Transcript
Yasmeen Khan (0:05)
Good morning. It's Monday, June 9th. I'm Yasmeen Khan in for Shamita Basu. This is Apple News today. On today's show, how Donald Trump and Elon Musk could hurt each other. Families with transgender kids are leaving the United States. And a thrilling finish to the French Open. But first to Los Angeles, where President Trump has defied the wishes of the California governor and other local officials and dispatched the National Guard following protests and violent clashes with ICE officials. On Sunday, 300 troops were on the ground as demonstrators gathered downtown by an immigration center, while others brought traffic to a standstill, marching on the 101 freeway. Tear gas and rubber bullets have been used, and the LA Police Department said demonstrators ignited vehicles. California Governor Gavin Newsom formally asked Trump to rescind the order and return troops to his command. The unrest began on Friday. Immigration enforcement teams had targeted the fashion district in LA, one of three raids that day, which the US Attorney's office says resulted in more than 100 detentions. Protesters gathered downtown outside the federal building, where they were ordered to disperse. But as you'll hear, protesters continued undeterred and were met with the use of non lethal force.
David Huerta (1:34)
You guys have an opportunity to leave right now.
Yasmeen Khan (1:42)
More than 40 people were eventually arrested on Friday, including union leader David Huerta. Then on Saturday, protests continued, this time in Paramount, a small city 20 miles from downtown. Clashes there quickly turned violent. The LA Times reports protesters threw objects at law enforcement vehicle windows and police utilized tear gas. As night fell, clashes continued in Compton, across the river from Paramount. The New York Times reports officers used flashbang grenades and shot rubber bullets at the protesters, who threw rocks, glass bottles and fireworks at the officers. One demonstrator told local station ABC 7. What brought him to the streets?
David Huerta (2:33)
We have a very beautiful community, a very strong community, and this is why we show up. And we're going to keep showing up because, well, it is an obligation and a duty for each and every one of us to be here and fight against the oppress.
Yasmeen Khan (2:47)
By 6pm Pacific time on Saturday, Trump had signed a memo authorizing the use of the National Guard, declaring that the protests, quote, constitute a form of rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States. In a joint statement, Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats, called the move an alarming abuse of power. Newsom also said Trump was hoping for chaos. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna described the deployment of the National Guard against the wishes of state leaders as unprecedented. This is the first time a president has called upon the National Guard against the wishes of A state leader since 1965, when Lyndon Johnson sent troops to Selma, Alabama, to protect civil rights campaigners. On Sunday, troops with the California National Guard and officials with the Department of Homeland Security used smoke and pepper spray to disperse protesters outside a federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles. Here's one protester, Maya Malika, speaking to npr.
