Bass acts on protest crisis
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass today charged the Trump administration with provoking a chaotic escalation in the City.
Additionally, Bass met with Governor Newsom, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell and Sheriff Robert Luna to discuss efforts to keep Angelenos safe. She urged Angelenos to protest peacefully and avoid violence and chaos.
“Los Angeles is a city of immigrants, where 50% of the population is Latino, a percentage of the population is from Asian countries, and from all over the world. And we embrace all of that,” said Bass. “It doesn’t matter where you came from or when you got here. The most important thing right now is that our city be peaceful.
“Protests and expressing your fears, your beliefs, is appropriate to do, but it’s just not appropriate for there to be violence. I don’t want people to fall into the chaos that I believe is being created by the Administration completely unnecessarily,” she added.
Mitchell urges peaceful protests
Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell (D-Inglewood, Compton, Carson, Hawthorne, Culver City, portions of South LA) this weekend decried the Trump Administration for the escalated and targeted attacks on the fundamental rights of immigrant communities that have forced this public cry for justice.
“People have a right to peacefully protest the violation of rights, denial of due process, and wrongful deportations. The Trump administration’s taking over the National Guard is an unnecessary intimidation tactic that further hurts public trust. My office is in contact with our Sheriff department that is on-site at Paramount and throughout the county to protect the right to peacefully protest,” said Mitchell.
“I am asking anyone who has taken to the streets to make their voice heard to do so peacefully because the real message is that our residents have had enough,” the lawmaker added.
Menjivar’s juvenile justice bill clears Senate
State Sen. Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley) last week saw her legislation, Senate Bill 357, to transform the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles County, pass the Senate House of Origin vote, sending it to the California Assembly.
SB 357 addresses a longstanding crisis within Los Angeles County’s Probation Department by granting the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors the ability to delegate partial duties and responsibilities of the Probation Department to another county entity. It grants that entity the ability to review juvenile case files, if it chooses to do so. This enables the county to better support justice-involved youth through rehabilitation and reentry programs.
“Those in power will always push back against checks on their power, but SB 357 shouldn’t be impeded because of a department’s vanity when the current system leaves young people dead, injured, dehumanized, and in a hopeless cycle of incarceration,” said Menjivar. “SB 357 gives LA County another tool in its toolbox to meet the needs of youth. Probation staff will be able to focus on their core safety and security responsibilities, while the county’s care-centered departments work in tandem with them, ensuring utilization of the available supportive services that truly rehabilitate the youth under our care.”
On May 13, 2025, SB 357 was supported by the LA County Board of Supervisors through a unanimously approved motion. The measure is intentionally designed to facilitate a robust collaboration among the Board of Supervisors, the LA County Probation Department, and stakeholders.
