California Gov. Gavin Newsom gave a speech Tuesday entitled “Democracy at a Crossroads.” Below is a transcription of his statements as broadcast online and on television channels.
I would like to say a few words about the events of the last few days.
Last weekend, federal agents carried out a massive workplace raid in and around Los Angeles. Those attacks continue as I say.
California is not used to immigration enforcement. But instead of focusing on undocumented immigrants with serious criminal records and those with final deportation orders, the administration has long supported by both parties, which has pushed for mass deportation, indiscriminately targeting hard-working immigrant families, regardless of their roots or risks.
What's going on now is very different from what we've seen before. They began grabbing people Saturday morning when federal agents leapt out of an unmarked van near the Home Depot parking lot. Deliberate targeting of severe Latino suburbs. A similar scene unfolded when the clothing company was attacked downtown.
Other actions resulted in arresting a US citizen who was nine months pregnant. 4 year old girl took it. Family isolated. My friend literally disappeared.
In response, daily Angelinos came out to exercise their constitutional rights to free speech and assembly in order to protest the actions of their government. Second, cities and counties in California and Los Angeles were sent to help police officers maintain peace, and with a few exceptions they succeeded.
Like many states, California is not used to this type of anxiety. We manage it regularly and in our own law enforcement. However, this was also different.
Then tear gas, flash bang hand rena bullets, rubber bullets and federal agents detain people and undermined the rights of the due process.
Without consulting California law enforcement leaders, Donald Trump commanded 2,000 state National Guard members to be deployed illegally and for no reason on the streets.
This brave abuse of power by a sitting president has inflamed a situation where our people, our officers, and even the National Guard are at risk and at risk.
That's when the downward spiral begins. He doubled the deployment of the dangerous National Guard by inciting the flames even more vigorously. And the president, he did it intentionally. As news spread across LA, anxiety about family and friends became more intense. The protest began again.
By night, dozens of law violations had become violent and destructive. They destroyed their property. They tried to assault the police officer. Many of you have seen video clips of cars burning on cable news.
If you incite violence – I want to be clear about this – if you incite violence or destroy our community, you will explain. Such criminal behavior is not tolerated. Full stop.
Over 220 people have already been arrested. And when we review the tapes and construct additional cases, people get charged to the fullest extent of the law.
Again, thanks to most of Angeleno, who peacefully protested with our law enforcement officials, this situation was caught up in downtown just a few square blocks.
But that's not what Donald Trump wanted. He chose to escalate again, he chose more power. He chose theater over public safety. He has made another 2,000 guard members into the federal government.
He deployed over 700 active US Marines. These are not domestic law enforcement, but men and women trained in foreign combat. We respect their service. We respect their courage. But we don't want a city militarized by our own army. It's not California. It's not anywhere.
You can see unmarked and unmarked cars in school parking lots. Children fearing to take part in their graduation. Trump is pulling military dragnets throughout Los Angeles, far beyond his stated intentions to chase violent and serious criminals. His agents arrest dishwashers, gardeners, day workers and tailors.
It's just weakness, and weakness impersonates strength. Donald Trump's government is not protecting our community. They are hurting our community. And that seems to be the whole point.
California continues to fight. We will continue to fight on behalf of all, all people, including the courts.
Yesterday we submitted a legal challenge to President Trump's reckless deployment of the US military to major American forces. Today we sought an emergency court order to cease use of the US military to engage in law enforcement activities across Los Angeles.
If anyone is taken from the street without a warrant based solely on suspicion or skin color, then none of us is safe. The authoritarian regime begins by targeting people who cannot protect themselves. But they don't stop there.
They thrive in division as Trump and his loyalty allow them to take more power and exercise even more control.
Incidentally, Trump, he is not opposed to lawlessness and violence as long as it serves him. More evidence is needed than January 6th.
I ask everyone: take the time to reflect on this dangerous moment. A president who wants to perpetuate a unified attack on American traditions and be bound by law and constitutional law.
This fired the government watchdog, who has been president for over 140 days and is responsible for and can hold it accountable for corruption and fraud. He declared war, war against culture, history, science, knowledge itself. The database is literally gone.
He is outlawing news organizations and attacking the First Amendment. And the threat of reimbursing them. In the threat, he dictates what the university itself can teach. He targets law firms and judicial departments, the foundations of orderly civil society. He asks that he sits down for other reasons other than “to be elected” in his own words.
And we are all forcing us to order our American hero, the US military this Saturday, and to do vulgar displays to celebrate his birthday, as other failed dictators have done in the past.
Look, this isn't just a protest here in Los Angeles. When Donald Trump called for a blanket to command the National Guard. He applied the order to all states of this country.
This is about all of us. This is about you. California may be the first, but it's clearly not over here. The following states are:
Democracy is next.
Democracy is being attacked just before our eyes, this moment of fear has arrived. He takes the wrecking ball, a wrecking ball, to the historic project of our founder's father: three comparable branches of the Independent Government.
There's no more checks and balance. Congress is nowhere to be found. Johnson Speaker has completely abandoned that responsibility.
The rule of law is increasingly given the path to Don's rules.
The founding father never lived or died to see such moments. It's time for us all to stand up. Judge Brandeis, he said it best. In democracy, the most important office is the president, who is all justly respectful, not the president, nor certainly the governor. The most important office is the citizens' office.
In this moment, in this moment, we all need to stand up and explain to us a higher level of accountability. If you are exercising your First Amendment rights, go to peace.
I know that many of you are deeply anxious, stressed and fearful. But I want you to know that you are the antidote to that fear and that anxiety. What Donald Trump wants most is your loyalty, your silence, and conspiring in this moment.
Don't give it to him.
