Last night, President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles, using the excuse of protests against his immigration raids.
    Let me be totally clear about what is happening here.
    We have been working closely with law enforcement. There is no unmet need. The President is attempting to inflame passions and provoke a response. He would like nothing more than for this provocative show of force — and Pete Hegseth’s absurd threat to deploy United States Marines on American soil – to escalate tensions and incite violence.
    These are not people who have some deep conviction about protecting law enforcement. This is a President who failed to call up the National Guard when it was actually needed — on January 6th — and then pardoned the participants as one of his first acts as president.
    They want a spectacle. They want the violence. They think this is good for them politically.
    That is why White House aides were posting pictures of Trump getting popcorn last night.
    This is not the way a civilized country behaves. It is completely deranged behavior.
    To the people of Los Angeles and across the country who are protesting these immigration raids: don’t give them the spectacle they want. Never use violence. Speak out peacefully and in large numbers.
    I know many of you have been watching the news about this, so I thought it important to reach out.

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                                                Gavin Newsom