California Dreamin – The Failures of Leadership

The recent unrest gripping Los Angeles, sparked by federal immigration enforcement operations, has laid bare a critical challenge to the bedrock principles of law and order. While the right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of American liberty, what has unfolded in parts of California’s largest city transcends legitimate dissent and veers into destructive chaos. The images of burning vehicles, vandalized businesses, attacks on law enforcement, and widespread disruption paint a stark picture: a breakdown of civil society that demands immediate and decisive action. Unfortunately these acts of violence and destruction have been embraced by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsome by virtue of their inaction and mischaracterization of actual events.

From a law and order perspective, the federal government’s decision to deploy the California National Guard and active-duty Marines is not an overreach, but a necessary response to a failing local environment. When local authorities, whether through policy or inability, fail to secure their streets and protect their citizens and property, the federal government has a moral and constitutional imperative to step in. The assertion that federal intervention “inflames tensions” rings hollow when faced with the tangible destruction and danger unleashed by those who reject the rule of law.

Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and the officers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are sworn to uphold the laws of the land. Their work, often dangerous and thankless, is vital to maintaining our national security and ensuring that those who enter our country do so legally and abide by our statutes. To see these officers targeted, and their vital work met with violent opposition, is an affront to every law-abiding citizen. The Democratic Party has embraced, excused and encouraged this insanity.

Conservative values emphasize personal responsibility, respect for authority, and the fundamental importance of a secure and orderly society. The current unrest, unfortunately, reflects a disturbing trend of prioritizing grievance over governance, and of excusing criminal behavior in the name of political protest. No cause, however passionately felt, justifies arson, looting, or assaults on police. These are not acts of civil disobedience; they are acts of criminality that undermine the very fabric of our communities.

It is time for leaders of the Democratic Party to unequivocally condemn the violence and support the men and women in uniform who are striving to restore peace. Los Angeles deserves better than chaos. It deserves a return to order, where laws are enforced, property is protected, and the safety of all residents is paramount. The President is tirelessly working to overcome barriers to restoring order whether those barriers are from within the Democratic Party establishment or the activist judiciary. The current situation serves as a grim reminder that without a strong commitment to law and order, even the most vibrant cities can descend into anarchy. It also shows the damaging affect activist judges inflict upon the citizenry through partisan interventions to rightful Executive Branch actions.