More Arrests Made As L.A. Extends Curfews; U.S. Protests Intensify

The second night of curfews was enforced in downtown Los Angeles, as local law enforcement—supported by several thousand National Guard troops—tried to contain violent protests and prevent further vandalism, Allen Cone reported for United Press International (UPI).

A standoff occurred between protesters and law enforcement outside a federal courthouse in Santa Ana, about 32 miles south of Los Angeles, in Orange County. I Photo: U.S. Northern Command

Meanwhile, a standoff occurred between protesters and law enforcement outside a federal courthouse in Santa Ana, about 32 miles south of Los Angeles, in Orange County.

Military-style vehicles and National Guard members blocked part of the street in front of the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse, as well as another nearby federal building.

Protests are also occurring in other major U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday night, police declared an unlawful assembly outside Los Angeles City Hall. A CNN crew reported that officers used rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

The downtown Los Angeles curfew remains in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Central Division. On- and off-ramps to the 101 Freeway will also remain closed.

The curfew zone spans roughly 1 square mile and affects about 100,000 of Los Angeles’ 10 million residents. Mayor Karen Bass said the number of arrests made between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning was “minor.”

Authorities reported 225 arrests, including 203 for failure to disperse. One person was arrested for assaulting a police officer with a weapon.