Authorities in Los Angeles on Monday were urging businesses and residents to report any “vandalism, damage or looting” to police for documentation after protests against Trump administration policies deteriorated into destructive clashes between officers and protesters.
Authorities declared several of the demonstrations Sunday “unlawful assemblies,” sweeping in with flash-bangs and tear gas grenades to disperse hundreds of protesters. One group of protesters blocked the 101 Freeway — a major thoroughfare in downtown Los Angeles. The freeway was later cleared as protesters converged on an overpass and threw objects down at police, video footage showed.
Police in riot gear were joined by hundreds of California National Guard troops ordered into action by President Donald Trump. Gov. Gavin Newsom asked Trump to withdraw the Guard and, in an overnight social media post, he urged Trump to “stop fanning the flames” after a third day of protests.
“Let’s get this straight: 1) Local law enforcement didn’t need help. 2) Trump sent troops anyway — to manufacture chaos and violence. 3) Trump succeeded,” Newsom wrote. “4) Now things are destabilized and we need to send in more law enforcement just to clean up Trump’s mess.”
Trump, in a social media post Sunday night, said Newsome and Mayor Karen Bass should “apologize to the people of Los Angeles for the absolutely horrible job that they have done, and this now includes the ongoing L.A. riots. These are not protesters, they are troublemakers and insurrectionists.”
More: National Guard deployed in Los Angeles during protest clashes
According to preliminary information, police said at least 10 people have been arrested and three officers were injured during protests on Sunday. California Highway Patrol arrested 17 people on the 101 Freeway, police said. On Saturday, police arrested 29 people.
The protests were prompted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents’ sweeps in the area last week.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Newsom blames Trump after police, protesters clash in LA: Live updates
