Riots SITREP [13 JUN 25]
Is the Summer of Love 2.0 over so soon? Riots and general unrest greatly diminished from 12 to 13 June, with just three cities reporting disturbances overnight:
Los Angeles, CA: LAPD arrested about a dozen activists overnight, mainly for curfew violations, although DHS officers made an unknown number of arrests after militants threw objects at them. Local news at the ICE detention facility reported more law enforcement officers than protesters. State and city leaders’ discouragement of riots appear to have had a positive effect. I think Democrats are correct in saying that violence plays into President Trump’s narrative, but I doubt we’ve seen the last of violence in these cities.
Newark, NJ: Around 50 detainees pushed down a wall inside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility. Four detainees reportedly escaped.
Portland, OR: Police made 10 arrests and used pepper spray after militants refused to disperse outside the ICE detention center. According to police, militants set multiple fires in the vicinity of the Portland detention center, and one militant was arrested after allegedly assaulting a police officer.
Other Developments:
According to an internal memo, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) asked the White House to federalize an additional 20,000 National Guard troops to support ICE immigration enforcement and deportation operations.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked Federal District Judge Charles Breyer’s order for the Trump administration to return control of the California National Guard to Governor Gavin Newsom. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, 17 June.
Brown Beret member Alejandro Orellana was arrested by the FBI for conspiracy to commit civil disorder. Orellana was identified as the individual handing out face shields and equipment to demonstrators in Los Angeles, CA. (Brown Berets is a militant Chicano movement – roughly the Chicano equivalent of the Black Panther Party. Brown Berets was first organized in the 1960s, but officially disbanded in the 70s. Some individuals have restarted chapters in California and Texas.)
Federal agents detained Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) after he disrupted DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s press conference. Senate Democrats condemned Padilla’s detention.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe activated the Missouri National Guard ahead of protests planned across the state, in anticipation of civil unrest.
Assessment: