14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 19-25, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com The Moment is Now Federal orders to deploy the military to crack down on Los Angeles protests are un-American. By Gavin Newsom FORUM California is no stranger to immigration enforcement. But instead of focusing on undocumented immigrants with serious criminal records and people with final deportation orders—a strategy both parties have long supported—this administration is pushing mass deportations. What’s happening now is very different than anything we’ve seen before. In response, everyday Angelenos came out to exercise their Constitutional right to free speech and assembly, to protest their government’s actions. In turn, the State of California and the City and County of Los Angeles sent our police officers to help keep the peace. With some exceptions, they were successful. But this was different. President Donald Trump, without consulting with California’s law enforcement leaders, commandeered 2,000 of our state’s National Guard members to deploy on our streets—illegally, and for no reason. This brazen abuse of power inflamed a combustible situation, putting our people, our officers and the National Guard at risk. That’s when the downward spiral began. As the news spread throughout LA, anxiety ramped up. Protests started again. By night, several dozen lawbreakers became violent and destructive. They vandalized property. They tried to assault police officers. Thanks to our law enforcement officers and the majority of Angelenos who protested peacefully, this situation was winding down. But that’s not what Trump wanted. He chose escalation; he chose more force. He chose theatrics over public safety—he federalized another 2,000 Guard members and deployed more than 700 active U.S. Marines. These are men and women trained in foreign combat, not domestic law enforcement. We honor their service and bravery. But we do not want our streets militarized by our own armed forces. Meanwhile, ICE agents are arresting dishwashers, gardeners, day laborers and seamstresses. Trump’s government isn’t protecting our communities—it is traumatizing our communities. And that seems to be the point. Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting people who are least able to defend themselves. But they do not stop there. This is a president who, in just over 140 days, has fired government watchdogs that could hold him accountable for corruption and fraud. He’s declared a war on culture, history, science—on knowledge itself. California may be first, but it clearly won’t end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next. Democracy is under assault right before our eyes. The moment we’ve feared has arrived. It’s time for all of us to stand up. Justice Louis Brandeis said it best: In a democracy, the most important office is not president, and it’s certainly not governor. The most important office is the office of citizen. We must all stand up and be held to a higher level of accountability. You are the antidote to the fear and anxiety. What Donald Trump wants most is your silence. Gavin Newsom is governor of California. This story is excerpted from a June 10 speech. OPINION Democracy is under assault right before our eyes. reopening June 26th Voted Monterey’s Favorite Sports Bar 22 HDTV’s & Craft Beer Pet-Friendly Heated Patio & Fire Pits Live Music Summer Series Revitalized Menu $5 Happy Hour 4pm to 6pm & 9pm to 10pm $2 Million Renovation LOCATED BEHIND PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA | COMPLIMENTARY SELF OR VALET PARKING (831) 649-2699 | PETERBSMONTEREY.COM |
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