Looters ran wild in Los Angeles, turning protests against ICE raids into a spree of vandalism and theft. On the night of June 9-10, 2025, what began as a demonstration spiraled into chaos, with stores smashed and the Japanese American National Museum defaced. It’s a stark reminder that opportunists can hijack noble causes.
Protests erupted on June 6, 2025, after ICE launched raids to detain suspected unauthorized migrants, reported the New York Post. Activists tried to block the operations and picketed a detention center, but by June 9, the demonstrations had morphed into riots in parts of downtown. The shift from principle to pandemonium was swift.
The Broadway Apple store was hit hard, its windows shattered as looters grabbed iPhones and other goods. Nearby, an Adidas store was ransacked, with sneakers snatched by crowds. Jewelry stores, marijuana dispensaries, and a CVS pharmacy also fell victim to the frenzy.
Otoro Sushi in Little Tokyo wasn’t spared—looters tore open its doors, stealing a computer monitor and equipment. The Japanese American National Museum faced a different kind of assault, with “F**k ICE” graffiti sprayed on its windows, walls, and an exhibit honoring Japanese-American WWII soldiers. It’s a bitter irony that a place of heritage became a canvas for chaos.
By June 10, volunteers scrubbed the museum’s graffiti with brushes and soap, trying to restore its dignity. Workers swept debris and boarded up damaged stores, including Adidas and T-Mobile, which had been looted the previous night. The physical scars of the unrest were undeniable.
Police reported 14 arrests for looting and 96 for failure to disperse, but footage showed masked looters outpacing overwhelmed officers. The sheer audacity of the thefts, captured on video, left many questioning the protesters’ true motives. Actions, it seems, speak louder than chants.
President Trump responded by sending more National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles on June 10. The Pentagon estimated the deployment cost at $134 million, with troops expected to remain for approximately 60 days. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the protesters “rioters, looters, and thugs” during a House budget hearing.
Hegseth’s words, while blunt, don’t capture the full picture—protests started with perceived grievances but were derailed by criminality. His rhetoric, though, risks painting all demonstrators with the same brush. Nuance matters when tensions are this high.
California’s Democratic leaders argued the troop deployment only fueled the chaos. They have a point—military presence can escalate tempers—but ignoring the looting and vandalism isn’t an answer either. It’s a messy situation with no clean fix.
A business owner, speaking to News Nation, summed it up: “This doesn’t look like they’re protesting for ICE or anything.” The looting, he said, felt disconnected from the original cause. It’s hard to argue when iPhones and sneakers are the spoils of “justice.”
The owner’s frustration is a wake-up call—protests lose legitimacy when they harm the very communities they claim to defend. Little Tokyo, a cultural hub, bore the brunt of this betrayal. Solidarity shouldn’t mean destruction.
Protests were set to continue on June 10, marking a fifth day of unrest. With troops now in the mix, the city braces for more tension. The line between activism and anarchy is razor-thin.
The deployment of federal forces raises questions about overreach, but the looting spree demands a response. Los Angeles can’t afford to let chaos become the new normal. Balance, not escalation, is the key.
The vandalism of the Japanese American National Museum, in particular, stings—a place honoring resilience defaced in the name of protest. Volunteers’ efforts to clean it show community spirit, but the damage is done. Respect isn’t a one-way street.
As Los Angeles navigates this turmoil, the challenge is clear: address legitimate concerns without excusing lawlessness. The protests started with a purpose, but the looting has drowned it out.
