It all started with ICE..

ICE started doing illegal raids in Los Angeles targeting places of work and immigration courts. The community responded quickly by protesting and blocking ICE actions throughout the area. Some individuals threw stuff at unmarked ICE vehicles. The protest continued to grow and as the day went on LAPD responded to protect ICE.

The protest sustained

Over the course of the next couple days the protest continued to grow and some limited incidents of property destruction occurred. I observed police cars having rocks thrown at them, one set on fire. Also a couple dumpsters moved into the middle of the street and set ablaze. There was a good amount of vandalism occurring throughout the area as well. This being said, a majority of what I observed was peaceful protest and fellow protesters preventing looting. The LAPD followed a routine including a massive show of force, plentiful distribution of tear gas, and a barrage of rubber and foam bullets. This broke up and quelled the protests every night so far. However the next day it grows even bigger and more peaceful. Groups dance in the streets while others participate in other events of civil disobedience.

Trump takes the opportunity to fulfill his fantasy.

Taco has long fantasized of being a great authoritarian leader, comparing himself to Hitler, Orbán, and Putin. So it is no surprise that he manufactured a situation in California, a state that he regularly attacks and ridicules. Almost immediately he threatened to deploy national guard troops to deal with the “insurrection”. Reports indicate that 4,000 federalized national guard (Army) infantry and 700 active duty Marines are deployed in LA. Costing an estimated $130 million and with no planning they are left with no lodging, inadequate food and bathrooms. The local and state officials have the situation under control, but that won’t stop Taco from turning the military on its own people.

Protests continue to pop up in major cities all across America. I saw mass protests in NYC, Philadelphia, Austin, Atlanta, and San Diego today. There aren’t enough troops for them to send everywhere people stand up to fascism. That is one beautiful thing about the USA, we will continue to rise up and resist fascism no matter the cost. This week will likely have larger protests and lead into the massive No Kings protest on Saturday. I don’t see an end in sight no matter how much Taco threatens. The resistance will continue to grow stronger until we rid our nation of tyranny. We are a growing group of pro-democracy advocates who fully understand the importance of this moment. Get into some good trouble and never bow to the king.