341297efab31a08a14421674d8ed8

Shalvey, K., & Shapiro, E. (2025, June 16). Hoffmans release update after assassination attempt: “Incredibly lucky to be alive.” ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/john-hoffman-yvette-statement-minnesota-shooting/story?id=122884878

Shalvey, K., & Shapiro, E. (2025a, June 16). Chilling details emerge in Minnesota shootings as Vance Boelter faces federal charges: “Stuff of nightmares.” ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/minnesota-lawmakers-shooting-suspect-vance-boelter-due-court/story?id=122882740

Neri, N. (2025, June 14). Thousands rally peacefully for No Kings protest hours after Hortman assassination. Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/14/thousands-rally-peacefully-for-no-kings-protest-hours-after-hortman-assassination/

Desk, G. (2025, June 17). No Kings protest surpasses records to become largest in U.S history — Trump admin rattled by scale. The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/no-kings-protest-surpasses-records-to-become-largest-in-u-s-history-trump-admin-rattled-by-scale/articleshow/121915236.cms?from=mdr