"If he can successfully militarize LA without significant political consequences, Baltimore is next," said Angela Angel of BLM PAC.

WASHINGTON—In response to the Trump administration’s activation and deployment of members of the military for “the protection of federal functions and property” during protests in Los Angeles, Freedom House interim Copresidents Gerardo Berthin and Annie Boyajian issued the following statement:

This week marks a jarring collision of the military and civilian relationship, one that has traditionally remained carefully apolitical. It's a week bookended by two high-profile events, both steeped in Trump-era symbolism.

Sen. Jack Reed brought up the situation in Los Angeles and questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the administration's use of National Guardsmen and Marines to deal with the protests.

Trump issued a memo to deploy troops to areas where protests are occurring or "likely to occur," which may allow forces to operate in other cities.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said that Trump's mobilization of troops in LA exceeded his authority and ordered the president to return control of the state's National Guard to Governor Gavin Newsom.

Sen. Alex Padilla was removed from a Los Angeles news conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, while a federal judge weighed the merits of military deployments on Thursday.