The Pentagon announced the release of 2,000 California National Guard troops from their federal protection mission in Los Angeles. Initially, 4,000 troops and 700 Marines were deployed due to protests related to immigration raids. Protests included violence but remained contained. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the deployment as a political maneuver, stating National Guard members were displaced from their communities without a clear mission. Newsom urged the Defense Department to bring remaining troops home.
"Thanks to our troops who stepped up to answer the call, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding. As such, the Secretary has ordered the release of 2,000 California National Guardsmen (79th IBCT) from the federal protection mission," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.
"For more than a month, the National Guard has been pulled away from their families, communities and civilian work to serve as political pawns for the President in Los Angeles," he said in a statement.
Trump ordered about 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 active-duty Marines to Los Angeles in June, following mass demonstrations in response to immigration raids across region, including outside a Home Depot in Paramount.
Los Angeles police reported that some people threw 'concrete, bottles and other objects.' But the protests remained contained to a few downtown blocks, and instances of violence were sporadic.
Collection
[
|
...
]