Boston joins US outcry as immigration protests escalate in Los Angeles

Hundreds of protesters filled City Hall Plaza in Boston, US, joining a growing national wave of dissent sparked by federal immigration crackdowns and the detainment of union leader David Huerta. 

The demonstration in Boston was held in solidarity with protestors in Los Angeles, where tensions have surged following the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops by order of President Donald Trump, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Chants of “Come for one, come for all” and “Free David, free them all” rang through the plaza as activists condemned the military presence in California and the reported targeting of immigrant communities. Signs reading “Massachusetts stands with our neighbors in Los Angeles” and “Protect our immigrant neighbors” were held high above the crowd.

Chrissy Lynch, President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, addressed the demonstrators, blaming corporate greed—not immigration—for economic inequality.

“An immigrant doesn’t stand between an American worker and a good job—a billionaire does,” she said, calling on Trump to withdraw any further plans for military intervention.

Meanwhile, on the West Coast, the protests that sparked national solidarity have entered a more volatile phase. Los Angeles has become a flashpoint after President Trump ordered the deployment of over 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to respond to protests against aggressive immigration enforcement tactics by ICE, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, have denounced the deployment as unlawful and politically motivated.

What began as mostly peaceful protests in L.A. shifted dramatically on June 9. Reporters on the ground described scenes of unrest near federal buildings, where masked individuals distributed riot shields and gas masks in full view. Boxes marked “bionic shield” were left unattended, and some demonstrators were seen spray-painting sidewalks, doing burnouts in the street, and climbing light poles. Despite the disorder, local police were reportedly absent from the area, even as National Guard members stood stationed nearby. No arrests were made.

Adding to the chaotic atmosphere, protesters targeted self-driving electric vehicles operated by Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet. Several Jaguar I-PACE robotaxis—each valued at up to $200,000—were vandalized and set ablaze. The fires, fueled by high-voltage lithium-ion batteries, burned hotter than traditional car fires and posed significant hazards.

Waymo responded by restricting travel routes for its fleet, blocking access to downtown Los Angeles. A check of the app on June 9 showed no available rides between West L.A. and central landmarks like the Crypto.com Arena and USC.

“We made a great decision in sending the National Guard to deal with the violent, instigated riots in California... We will always do what is needed to keep our Citizens SAFE, so we can, together, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump said, defending his actions on Truth Social. 

He criticized California’s leadership, referring to Governor Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass as “very incompetent” and accused them of misleading the public about the severity of the protests.

By Sabina Mammadli