LOS ANGELES, United States: Downtown Los Angeles was largely calm overnight into Wednesday, with police arresting at least 25 people for violating a curfew after a fifth day of protests against President Donald Trump´s immigration crackdown.
Heavily armed security officers, including several riding horses, patrolled near government buildings, while men boarded up storefronts after dark on Tuesday to protect against vandalism.
Looting and vandalism in the second-biggest US city have marred the largely peaceful protests over ramped-up arrests by immigration authorities. The demonstrations, which began on Friday, and isolated acts of violence prompted Trump to take the extraordinary step of sending in troops, over the objection of the state governor.
One protester told AFP the arrest of migrants in a city with large immigrant and Latino populations was the root of the unrest.
“I don´t think that part of the problem is the peaceful protests. It´s whatever else is happening on the other side that is inciting violence,” she said on Tuesday.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the curfew -- meant to stop vandalism and looting -- was in effect within one square mile of the city´s more-than-500 square mile area from 8:00 pm and 6:00 am (0300 to 1300 GMT).
That zone was off-limits for everyone apart from residents, journalists and emergency services, she added. Protests against immigration arrests by federal law enforcement have also sprung up in cities around the country, including New York, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco and Austin.
Meanwhile, the White House said on Wednesday President Donald Trump would not allow “mob rule” after protests against his immigration policies spread across the United States despite a military-backed crackdown in Los Angeles.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also attacked the Democratic governor of California and mayor of Los Angeles, claiming they had “fanned the flames” of the clashes.
“President Trump will never allow mob rule to prevail in America,” Leavitt told a briefing at the White House, backed by television screens showing images of burning vehicles and masked rioters.
“The most basic duty of government is to preserve law and order, and this administration embraces that sacred responsibility.”
Leavitt´s comments echoed Trump´s in a speech at the Fort Bragg military base on Tuesday, in which he vowed to “liberate” Los Angeles and branded the protesters “animals.”
Trump is in conflict with California authorities who have accused the Republican president of being “dictatorial” and seeking political gain by sending in thousands of troops to break up the protests, which have largely been peaceful.
“Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass shamefully failed to meet their sworn obligations to their citizens,” Leavitt responded, accusing Newsom of having “fanned the flames and demonized our brave ICE officers.”