ACS Statement on Military Response to Los Angeles Protests

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nancy Rodriguez, media@acslaw.org

Washington, DC – The American Constitution Society today released the following statement from Interim President Zinelle October reacting to the Trump administration’s response to protests in Los Angeles and continued detention of SEIU-USWW President David Huerta:

“After a week of mostly peaceful gatherings in Los Angeles protesting increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Southern California and the administration’s immigration enforcement policies, the federal response suggests that its priorities are to stifle dissent and score political points rather than maintain public safety.

The Trump administration’s decision to activate the National Guard over the strenuous objections of state and local government leaders in Los Angeles has served to inflame tensions and undermine state sovereignty. Coupled with the continued federal detention of protesters and observers, including most well-known SEIU-USWW President David Huerta, these actions represent a direct assault on First Amendment rights to speech and assembly that we cannot ignore or tolerate.

President Trump’s reliance on isolated incidents of vandalism and clashes with law enforcement to mischaracterize the Los Angeles protests as “riots” and “insurrection” and his threat to deploy troops in other cities across the country—stating “We’re going to have troops everywhere”—reveal the danger of this weekend’s intensified federal response. Unfortunately, we as a nation already know the danger of involving the military in responses to largely peaceful civilian protests. From protests against the Vietnam War at Kent State in 1970 to protests in support of Black Lives at Lafayette Square in 2020, the misuse of our military to stifle public protests serves only to sow chaos and provide a pretense to undermine civil liberties and constitutional rights.

We must name the Trump administration’s actions for what they are now to prevent these strong-arm tactics from being normalized and utilized in Los Angeles and other communities throughout the country.

The right to protest, embodied in the First Amendment's protection of speech and assembly, is foundational to the health and vibrancy of our multiracial, pluralistic democracy. ACS supports the rights of all who choose to express their dissent through peaceful protest and encourages all protestors to know their rights.”

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AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY
The American Constitution Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-partisan legal organization. Through a diverse nationwide network of progressive lawyers, law students, judges, scholars, advocates, and many others, our mission is to support and advocate for laws and legal systems that redress the founding failures of our Constitution, strengthen our democratic legitimacy, uphold the rule of law, and realize the promise of equality for all, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and other historically excluded communities. For more information, visit us at www.acslaw.org.