Los Angeles Protests Escalate as Anti-Trump Demonstrators Burn Flags
On June 8, 2025, Los Angeles erupted in chaos as protesters burned American flags and chanted “F*** Trump” during anti-Trump demonstrations sparked by federal immigration raids. The riots, centered in downtown Los Angeles near L.A. Live, saw masked individuals spitting on and torching U.S. flags while waving Mexican and South American banners, escalating tensions with law enforcement. The Los Angeles Police Department declared an unlawful assembly, deploying flashbangs and pepper balls to disperse crowds after protesters blocked Figueroa and 11th streets and damaged police vehicles.
The unrest, now in its third day, prompted President Donald Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops, citing “lawlessness” ignored by California Governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. Trump’s memorandum, signed June 7, aimed to protect ICE agents facing attacks during deportation operations targeting convicted criminals and gang members. Newsom condemned the deployment as a “breach of state sovereignty,” urging calm on X, while Vice President JD Vance labeled protesters “insurrectionists.”
Videos shared on X captured the flag-burning, drawing outrage from users like @TaraBull808, who wrote, “Protesters in Los Angeles Burn American Flag, Chant ‘F*ck Trump.’” Elon Musk called the scenes “crazy.” The protests, fueled by opposition to Trump’s immigration crackdown, have drawn thousands, with some carrying signs like “ICE out of L.A.!” Earlier 2025 demonstrations, including a February 101 Freeway shutdown, also featured flag-burning and anti-ICE slogans. As tensions rise, the National Guard’s arrival looms, signaling a volatile standoff.