Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has dismissed growing comparisons between the current anti-ICE protests and the historic 1992 Rodney King riots, calling them "exaggerated" and "inaccurate."
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In an interview on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, Bass pushed back against narratives that claim the city is once again descending into large-scale civil unrest. "There is zero comparison," the Democratic mayor said. "I was at the epicenter when it was occurring."
The mayor’s statement comes amid ongoing protests that erupted after clashes between immigration enforcement officers and demonstrators opposed to ICE raids. According to Fox News, five people were arrested and at least 30 citations issued during violent scenes in which protesters hurled rocks, bottles, and bricks at law enforcement officers.
Bass acknowledged the unrest but stressed that it has been contained to a small area of Los Angeles. “It was a citywide civil unrest [in 1992]. It was the nation's worst in terms of cost, casualties, and arrests. This is nothing like that,” she said.
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Videos from the protests have circulated widely on social media, showing intense standoffs between activists and police. Despite calls for calm, the city has imposed a curfew in certain districts.
Still, Bass urged Angelenos not to buy into panic or misinformation. “For most residents, they’re wondering what city the media is even describing. They are definitely not describing Los Angeles,” she added.
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City officials continue to monitor the protests, while law enforcement agencies remain on high alert to prevent escalation.
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