Downtown Los Angeles has plunged into chaos for the third straight day, as immigration protests against ICE raids and President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard have spiraled into violent confrontations. Demonstrators swarmed city streets and even occupied the 101 Freeway, reportedly targeting and attempting to ignite California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicles. The violence escalated when protesters began launching commercial-grade fireworks directly at LAPD officers—explosives that LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell warned “can kill you.” Amid the turmoil, a fire ignited behind a police skirmish line, a Molotov cocktail was allegedly thrown, and one protester reportedly charged a police line on a motorcycle. By nightfall, 27 people had been arrested, and authorities braced for further unrest.

Chief McDonnell condemned the hijacking of peaceful demonstrations by agitators, many of whom, he said, traveled from outside the area with the intent to incite violence. Calling the attacks on officers “disgusting,” McDonnell highlighted the growing danger posed by the escalating protests. City officials are now considering a curfew, pending further developments. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom continued to clash with the White House, sharply criticizing Trump’s decision to send 2,000 National Guard troops to the state without his request. Newsom labeled the move as “deliberately provocative,” warning that it could intensify tensions and erode public trust. As officials scramble to contain the violence, the city remains on edge, and the political divide over immigration enforcement and federal intervention grows deeper.