This isn’t the image Los Angeles wanted projected around the globe. Clouds of tear gas drift over protesters blocking a freeway. Federal immigration agents in tactical gear raid businesses searching for undocumented immigrants. A bitter war of words unfolds between President Donald Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Photos show Waymo robotaxis set on fire and graffiti scrawled on a federal detention center, while videos capture rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades hitting crowds.
Still reeling from January’s deadly wildfires—and with the World Cup soccer championships and the 2028 Olympics approaching—Mayor Karen Bass has urged residents to revitalize LA’s image by cleaning streets, planting trees, and painting murals to show the city’s best face to the world. “It’s about pride,” she said. “This is the city of dreams.”
Instead, a less flattering image has been broadcast worldwide in recent days. Protests have mostly been confined to a small area downtown in this sprawling city of 4 million. As Trump deployed nearly 5,000 troops in response, Bass pushed back against his claims that LA is overrun and in crisis.
Bass said she was troubled by portrayals of the city being “invaded and occupied by illegal aliens and criminals” and swarmed by “violent, insurrectionist mobs.” “I don’t know if anybody has seen that happen, but I’ve not seen that happen,” she said.
The protests began Friday outside a federal detention center, with demonstrators demanding the release of more than 40 people arrested by immigration authorities. Advocates say the detainees have no criminal histories and are denied due process.
Like New York, Los Angeles is an international city many immigrants call home. Its official seal reflects Spanish and Mexican history. Over 150 languages are spoken by students in its school district. About half the population is Latino, and roughly one-third were born outside the U.S.
Bass blamed the Trump administration for creating “a chaotic escalation” by mobilizing troops. “This is the last thing our city needs,” she said.
Resident Adam Lerman, who attended protests, warned that demonstrations would continue if more raids occur. “We are talking about a new riot every day,” he said. “Everybody knows they are playing with fire.”
This is not the publicity LA needs as it prepares to welcome the world for major sporting events. “Most host cities would be putting final touches on their mega-event red carpet,” said Jules Boykoff, a Pacific University professor who studies Olympic impacts. These conflict scenes “are not exactly the best way to entice the world to plan their next tourist trip to the U.S.”
The raids and protests have created another political challenge for Bass, who faces a budget crisis and fallout from the wildfires that started while she was abroad. She has urged peaceful protests but will likely face criticism for involving the police.
Bass must fight the perception of LA as unsafe and disorderly—a narrative pushed by Trump, who has called her incompetent and said the city has been “invaded.” The sprawling city—roughly 470 square miles—saw protests concentrated downtown.
“The most important thing is that our city be peaceful,” Bass said. “I don’t want people to fall into the chaos I believe is being created by the (Trump) administration.”
If LA’s image was once defined by Mediterranean climate and Hollywood glamour, it is now “primarily for disaster,” said Claremont McKenna political scientist Jack Pitney. “A lot of perception depends on images,” he said. Right now, the dominant one “is a burning Waymo.” [Abridged]
Michael R. Blood, MDT/AP
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