LA chaos a reflection of deep-rooted divisions

THE ongoing protests in Los Angeles against the deportation of undocumented immigrants have captured the world's attention largely owing to the powerful and emotional images widely circulating on social media.

- DAVID GOSSET

Crowds of demonstrators have filled the streets, waving signs, chanting slogans and demanding an end to what they see as an unjust and inhumane crackdown on immigrant communities. These scenes have resonated globally, sparking both solidarity and concern. What stands out, however, is not just the scale of the protests, but the extraordinary response from the authorities. The sheer disproportion between the number of demonstrators and the armed forces deployed to counter them is striking.

Under normal circumstances, maintaining public order during protests falls under the jurisdiction of local police departments. But in this instance, law enforcement has been supplemented - and in many cases overshadowed - by the presence of heavily armed National Guard units and even Marines.

This highly militarised response to a domestic issue marks a troubling departure from established norms by the US administration.

The deployment of military personnel for civilian crowd control raises serious questions about the appropriateness and legality of such measures. The Posse Comitatus Act, a longstanding federal law, limits the use of federal military personnel in domestic law enforcement. While exceptions exist, the involvement of the US military in Los Angeles appears to push these boundaries, blurring the line between civilian policing and military intervention.