Democratic California Rep. Linda Sanchez on CNN Monday criticized the use of federal troops in Los Angeles to quell recent riots, calling it “authoritarian flexing” that does not improve public safety.
President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles Saturday after riots erupted following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at a Home Depot. During an appearance on “The Arena,” Sanchez claimed that the majority of demonstrators remained peaceful. She criticized the deployment of troops as excessive.
“While we have been calling for protesters to protest peacefully, that is their constitutional right, the vast majority of protesters have been peaceful. There are always a few bad actors, and, yes, we think anybody who commits property damage ought to be arrested, and they ought to be prosecuted,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez said that sending federal troops or Marines into the area is an unnecessary escalation.
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“To send in federal troops or Marines when there isn’t a war atmosphere or a war circumstance going on is just beyond the pale. It’s authoritarian flexing. It’s not making anybody safer. Local law enforcement has said they can handle the protests,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez said such actions only heighten tensions.
“It’s no different than when a team wins a national championship, and people get overexcited, and they overturn vehicles and light them on fire. Local law enforcement is prepared to handle those types of situations,” Sanchez added. (RELATED: Dem Rep Really Upset That ICE Agents Wore Masks When Making Arrests)
The violence broke out even though many of the individuals detained during the Los Angeles operations had long criminal histories. ICE agents arrested people with records that included murder, attempted rape, sexual assault, drug trafficking, illegal immigration conspiracy and other violent offenses.
About 1,000 individuals unleashed chaos in Los Angeles Friday night, surrounding a federal building, attacking ICE agents, deflating tires and vandalizing government property, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The unrest led to substantial damage and brought traffic to a halt across multiple city roads.
In response to the escalating violence, Trump authorized the deployment of the National Guard Saturday night. He also told Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom that the federal government would step in if local authorities could not bring the situation under control.
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