US Marines arrive in Los Angeles as downtown curfew goes into effect
California governor warns other states to prepare for similar unrest as Los Angeles protests continue
04:36
Trump vows to ‘liberate’ Los Angeles as protests spread to other major US cities
Hundreds of US Marines arrived in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday under orders from US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions in America’s second largest city, as California’s governor warned “democracy is under assault”.
As Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom traded fulminations, the city’s mayor said the protests were limited to about five downtown streets, but declared a curfew for parts of the downtown area due to violence and looting.
Police said multiple groups stayed on the streets in some areas despite the curfew and “mass arrests are being initiated”. Police earlier said that 197 people had already been arrested on Tuesday - more than double the total number of arrests to date.
Democratic leaders have raised concerns over a national crisis in what has become the most intense flashpoint yet in the Trump administration’s efforts to deport migrants living in the country illegally, and then crack down on opponents who take to the streets in protest.