Anti-ICE protest breaks out in Phoenix as Los Angeles protest intensifies

PHOENIX – An anti-ICE protest broke out in downtown Phoenix on Sunday night.

What we know:

This comes as hundreds, if not thousands, of people are protesting in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to calm tensions, but there have been moments of them clashing with protesters.

Phoenix’s June 8 protest, in downtown, is near the state capitol building. It’s been peaceful.

There is a Phoenix Police presence at the protest to ensure safety.

What they’re saying:

“It is truly chaos going on there,” said Former FBI Special Agent, Kenneth Gray, about the Los Angeles protests. “You have smoke from the fires, you have tear gas being used and you have weapons on both sides being hurled at one another.”

The weapons used by law enforcement are non-lethal, Gray said.

“They’re using tear gas, they’re using rubber bullets. They are using sound devices, as well as their shields, as they try to push back the crowds,” he said.

Meanwhile, the rioters are using any resource available.

“They are throwing anything that they can get their hands on, whether it’s rocks, pieces of cement, or whether it is pieces of furniture. I saw pieces of furniture being thrown at one point,” Gray said.

‘It is possible for this to spread’

Gray says law enforcement across the country are likely on alert for similar outbreaks.

“These things have a habit of spreading to other cities. You’ll recall that after the George Floyd death, you had riots that broke out in a number of different places, so it is possible for this to spread,” Gray said.

To be clear, none of this, aside from protests, has been reported in Phoenix.

Local perspective:

Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego released a statement on President Trump deploying the National Guard in Los Angeles.

“When due process was followed and only criminals were being targeted, there was little to no public outcry. Public protest has erupted because Donald Trump has abused due process, separated families, and deported kids. Civilian law enforcement—not the military—is responsible for enforcing the law and dealing with any violence in our streets. This is a waste of our troops’ time, a waste of taxpayer money, and an insult to the men and women who serve. As a Marine, I know our military exists to defend our country from foreign threats, not to batter American protestors. Trump isn’t trying to solve anything—he’s putting on a show to look tough on TV. I’m interested in solutions that will actually bring about law and order. I’ve released a border security and immigration reform plan that will unleash economic prosperity and make America safe. I will always stand up for our troops and make sure they are not used as political pawns.”

The backstory:

Phoenix and its surrounding cities aren’t strangers to immigration protests.

When President Trump took office for the second time, there were several protests across the Valley as he made good on his campaign promise to begin deportations.

Most rallies remained peaceful, but there was an incident in Glendale where police say a protester stole a police cruiser, while another person jumped on a police cruiser, smashing the windshield in.

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