Speak Your Piece: LA riots aren’t what you think
The violence and chaos that erupted on the streets of Los Angeles this weekend really had very little to do with illegal immigrants, criminals, due process, or racial targeting. Even as ABC and CBS reported, it was President Donald Trump’s decision to send in the National Guard that escalated the protest into horrendous, destructive rioting.
I had to discuss this on Speak Your Piece because of the obvious Democratic resistance — indeed hostility — to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE).
The rioting mob outpoured organized anti-Americanism and more than a few others, unknowingly, got caught up in it. We saw them waving flags in the faces of police and the National Guard — Mexican and Palestinian flags and at least two others I didn’t recognize.
At one point Sunday, it was reported the LA police chief said his department does not work with ICE. Was that a disclaimer to the mob? And LA Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom, unbelievably, threw President Trump under the proverbial bus, criticizing in strong words the decision to send in the National Guard.
And later that night, our local news affiliates of ABC and CBS led their newscast with the assessment that Trump and the National Guard helped create the violence. The legacy media took the story from the inept California leaders and their lunatic-left political base.
God bless the National Guard, and Trump for sending them. The National Guard is called into service under a variety of circumstances, domestically and globally. The Guard can be deployed by governors or the president for civil unrest and other security breaches. Trump was right to call upon them.
We’ve seen National Guard units involved in assisting with natural disasters, have we not? The units are called up for federal missions like wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and other domestic emergencies. And like this weekend’s “civil unrest.” Moreover,the National Guard plays an important role overseas and has a noble history of contributing to global stability and security.
I’m beyond disappointed to see what is happening in this great country of ours. This weekend’s rioting was more than a protest. The unruly, violent mob and their disruption of streets and business and law enforcement may be a foreshadowing of what’s to come this summer. Hopefully not.
Do you wonder what our friends and enemies see in this era of instant news? A strong leader in President Trump.
Pat Wandling hosts Speak Your Piece, from which this commentary is adapted, weekdays at noon on WBCB 1490.
