LA Unrest Follows ICE Raids, Sparks Political Feud

Violent unrest broke out in Los Angeles following ICE raids, resulting in arson, vandalism, and confrontations between demonstrators and police. Local news coverage became controversial after ABC7 anchors described the scene as people 'having fun watching cars burn,' while warning that aggressive police responses could worsen the situation. Despite significant violence, some media correspondents and Democratic leaders maintained that most protesters were peaceful, a stance criticized by others. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a 2026 California gubernatorial candidate, accused Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Gavin Newsom, and other Democratic leaders of 'gaslighting' the public and downplaying the severity of the unrest. Harris condemned the National Guard deployment and attributed the violence to former President Trump's policies, while Trump and Bianco argued that Democratic leadership was responsible for the chaos. Law enforcement was authorized to use less lethal munitions, and thousands of National Guard troops were deployed to help restore order.