New Delhi, Jun 12: Downtown Los Angeles remained under curfew for a second consecutive night as protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and military deployments entered their seventh day. The city has become a focal point for national unrest over immigration enforcement and the federal government’s use of military resources in domestic operations.
Protests have spread to several major US cities, including New York, Seattle, Chicago, Austin, Las Vegas, and Washington, DC. In Spokane, Washington, the mayor declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew after demonstrators blocked roads in protest of ICE activities in the region.
In Los Angeles, the U.S. Northern Command confirmed that 700 Marines stationed in the area have completed their rapid response training and are scheduled to be deployed within the next 48 hours. A hearing is set today in California to examine the state’s efforts to limit the federal government’s use of Marines and National Guard forces within its borders.
US Cities stimulating for larger protests on Saturday
US cities across the country are now bracing for a large wave of demonstrations planned for Saturday, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington, DC, marking the 250th anniversary of the US Army and his 79th birthday. More than 1,800 events under the banner of the “50501 movement” are planned in all 50 states, excluding the capital, as a coordinated national response to the parade. The “50501” initiative, short for “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement,” is organising events under the theme “No Kings,” symbolising opposition to what organisers describe as authoritarian tendencies and unchecked executive power.
The movement has emphasised a commitment to nonviolence and lawful assembly, with strict instructions against bringing weapons to demonstrations, even where legally permitted. The official military parade in Washington, DC is expected to be the largest in decades, featuring vehicles and weaponry. The event’s financial cost is projected to reach into the tens of millions of dollars, with the US Army reinforcing streets along the parade route in early June to accommodate the heavy military equipment. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that the state’s National Guard will be deployed in advance of expected protests, including a “No Kings” rally planned in San Antonio. Authorities nationwide remain on alert as tensions rise ahead of Saturday’s demonstrations, with federal and local governments preparing for both security challenges and political fallout.
