LA Riots 2025

[Jimmy Higgins]

Foreign flags are being waved, while US flags are being burned by the rioters.

To which I say:

First Amendment​

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Burning a flag or even waving a flag of another nation as part of a peaceful protest almost certainly qualifies as protected speech.

First of all, this isn't a "peaceful protest". Peaceful protests do not involve arson.

So most of the people with flags were burning cars?

Second, I never said that waving a foreign flag or burning a flag (that belongs to you) is in itself a criminal act. But, as you say, it qualifies as protected speech. Emphasis on speech. If it is speech, it is saying something. And what this is saying is "We hate America and support Mexico instead". And that is not exactly a message that will lead most Americans to support these people, or lead them to question Trump, esp. when it is combined with violence.
Note also that writing "Death to Amerikka[sic]" on the side of a building is vandalism, and not protected by the First Amendment. Though it still sends a loud and clear message about these creeps.

Certainly. Of course, just because someone sprayed it, doesn't mean it was sprayed by illegals, Mexicans, Americans, or people committing acts of subterfuge, like the guy who mailed in a fake death threat to Trump with someone else's identification on it to keep him from testifying.

Who said that they do? But burning cars and other shit these people are pulling is definitely not protected by the Constitution.

No, that stuff is not protected expression. But how many cars were burned?

Perhaps you should take a moment to reflect on WHY people are doing these things instead of clutching at your pearls after viewing some pictures on social media.

It is pretty clear why they are doing it: they support illegal immigration. Many, if not most, of the rioters are probably illegals themselves.

Or if we take a moment and treat these people like human beings instead of dehumanizing them... they might be more supporting their family and loved ones not being deported.

 

[Derec]

You complain a lot about America, why don't you leave? I ask, because your rationale may be the answer to your very question.

I complain about some things in America, just like everybody else. To compare this to these creeps writing "Death to Amerikka[sic]" is highly disingenuous. But then again, being disingenuous is kind of your thing, Hound.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

You complain a lot about America, why don't you leave? I ask, because your rationale may be the answer to your very question.

I complain about some things in America, just like everybody else. To compare this to these creeps writing "Death to Amerikka[sic]" is highly disingenuous. But then again, being disingenuous is kind of your thing, Hound.

Is it? You've defended rapists. I know I know, you think they are innocent, but they certain all weren't. And all the misogynistic crap over the years. Jebus! Here you are, hoisting yourself on a pedestal.

 

[Derec]

Is it? You've defended rapists.

Who?

I know I know, you think they are innocent,

Duke Lacrosse players certainly were innocent. People on here (as well as 88 Duke professors and many in the mainstream media) were convinced that they were guilty merely because they were white and students at Duke, while the false accuser was black.

but they certain all weren't.

Certainly. Some people may be objectively guilty, but since we are not omniscient observers, we have to go by evidence. And nobody should be convicted of rape unless their guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Rule of law and all that.

And all the misogynistic crap over the years. Jebus! Here you are, hoisting yourself on a pedestal.

Whatever your opinion of my posts on other issues is, what does that have to do with this thread?

 

[southernhybrid]

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/la-protests-burning-police-cars/

I already posted an article that discussed some of the fake videos and misinformation regarding the mostly peaceful LA demonstrations, but I'll try again for those of you who didn't bother to read my last post.

One X user posted the footage on June 8, 2025, captioned "Absolute CHAOS in Los Angeles right now…"

The footage circulated widely on X (archived) but also appeared on Facebook(archived).

However, the footage claiming to show protests in June 2025 was miscaptioned. Though the footage was authentic and showed protests in LA, it originally featured in news reports on protests following the death of George Floyd in May 2020. The police vehicles seen in the footage can be identified by their roof numbers that corresponded to 2020, not 2025 footage.

A snippet of the footage appeared in an NBC News report from May 31, 2020, at time code 0:35. The footage showed cars 504 and 658, which also appeared in the footage circulating in June 2025. Car 504 had its hood open and Car 658 was on fire — identical features to the June 2025 footage.

An NBC picture gallery from the same May 2020 date also featured a screenshot from the footage (Image 42) that again featured cars 504 and 658. The image gallery credited the footage to NBC4 and Telemundo 52.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/la-protests-video-fire-jeep/

A video authentically showed people setting a Jeep on fire during June 2025 protests in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement.
Rating:

Miscaptioned
About this rating
Context
While the video of people setting fire to a Jeep in Los Angeles is real, it was not filmed during the June 2025 immigration protests. The video was taken in March 2024 during a street takeover in Los Angeles' Hyde Park neighborhood.

In other words, the right wing is taking photos of things that happened in the past and are saying they happening this week in LA. What a shock! Some of this shit was published in The Daily Mail. It's true that a small number of protesters have become violent, which is bad for many reasons, including the fact that peaceful protests tend to accomplish more compared to violent ones. But, most of the protesters have been peaceful.

I think there were more examples in the Times article I shared in my last post.

 

[ZiprHead]

By literally invading the halls of Congress with the stated intention of hanging Mike Pence, and killing some members of Congress,. I think it is hard to take seriously the observation that was simply some peaceful protest.

That is certainly not what all of them thought or wanted.

A good argument can be made that Jan 6 was more peaceful than whats in LA right now. AFAIK, no cars were burned and no one threw bricks in Washington.

No, it can't. It's totally stupid.

140 police officers were injured, 15 were hospitalized, several with severe injuries on January 6th.

Maybe the LA cop broke a nail firing that rubber bullet at the female news reporter.

 

[ZiprHead]

60 days of Marine presence in LA -> $134 million.

The Trump administration’s military response to unrest in Los Angeles is expected to cost $134 million for 60 days of operations, a senior Pentagon official told lawmakers on Tuesday.

The estimate includes food, transportation, housing and other associated costs, said Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell, who testified before the House Appropriations Committee’s subcommittee on defense alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The money is expected to come out of operations and maintenance accounts, funds that can be used to pay for a variety of things, including military training.

They're actually cutting those costs.



No beds, pillows, inadequate hygiene facilities, no food in sight. Saving money left and right.

This is how our president uses our military to prove he's a tough guy. He's a pussy.

 

[laughing dog]

You complain a lot about America, why don't you leave? I ask, because your rationale may be the answer to your very question.

I complain about some things in America, just like everybody else. To compare this to these creeps writing "Death to Amerikka[sic]" is highly disingenuous. But then again, being disingenuous is kind of your thing, Hound.

You completely avoided my question by switching the topic. Given your difficulty with reading comprehension, I will rephrase my comment to make it more understandable for you

You complain a lot about America, but you don't leave. Perhaps the same reasons for your remaining in the US are similar to those of the protesters who are not leaving.

Complaining about the government or protesting against the government is as American as apple pie. Just because you disagree with them, doesn't mean they don't love this country. In fact, if you actually thought about, protesting to correct a perceived injustice, is an act of patriotism and love of country.

 

[Harry Bosch]

That is not true. The protests are pro rule-of-law more than anything else.

Nothing says "we support the rule of law" than wanton lawlessness.

A lot of people are outraged that the Government is conducting warrantless searches and seizures, invading private homes and businesses and arresting people without warrants signed by a judge. Every person on US soil is protected by the Bill of RIghts whether they possess the right paperwork or not.

So sue the government. Not this:

Ok. I agree with you. But is this really a reason to panic and send in the feds. Just arrest the guy. No need for the overkill and the expense of bringing in the marines. God help us if we get invaded or attacked by a real enemy (Russia or China), Trump will panic and seize up!

 

[Derec]

You completely avoided my question by switching the topic.

Not switching the topic, but exposing your false equivalence.

Given your difficulty with reading comprehension,

I comprehend what you wrote perfectly.

You complain a lot about America, but you don't leave. Perhaps the same reasons for your remaining in the US are similar to those of the protesters who are not leaving.

And here it is, the false equivalence. In addition to ad hominem argumentation. There is a big difference between criticizing certain aspects of US, especially its politics, as everyone does (particularly on this forum) - and expressing hostility and hatred toward America, which is what these yahoos are doing.
Do you genuinely not comprehend the difference?

Complaining about the government or protesting against the government is as American as apple pie.

True. A peaceful protest may have messages that I vehemently disagree with, but they have full right to peaceful protest. Emphasis on "peacefully".

Just because you disagree with them, doesn't mean they don't love this country.

It has nothing to do with whether I agree with them or not. If you burn an American flag, or write graffiti like "death to Amerikka[sic]", you express dislike and even hatred toward America. That goes well beyond criticism of the government.
Let me offer you a counterexample: a message I saw on one sign was "ICE out of our neighborhoods". A message I disagree with, but this is actual criticism of the government, and does not express hostility or opposition toward this country.

In fact, if you actually thought about, protesting to correct a perceived injustice, is an act of patriotism and love of country.

Depends on the content of the message the protesters are sending. A protest is not necessarily "an act of patriotism and love of country".
And again, this went beyond lawful protesting into violent rioting. They do not have the right to do that, regardless of the content of their message.

 

[Derec]

Ok. I agree with you. But is this really a reason to panic and send in the feds. Just arrest the guy. No need for the overkill and the expense of bringing in the marines.

For state crimes, I think local law enforcement should handle it, and the national guard (not USMC!) can assist if LAPD is overwhelmed.
However, I have some caveats:
1. The locals should prosecute these rioters to the full extent of the law. Unfortunately, in 2020, local DAs have shown themselves unwilling to prosecute most of them. Feds ended up prosecuting many of them under federal charges, including the two Antifa lawyers who torched a NYPD vehicle. Why was the Brooklyn DA unwilling to take a deal on that when city property was being destroyed?
2. Some of the crimes are federal crimes, such as throwing rocks at ICE vehicles or blocking access to federal buildings.
This happened in Seattle: Anti-ICE protesters use bikes, scooters to block Seattle Federal Building exits
Note that Seattle PD did not arrest any of the "protesters", even though blocking exits to a building is most definitely criminal. Another example of Democratic-run cities unwilling to go against left-wing radicals.

God help us if we get invaded or attacked by a real enemy (Russia or China), Trump will panic and seize up!

Indeed. The Trump administration is a highly incompetent one.
Unfortunately, by engaging in violence these rioters are benefiting Trump politically.

 

[Derec]

I already posted an article that discussed some of the fake videos and misinformation regarding the mostly peaceful LA demonstrations, but I'll try again for those of you who didn't bother to read my last post.

"Mostly peaceful", like the "fiery and mostly peaceful" Kenosha riots?

In other words, the right wing is taking photos of things that happened in the past and are saying they happening this week in LA. What a shock!

The internet is a big place, and sometimes things will be mislabeled. But the photos I posted - burning Weymo taxis, rioters throwing stuff at police vehicles from an overpass, those are all from the 2025 LA Riots.
There is no way you can pretend that these are "peaceful protests" because a couple of videos or photos were mislabeled.

But, most of the protesters have been peaceful.

That is probably true, as that is the case with most riots - violence tends to be committed by a minority of people. That includes the 1/6 riot at the Capitol. Most people were just milling about, and did not break any windows or damage other property, much less assault Capitol Police. Do you also describe 1/6 as "mostly peaceful"?
None of this should lead us dismiss or minimize the violence that occurs, or that those responsible should not be prosecuted, regardless of the ideology of the rioters.

 

[Derec]

Certainly. Of course, just because someone sprayed it, doesn't mean it was sprayed by illegals, Mexicans, Americans, or people committing acts of subterfuge, like the guy who mailed in a fake death threat to Trump with someone else's identification on it to keep him from testifying.

That was a wild story, but we have no reason to think any of these creeps were not genuine in their messaging, whether they are US citizens, illegal aliens, or somewhere in between.

No, that stuff is not protected expression. But how many cars were burned?

I do not know the exact count, but how many do you think are acceptable before you would classify it as a "riot"? And besides, some cars were not burned but were otherwise vandalized, for example by throwing rocks at them.

Or if we take a moment and treat these people like human beings instead of dehumanizing them... they might be more supporting their family and loved ones not being deported.

What does it mean to "treat them like human beings" concretely? Human beings are responsible for their actions. If you engage in violence, you should be prosecuted whether you are protesting against immigration enforcement or against abortion rights.
If anybody is dehumanizing anybody, it's those who say that certain people should not be held to the same standards as others.

 

[laughing dog]

Not switching the topic, but exposing your false equivalence.

There was no false equivalence. You mistake the level of vehemence is irrelevant. The point is both are complaints. Really, this is not rocket science,

You complain a lot about America, but you don't leave. Perhaps the same reasons for your remaining in the US are similar to those of the protesters who are not leaving.

And here it is, the false equivalence. In addition to ad hominem argumentation. There is a big difference between criticizing certain aspects of US, especially its politics, as everyone does (particularly on this forum) - and expressing hostility and hatred toward America, which is what these yahoos are doing.
Do you genuinely not comprehend the difference?

I comprehend you still don’t get it. The difference in emotional content is irrelevant to the issue of why protesters should leave the country. And that ignores that there was no necessary hostility or hatred towards America,

There was not a false equivalence nor an ad hominem argument. I was not attacking you but using your positions as an example in the expectation it would make it easier for you to comprehend the argument. Clearly, my expectation was misplaced.

It has nothing to do with whether I agree with them or not. If you burn an American flag, or write graffiti like "death to Amerikka[sic]", you express dislike and even hatred toward America. That goes well beyond criticism of the government.

Spoken like a true John Bircher. Neither necessarily represents hatred of the USA. Burning the flag was a popular anti-Vietnam protest. “Death to Amerikka” is an anti-fascist statement.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Certainly. Of course, just because someone sprayed it, doesn't mean it was sprayed by illegals, Mexicans, Americans, or people committing acts of subterfuge, like the guy who mailed in a fake death threat to Trump with someone else's identification on it to keep him from testifying.

That was a wild story, but we have no reason to think any of these creeps were not genuine in their messaging, whether they are US citizens, illegal aliens, or somewhere in between.

We don't know. Could be some punk, some misguided person, could be a provocateur.

No, that stuff is not protected expression. But how many cars were burned?

I do not know the exact count, but how many do you think are acceptable before you would classify it as a "riot"? And besides, some cars were not burned but were otherwise vandalized, for example by throwing rocks at them.

Actual LA Riot.

Or if we take a moment and treat these people like human beings instead of dehumanizing them... they might be more supporting their family and loved ones not being deported.

What does it mean to "treat them like human beings" concretely?

It means to stop for a second and ponder their point of view and how the ICE arrests can be personally impacting their and their family's lives. To give up the dehumanizing title "illegal immigrant" and recognize they are human beings. You are castigating these people and their motives because of your prejudice against them.

Human beings are responsible for their actions. If you engage in violence, you should be prosecuted whether you are protesting against immigration enforcement or against abortion rights.
If anybody is dehumanizing anybody, it's those who say that certain people should not be held to the same standards as others.

Do you have any empathy or does it only matter when you have personal skin in the game?

 

[ZiprHead]

Certainly. Of course, just because someone sprayed it, doesn't mean it was sprayed by illegals, Mexicans, Americans, or people committing acts of subterfuge, like the guy who mailed in a fake death threat to Trump with someone else's identification on it to keep him from testifying.

That was a wild story, but we have no reason to think any of these creeps were not genuine in their messaging, whether they are US citizens, illegal aliens, or somewhere in between.

No, that stuff is not protected expression. But how many cars were burned?

I do not know the exact count, but how many do you think are acceptable before you would classify it as a "riot"? And besides, some cars were not burned but were otherwise vandalized, for example by throwing rocks at them.

Or if we take a moment and treat these people like human beings instead of dehumanizing them... they might be more supporting their family and loved ones not being deported.

What does it mean to "treat them like human beings" concretely? Human beings are responsible for their actions. If you engage in violence, you should be prosecuted whether you are protesting against immigration enforcement or against abortion rights.
If anybody is dehumanizing anybody, it's those who say that certain people should not be held to the same standards as others.

Wow, some cars were vandalized and rocks were thrown. How terrible.

People here legally are swept off the streets by unknown masked individuals who refuse to provide ID and sent to prisons overseas without trial or conviction.

But hey, cars.

 

[ZiprHead]

US citizen detained by immigration officials who dismissed his Real ID as fake

Leonardo Garcia Venegas was filming arrests of his co-workers in Alabama when officers arrested him

www.theguardian.com

Authorities wrestled a US-born citizen to the ground, cuffed him and dismissed his so-called Real ID as “fake” during an arrest operation targeting undocumented people on Wednesday under the direction of the Trump administration, according to a viral video and reporting by Telemundo.

Leonardo Garcia Venegas, 25, was at his construction job in Foley, Alabama, when officials arrived to arrest workers there. Garcia Venegas – who was born in Florida to Mexican parents – began filming the arrests with his mobile phone before officials reportedly knocked the device out of his hand and tried to arrest him as well.

Video of the arrest shows three officials wrestling him to the ground, while he yells: “I’m a citizen!”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news...on-ms-13-leaders-criminal-charges-deportation
According to an interview with the Spanish-language US news outlet Telemundo, officials took out his wallet, removed his ID – which complies with higher federal security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses as well as identification – and told him that it was fake.

“They cuffed me,” he said. “They put the cuffs on quite hard.”

But hey, some cars were burned.

 

[RVonse]

I comprehend you still don’t get it. The difference in emotional content is irrelevant to the issue of why protesters should leave the country. And that ignores that there was no necessary hostility or hatred towards America,

There was not a false equivalence nor an ad hominem argument. I was not attacking you but using your positions as an example in the expectation it would make it easier for you to comprehend the argument. Clearly, my expectation was misplaced.

Laughing Dog, do you not find it at least odd that these protestors are proudly bearing Mexican flags while burning US flags during a protest that they NOT be sent back to Mexico? I could at least get on board with their message if they were bearing California flags (since they live in California and want to stay in California). At least that would display they like California and match up to their rhetoric.

But to bear a Mexican flag while burning the US flag muddy's up their message while only causing fear to others and helping Trump look good.

 

[Lumpenproletariat]

America turning ugly

Virtually all those being detained and/or deported are workers, rounded up by raiding worksites. So Trump is singling out the most productive of the immigrants, not the criminals. The reason they're targeting worksites to raid is that these are where they can find the most immigrants together, easy to arrest and detain. This is further evidence that most immigrants (legal and illegal) are here to work, contribute to the economy. The number of criminals is too small, too difficult for them to be found and seized, so ICE can meet its quota of immigrants seized. So they ignore the criminals and target the productive immigrants who are easier to find and take away. The ones trying hardest to cooperate and "play by the rules," stay clean, out of trouble -- They're the ones Trump agents are pouncing on.

 

[Toni]

If they hate America this much, why don't they just leave?

Same reason you don't just leave when your government does something you disagree with.
Some people protest their government's action. Others, not so much.

But in this case many of the people doing the rioting are not citizens and they are not just protesting in disagreement. They are actually protesting the existence of the US.

Why did the Democrats think the Jan 6 protests were so much worse than these LA riots? At least those people in Washington were not opposed to the US existing as they were simply protesting the validity of a recent election.

If Abraham Lincoln was alive today he would be doing exactly what Trump is doing today. Preserving the union.

We don't know the above. Some of the protestors could be US residents furious that their mother or father will be soon deported. They have the legal right to peacefully protest. This is a situation that should be managed by locals. Not a federal government trying to expand its constitutionally limited power.

I agree with you that Trump is exceedingly incompetent at times.

But he can not just sit back and allow a state that is already disobeying the spirit of his elected mandate to get out of control. The voters of the US clearly said they want to curtail illegal immigration. And like it or not, California is part of the US now and not Mexico. It is the responsibility of the POTUS to ensure that remains the case going forward.

The fact that the local politicians refuse to do anything about this should tell you something important. It tells you that the local community is already highly sympathetic to Mexico and would like California to become part of that country instead of the US.

But the state was not ‘getting out of control.’ Trump is targeting California and Newsom because it’s red meat for his base, to distract from the fact that he’s stealing from ordinary citizens and giving it to billionaires.