AFP reporters watched a man in front of the federal building in Los Angeles temporarily arrested a man before they handed over to the police. Despite several inquiries, the US Army did not want to comment on why the man was arrested. It is extremely unusual for members of the regular army arrest civilians in the United States.
Trump had arranged the commitment of 700 members of the Marines in Los Angeles, which was actually intended for combat missions abroad, after he had already created 4,000 soldiers of the National Guard in the California metropolis against the will of the local authorities. The Republican justified the step with the fact that the protests in Los Angeles had come out of control against the hard acting against immigrants arranged by his government.
Critics accuse Trump an increasingly authoritarian behavior and cult of people. On Saturday, a military parade he wanted will take place in Washington in the president of the President on the 250th day of the US Army. The date of the parade coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday. Possible counter -demonstrators threatened Trump in advance with “very hard procedure”.
California governor Gavin Newsom from the opposition Democrats spoke of a “vulgar display of the weakness”. Such parades would be expected in North Korea or Russia, said Newsom: “To celebrate the beloved leader on his birthday? What an embarrassment.”
Activists from the “No Kings” movement (no kings) have announced protests in more than 2,000 cities throughout the USA for Saturday. The organizers said that the greatest demonstrations have been protested since Trump’s took office in January against “Authoritarianism, billionaire-up policy and the militarization of our democracy.
In Los Angeles, the organizers expect around 25,000 participants. The sheriff of the district of La, Robert Luna, called on the demonstrators to reluctance: “It’s about a good thing, but we do not want to violate violent troubleshooters who destroy property or commit violent acts,” he said.
Los Angeles’ Mayor Karen Bass said that after the soldiers were posted, she would expect even larger protests in her city. She called on the participants to stay peaceful to provide the government in Washington no pretext for further troops.
Almost 7,000 soldiers as well as dozens of tanks and helicopters are to take part in the military parade in Washington. The army estimates the costs up to $ 45 million (around 39 million euros). In addition to possible counter-demonstrations, the weather could also cloud the military show in the US capital: thunderstorms are predicted. Trump was unimpressed: “It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter to the tanks, it doesn’t matter to the soldiers. They are used to them. They are tough.”
Trump had already expressed the desire for a large military parade during his first term after watching the parade for the French national holiday in Paris in 2017.
