The Los Angeles Police Department said about 60 people were arrested over the weekend after “anarchists” embedded themselves within protests against federal immigration enforcement in order to attack police officers, take over highways and loot businesses.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said Sunday that the violent agitators included a driver who plowed through a police line on a motorcycle and another person who threw a Molotov cocktail.
Protesters frequently threw bottles, rocks and cement pieces at officers in riot gear throughout Sunday, and blocked off part of U.S. 101 when they stormed the highway.
The top cop said his force was “overwhelmed” by the chaotic scenes that were largely concentrated in downtown L.A.
“This violence that I’ve seen is disgusting,” Chief McDonnell said. “Tonight, we had individuals out there shooting commercial-grade fireworks at our officers. That can kill you.”
The chief suggested the protest’s most belligerent members are the same people who regularly cause trouble at other demonstrations.
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“Get away with whatever they can, go out there from one civil unrest situation to another, using the same or similar tactics frequently,” the chief said. “Some would call them anarchists.”
He added that “even more disgusting that many of the people who are doing this come in from other places just to hurt people and to cause havoc.”
Protesters were also seen lighting Waymo self-driving cars on fire, and after nightfall, looting retailers downtown.
The 29 arrested Sunday comes after another 29 people were arrested on failure to disperse charges Saturday.
