Several Waymo self-driving taxis were set on fire and destroyed by protesters in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday. The incident occurred as US Northern Command announced that approximately 500 active-duty Marines are on “prepared to deploy” status in response to the ongoing unrest. The troops would be deployed from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California.
US Northern Command's full statement -
"By direction of Secretary of Defense and in coordination with U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), approximately 2,000 California Army National Guard soldiers have been placed under federal command and control in a Title 10 status to support the protection of federal personnel and federal property in the greater Los Angeles area.
{{/usCountry}}"By direction of Secretary of Defense and in coordination with U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), approximately 2,000 California Army National Guard soldiers have been placed under federal command and control in a Title 10 status to support the protection of federal personnel and federal property in the greater Los Angeles area.
{{/usCountry}}As USNORTHCOM's land component command, U.S. Army North stood up Task Force 51, with a two-star general, as the ground command and control element over the Title 10 forces. At this time, there are approximately 300 members of the California Army National Guard's 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team deployed at the following locations in the greater Los Angeles area: Los Angeles, Paramount, and Compton, California.
Additionally, approximately 500 Marines from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines at Twentynine Palms, California, are in a prepared to deploy status should they be necessary to augment and support the DoD's protection of federal property and personnel efforts. USNORTHCOM will provide more information as units are identified and deployed."
What is happening in LA?
Protests erupted in Los Angeles on Friday following the detention of dozens of individuals by federal immigration agents. The unrest quickly escalated into violent riots, with law enforcement deploying flash-bang grenades and tear gas to disperse crowds.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to the unrest.
A White House press release said: “In recent days, violent mobs have attacked ICE Officers and Federal Law Enforcement Agents carrying out basic deportation operations in Los Angeles, California.”
“These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California's feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens. That is why President Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester.”
The decision was opposed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called the move “purposefully inflammatory.”
“The federal government is moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers. That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions,” Newsom wrote on X.
By Sunday, the protests intensified. Thousands of demonstrators shut down the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles, causing a major traffic standstill.