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Rep. Maxine Waters denounces National Guard presence: ‘Who are you going to shoot?’
- Salvador Hernandez and James Queally, LA Times
- Jun 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 11
Speaking outside the Metropolitan Detention Center on Alameda Street, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters addressed National Guard soldiers, whose presence she called an escalation of tensions by the Trump administration.
“Who are you going to shoot?” she asked the two dozen soldiers. “If you’re going to shoot me, you better shoot straight.”
Waters (D-Los Angeles), an outspoken critic of the president, called the deployment of National Guard troops an unnecessary escalation of tensions as multiple immigration operations occurred in the county.
“Why are they out here with guns?” she said.
Waters said she was at the detention center to inquire about SEIU California President David Huerta, who was detained Saturday.
“This is an escalation,” she said. “The president is working to impose martial law.”
Waters also defended the protests that arose Saturday as ICE agents were deployed across the county.
At times, Waters coughed as remnants of tear gas used during protests Saturday drifted to the area.
“Trump hates us, he hates sanctuary cities,” Waters said. “He’s trying to make an example out of us.”
Waters attempted to gain access to the federal building to talk to someone in command but was turned away. She told reporters outside that she’s concerned President Trump is trying to use this as a pretext for declaring martial law and called on protesters to keep taking to the streets and make clear to the Trump administration that the deployment of guardsmen is unnecessary.
“I want the crowds to grow and grow and grow. We learned a lot during the civil rights movement,” she said, adding that Trump should be “ashamed of himself.”
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