LOS ANGELES (AP) – Tensions in Los Angeles escalated on Sunday as thousands of protesters took to the streets in response to President Donald Trump’s unprecedented deployment of the National Guard. The protests led to the blocking of a major freeway and resulted in the destruction of several self-driving cars, with law enforcement resorting to tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs to control the crowd.

As evening approached, many protesters began to disperse after police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, triggering potential arrests for those who refused to leave. Those remaining engaged in confrontations, throwing objects such as concrete chunks, rocks, electric scooters, and fireworks at California Highway Patrol officers and their vehicles parked on the closed southbound 101 Freeway, pushing officers to seek cover under an overpass.

Sunday's protests marked the third and most intense day of demonstrations against Trump's immigration policies in Los Angeles, a sprawling metropolis with a population of approximately 4 million. The anger and fear among residents intensified following the deployment of around 300 National Guard troops, whose primary mission was to protect federal buildings, notably the downtown detention center where many protesters gathered.

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell stated that officers were “overwhelmed” by the group of protesters, which he indicated included known agitators who often appear at such events. From the early morning, National Guard troops were seen standing in formation, equipped with long guns and riot shields, while protesters chanted phrases such as “shame” and “go home.” As tensions escalated, police fired smoke canisters into the crowd.

Following this escalation, the Los Angeles Police Department launched crowd-control measures, declaring the protesters’ gathering unlawful. Many protesters subsequently moved to block traffic on the 101 freeway, but by late afternoon, state patrol officers managed to clear the roadway.

Meanwhile, at least four self-driving Waymo vehicles were set ablaze, releasing plumes of black smoke and causing explosions as they burned. By nightfall, police had issued an unlawful assembly order, leading to the shutdown of several blocks in downtown Los Angeles. Flash bang devices echoed throughout the evening, signaling ongoing tensions.

Governor Gavin Newsom publicly requested the removal of the National Guard members in a letter to Trump, describing their deployment as a “serious breach of state sovereignty.” While Newsom was in Los Angeles meeting with local law enforcement, he and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass suggested that the escalation of protests was directly provoked by Trump’s actions, asserting that the move was not about public safety but rather about furthering another agenda. “What we’re seeing in Los Angeles is chaos that is provoked by the administration,” Bass remarked during a press conference.

Despite the rhetoric from local officials, Chief McDonnell noted that the protests followed a familiar pattern of civil unrest, noting that such situations typically intensified on the second and third days following the initial outbreak. He defended the LAPD’s response, countering claims from the Trump administration that the department failed to assist federal authorities during the protests that commenced last Friday due to federal immigration raids.

Newsom, asserting that California authorities had the situation under control, criticized Trump for posting a congratulatory message to the National Guard before their arrival and accused him of dishonesty. The Trump administration, however, dismissed these claims, with White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stating, “It’s a bald-faced lie for Newsom to claim there was no problem in Los Angeles before President Trump got involved.”

The National Guard’s arrival came after two days of protests that ignited in downtown Los Angeles and spread to neighboring cities, fueled by federal immigration arrests throughout the area. Federal agents had apprehended over 100 individuals in the Los Angeles region during the preceding week, generating anxiety and protest among local communities.

The last time the National Guard was activated without a governor's request was in 1965. President Trump invoked legal provisions allowing federal deployment during what he described as a rebellion or potential rebellion against the U.S. government, authorizing the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members while stating, “We’re not going to let this happen to our country.”