Shocking LAPD footage exposed.
Protesters flooded the streets of downtown LA on Friday night, waving signs, chanting, and demanding an end to aggressive ICE raids.
Violent demonstrations explained.
The demonstrations were part of a growing national backlash against increased ICE raids, which have surged since President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
That rarely-used law, originally created to allow deportation during wartime, gave federal agents sweeping new authority to detain and deport undocumented immigrants.
Critics slammed the move as draconian and dangerous, while supporters argued it was a necessary measure for national security.
“We’ve never seen anything like this in a modern city,” said civil rights attorney Dana Holloway. “People are terrified. And now they’re being trampled in the streets.”
The protests began peacefully, with hundreds gathering outside the federal building, holding vigil and sharing stories of loved ones detained by ICE.
But tensions quickly escalated after riot police arrived. Several eyewitnesses claimed the officers were aggressive from the start.
“I saw them push a woman to the ground before anything even happened,” said one demonstrator. “They were looking for a reason.”
Caught in the middle was Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi of 9News, who documented the scenes unfolding live for international audiences.
It’s been a volatile day,” she reported from the front lines. “Tear gas, rubber bullets, and street blockades have turned LA into a pressure cooker.”
Later, Tomasi reassured viewers that she and her cameraman were safe but called the situation “a nightmare to report on.”
Trump’s response to chaos profiled.
By Saturday morning, the Trump administration had mobilized 2,000 National Guard troops to “restore order” in the city.
“If Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass can’t handle it, we will,” Trump declared on Truth Social, misspelling the governor’s name in a fiery post.
California Governor Newsom fired back, calling the deployment “a serious breach of state sovereignty” and demanded the troops be returned.
“We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved,” Newsom posted on X, sparking renewed debate about federal overreach.
LA Mayor Karen Bass also condemned Trump’s tactics, citing a growing climate of fear among immigrant communities.
“It’s not just what happened,” Bass stated. “It’s what this signals—that no one is safe, anywhere.”
Residents were urged to avoid public spaces and expect further crackdowns over the weekend.
Protesters, however, remained undeterred, vowing to return to the streets until their demands are met.
Shocking video described.
What started as a passionate show of civil disobedience turned into something far darker as police clashed violently with the crowd.
A now-viral video, shared widely across TikTok and aired on multiple news outlets, captured a terrifying moment of chaos.
In the footage, a man wearing a backpack is seen lying helplessly on the street as police surround him—some on horseback.
Within seconds, a mounted officer’s horse stomps on the man, followed by a second, more forceful trample from another.
Just when you think it’s over, a third officer swings a baton-like weapon at the man’s head while he tries to shield himself.
Despite the brutal blows, the man manages to scramble to his feet—only to be tackled back down by yet another officer.
Onlookers screamed. Protesters scattered. The air filled with the unmistakable hiss of tear gas and the pop of rubber bullets.
The footage quickly drew condemnation online, with many demanding accountability and questioning the use of horses in crowd control.
“It looked like a war zone,” one protester told reporters. “We came out to speak. They came out to crush.”
Viral moment sparks conversations.
LAPD has yet to issue a formal statement on the trampling incident, but an internal investigation has reportedly begun.
Civil rights groups, including the ACLU, are now calling for a full independent review and the suspension of officers involved.
And here’s the kicker: that brutal trampling incident? It may have violated multiple use-of-force policies—and legal experts are saying charges could follow.
As more footage continues to surface and the pressure mounts, this viral moment may become a turning point in the conversation about police brutality, protest rights, and the militarization of our streets.