Marines Mobilized to Respond to Protests in Los Angeles as Trump Escalates Use of Military

Strategic Insights -

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the deployment of Marines "unwarranted" and "unprecedented," as US President Donald Trump escalates his use of the military to respond to protesters in Los Angeles. More than 700 Marines from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in California have been mobilized to join the thousands of National Guard members already activated by Trump over the weekend.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 700 Marines from the 2nd battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine division have been mobilized to respond to protests in Los Angeles.
  • The Marines will join the 1,700 National Guard members already operating in the greater Los Angeles area, tasked with augmenting the guard presence on the ground.
  • The deployment marks a significant escalation in Trump's use of the military as a show of force against protesters, but it remains unclear what specific tasks the Marines will be assigned.
  • The Marines are prohibited from conducting law enforcement activity such as making arrests unless Trump invokes the Insurrection Act.
  • The deployment of the Marines is intended to provide "continuous coverage of the area in support of the lead federal agency," according to US Northern Command.
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom described the involvement of Marines as "unwarranted" and "unprecedented," while Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell called for open and continuous lines of communication between agencies.
  • The activation of the Marines is a rare deployment of military personnel within the US, with one US official stating that Marines have not been mobilized within the US like this since the 1992 riots in Los Angeles.

Statistics:

  • 700 Marines from the 2nd battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine division have been mobilized to respond to protests in Los Angeles.
  • 1,700 National Guard members already operating in the greater Los Angeles area.
  • Approximately 4,200 total service members deployed to LA, including the initial 2,000 service members deployed by Trump's Saturday memorandum and the additional 2,000 deployed on Monday.
  • Marines have not been mobilized within the US like this since the 1992 riots in Los Angeles.

Sources:

  • Natasha Bertrand and Haley Britzky, CNN
  • US Northern Command
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom
  • Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell
  • CNN's Cindy Von Quednow and Danya Gainor.