Amidst ongoing protests and unrest in Los Angeles following immigration enforcement actions, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a plea for peaceful demonstrations against President Trump’s orders. Newsom strongly criticized the President’s decision to deploy 2,000 California National Guard members to Los Angeles, claiming the action was illegal and unnecessary.

In a June 10th address, Newsom stated that President Trump, without consulting with California’s law enforcement leadership, unilaterally deployed the National Guard to the city’s streets. He asserted that this “brazen abuse of power” exacerbated an already volatile situation, needlessly endangering citizens, law enforcement officers, and the National Guard personnel themselves.

The Governor’s statement comes in the wake of continued demonstrations and closures of federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles. The details surrounding the President’s decision and the specific nature of the deployment remain points of contention.