[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 114 (Wednesday, July 2, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONDEMNING THE VIOLENT JUNE 2025 RIOTS IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

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                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 27, 2025

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H. Res. 
516, the Condemning the violent June 2025 riots in Los Angeles, 
California. It is deeply unfortunate that instead of working with 
Democrats on a bipartisan resolution to condemn violence, Republicans 
have instead written a partisan resolution designed to attack elected 
officials in California. Furthermore, the resolution fails to recognize 
the premature and escalatory deployment of the National Guard and 
active-duty Marines by President Trump to Los Angeles.
  When the House of Representatives passes a resolution regarding 
current events, it should do its due diligence to cite the facts. 
Unfortunately, it is clear the Republican majority had no interest in 
accurately portraying the protests in Los Angeles when they wrote H. 
Res. 516. Instead, the resolution perpetuates a false narrative about 
Democratic elected officials in California. H. Res. 516 states that 
local elected officials did not adequately respond to the bad actors 
and trouble-doers. These claims are patently false. Mayor Karen Bass of 
Los Angeles implemented a multi-day curfew and surged law enforcement 
resources to downtown Los Angeles to maintain control of the situation. 
This kept the situation contained to 10 blocks of the downtown area.
  But even when the Los Angeles Chief of Police stated that the 
demonstrations ``were nowhere near a level'' where the National Guard 
was needed, President Trump disregarded his opinion and took the 
escalatory action of deploying 2,000 members of the California National 
Guard to Los Angeles. Then, on June 10, the President deployed 700 
active-duty Marines. Our active-duty military has absolutely no legal 
role in domestic law enforcement. Los Angeles County has 17,000 law 
enforcement personnel who are well trained in crowd control. There was 
no need for the National Guard or the Marines to be deployed by the 
President, and his decision sets a dangerous precedent for the future.
  Republicans had the opportunity to bring a resolution introduced by 
my colleague, Representative Barragan, condemning violence and bad 
actors, and thanking local law enforcement for their work. Instead, 
Republicans chose to use the unrest in Los Angeles to play partisan 
games and attack Democrats in California.
  Mr. Speaker, it is our duty as public servants to tell the truth. We 
should all stand for condemning violence, de-escalation of force, and 
the right to peacefully protest. It is unfortunate that this resolution 
walks away from these principles. I cannot support it.

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