California Must Resist Trump's Assault

By Anthony Castillo, Editor/Founder

On Thursday June 12th, California Senator Alex Padilla stood in on a press conference held by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and attempted to ask questions. Why did Trump nationalize the California National Guard against Governor Newsom’s request? Why did Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth deploy marines to Los Angeles? Could these disturbances not be handled by the police? Why are masked ICE agents raiding schools and churches? Why is the government pulling legal status from legal immigrants?

A press conference is held when a public official makes a statement and answers questions. Secretary Noem was ready to take canned questions from a friendly press, but was caught off guard by Senator Padilla’s presence. He was peacefully standing among the spectators while raising a question, and for asking a question about federal actions in his home state, Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly dragged out of the room. He was thrown to the ground and handcuffed even though he was not resisting.

Republicans have declared war on California’s Democrats and anyone else who opposes Trump’s czarist, reactionary provocations. He has trampled on our rights and attacked our citizens all while he golfs, sells citizenship to millionaires, hawks crypto, and strips healthcare from the poor.

People might try to compare the current situation in L.A to the 1992 riots or the 2020 George Floyd protests, but that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. 63 people died in the L.A. riots. No one has died in the Anti-ICE demonstrations. There were over 20,000 people at the George Floyd protests in L.A. There were about a thousand people at the recent anti-ICE protests. The overwhelming majority of protests have been held by peaceful citizens. There was even music and dancing! 

Yet the conservative propaganda machine is pushing a ludacris narrative of foreign insurrection. Pictures of a handful of burned Waymos and some miscreants in one small area of L.A. have been blown wildly out of proportion. It is red meat thrown to conservatives for a story that gives them permission to use police and military violence against any Californian who dares to voice opposition.

There are videos circulating of peaceful civilians and clearly identifiable journalists being targeted and attacked by law enforcement. This is the result of the Republican leadership’s rhetoric. Secretary Krisi Noem said she was “liberating” L.A. from socialists and the democratically elected mayor and governor. Trump voiced support for arresting Governor Gavin Newsom for getting elected. Add to this, the coming financial assault on our state and it is clear that the regime wants a conflict.

Yes, violent protesters, rioters, and looters need to be arrested. They should know the risk of breaking the law, even if they feel it’s necessary and right. Breaking the law should have consequences for citizens, but also for government agents issuing and executing illegal orders that violate people’s rights. And yes, all people in the United States, regardless of citizenship or documentation, have legal rights. Our coworkers, neighbors, and families all have rights. 

That is why it is necessary to stand in opposition to Trump’s racist anti-immigrant dragnet. This opposition cannot be won through leftwing revolution while much of the police, military, and militias hold sympathies with the rightwing ideology. The Republican war on California can only be won by the ballot box. This means convincing enough people in purple states to vote for Democrats. We should not fool ourselves into thinking anti-trans, anti-DEI liberals are going to win over MAGA voters. Democrats need to commit to our shared values of dignity, human rights, and solidarity. We can win with a message of universal prosperity. The strategy must be to mobilize low propensity and non-voters to show up.

Californians love their state, for its successes, for its accomplishments, and for its culture. Yes, the state has its flaws, like stark wealth inequality and a high cost of living, but California is also a beacon of hope, creativity, and beauty. This state, our home, is worth fighting for.

California must stand up and prove Donald Trump is no king.

Anthony Castillo is the editor in chief of The Valley Groundswell. Anthony is a Turlock native and alumni of CSU Stanislaus.