Send a Texas Ranger and Call It a Day

The above was posted to the official Face Book account of J. Kenneth Blackwell who is a longtime conservative political figure, former Ohio Secretary of State, and self-described Christian nationalist. He served as co-chair of George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign and has remained an outspoken voice in right-wing media. A frequent critic of immigration policy and progressive social movements, Blackwell gained my attention for a post framing Los Angeles protesters as criminal "invaders." This article is a direct response.

Timeline of Troubles.

The Los Angeles protests began on Friday, June 6, 2025, immediately following a series of ICE raids across the city, most notably at a Home Depot in Westlake and a clothing factory in the downtown area. Social media went viral reporting the ICE activity, and crowds began assembling. Later, some protesters escalated tensions by flinging chunks of concrete at police officers, who in turn started deploying tear gas and using less-than-lethal (rubber bullets) methods to repel them.

The following day, Saturday, June 7, 2025, the protests spread to areas in Paramount and Compton. Streets were blocked, and police began utilizing flash-bangs and intervening with their vehicles.

Here He Comes To Save The Day.

Enter stage right: Donald Trump. By the time he stepped up to the podium at Fort Bragg on June 10, 2025, troops were already on the ground in Los Angeles. But facts have never been his strong suit. In his speech, he declared: “Generations of Army heroes did not shed their blood on distant shores only to watch our country be destroyed by invasion and third‑world lawlessness. … What you’re witnessing in California is a full‑blown assault on peace, on public order and on national sovereignty … We will liberate Los Angeles.”

He did not (could not, really) invoke the Insurrection Act—except maybe in his mind. There was no rebellion, no breakdown in law enforcement, no conspiracy impeding justice. Just a few angry tweets and a press conference. The Posse Comitatus Act? Still a thing. It bans troops from playing cops unless Congress says otherwise.

Regardless, the President federalized the California National Guard. Two thousand Guard personnel were deployed on June 8. Another 2,000 followed on June 10. Then, 700 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines arrived for good measure. Because nothing says “de-escalation” like camo and M16s during a community protest.

Trump’s justification for deploying troops to Los Angeles — absent any Insurrection Act trigger — rests on the same legally questionable emergency powers he abused during his first term and more recently with the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act. Courts pushed back then, and now, California’s new legal challenge argues he’s doing it again: weaponizing a “crisis” he helped create to flex federal muscle and feed the cameras.

Local Pushback and Outrage.

That same day, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass recounted in her official press statements: “As mayor of a proud city of immigrants, who contribute to our city in so many ways, I am deeply angered by what has taken place. These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city,” and “There was no need to federalize troops. And so to have this here is really just a provocation and something that was not needed…”

California Governor Gavin Newsom also described Trump's actions as "reckless," "illegal," and opined that they were more about stroking his ego than public safety. In a lawsuit filed on June 10, 2025, Newsom stated: “This is him intentionally causing chaos, terrorizing communities, and endangering the principles of our great democracy… the President is trying to manufacture chaos and crisis on the ground for his own political ends.”

A Not-So-Peachy Reality.

Meanwhile, incidents of violence were relatively isolated: some vehicles—including two self-driving taxis—were set aflame in South LA. At least 60 arrests were made. Police and sheriff's deputies pushed protesters back with rubber bullets and tear gas/pepper spray.

Five LAPD officers were reported injured, none seriously.

Press & Protester Injuries: At least 30 journalists were struck by law enforcement munitions, including Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi and British photojournalist Nick Stern, who required surgery, and New York Post photographer Toby Canham, who was hit in the head by a projectile. One person was found dead near a looted downtown storefront, though police have not yet determined if it was related to the protests.

In contrast, the 1992 Los Angeles riots—after the Rodney King verdict—saw five days of widespread chaos. Over 12,000 arrests were made, more than 60 people were killed, thousands injured, and the city suffered over $1 billion in property damage. In partnership with California Governor Pete Wilson, George H. W. Bush invoked the Insurrection Act and deployed active-duty troops. The response: 4,000 National Guard activated by Governor Wilson. 1,000 Federal Law Enforcement Officers and 8,500 active duty military from U.S. Army’s 7th Infantry Division and the 1st Marine Division. That’s what a real federal response to a real riot looked like.

Some Numbers, ’Cause I’m a Numbers Guy.

The estimated demographic breakdown of Los Angeles protesters is as follows:

• 50–60% U.S. citizens
• 20–30% documented immigrants (translation: they are here legally)
• 10–20% undocumented — many marching for their families

Troops, Optics and Overkill?

4,000 National Guard troops currently deployed. As of this afternoon (June 10, 2025), 300 are actually assigned to some protective task. The rest? Probably shopping on Rodeo Drive or sleeping on those luxurious concrete beds.

700 U.S. Marines deployed. About 200 were actually assigned to anything. The rest are being “held in reserve” — maybe shopping with the Guard or hanging ten out in Malibu.

If this were a real riot — just maybe — you think a few more of those troops would be doing something besides warming benches? Hell, let’s just send them a Texas Ranger and save taxpayers some money.

And Lastly…

To the Christian nationalist, election-denying, purported originator of the post that started this all — Kenneth Blackwell:

You are being disingenuous, misleading, and overgeneralizing. But you’re in good company — right there beside Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, and Stephen Miller — all of whom are slapping labels like “rioters,” “insurrectionists,” and far left lunatics on anyone who dares to oppose these ham-handed immigration roundups. Anything to ratchet up the tension, right?

I’m truly amazed that Tom Homan and the boys have apparently run out of dangerous criminals to apprehend. There are millions of them, right? So instead, they’re harassing families at schools and courthouses, detaining pregnant women, and targeting immigrants already complying with the law through immigration courts. Oh, but I forgot. Stephen Miller read them the "Riot" act because, in spite of all the money and drama and right wing bluster, more deportations occurred under Joe Biden's watch over the same time-span, so they are going after the low-hanging fruit now. Forget the criminals, bring me 3,000 a day...or else.

Yeah — real national security priorities.

Why, just last week in San Antonio, attorneys documented (on video) three children (ages 9–12) being zip‑tied by ICE at a federal immigration court. But sure, let’s pretend the threat is flag-waving parents and students with protest signs.

And don't get me wrong. For all the ire, this raises in me, I worked alongside ICE, FBI, DEA and ATF agents for more than two decades. I know the majority of them have great integrity and honor. I just don't want to ever hear them echo, "We were just following orders."

If this is a riot or insurrection, it’s the quietest example in history. But go ahead — waste millions militarizing neighborhoods while Tom Homan and Kristi Noem orchestrate middle-of-the-night grabs on nursing assistants and grocery clerks. It makes for great reality TV. And distraction. Where is it you don't want us to look, Donald?

Seems smart. I’m so proud to be an American.