A group of business, civic, government and nonprofit leaders have issued a statement “strongly” condemning the recent ICE raids in Los Angeles County and the White House’s response to protests against the immigration enforcement.
The statement criticized what it called “the unnecessary and irresponsible action of the president of the United States in illegally deploying the National Guard and active-duty U.S. Marines” to respond to local protests.
“This is a clear violation of the law and of long-standing norms against the use of our military as a domestic police force,” the statement, issued on Monday, June 9, said, “which threatens to politicize our military and inflame what is already a tense and difficult situation. This is a serious breach of legal tradition and the public trust.
“The issue here goes beyond Los Angeles or California,” the statement added. “If the president of the United States can, without notice to the governor or without the constitutionally required request of the governor, send the military into our city, he can do so in any city in America at any time and for any reason he may conjure.”
The statement made clear that the business leaders were speaking for themselves as individuals and not their affiliations. The statement was signed by:
- Fred Ali, former president and CEO of the Weingart Foundation.
- Ed Avila, president of tProject Restore.
- Kathleen Brown, former California state treasurer.
- Elise Buik, president of United Way of Greater L.A.
- Connie Chung Joe, CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Southern California.
- Geoffrey Cowan, university professor at the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy.
- Wendy Greuel, former Los Angeles city controller.
- George D. Kieffer, cofounder of Civic Alliance and past chair of the L.A. Chamber of Commerce.
- Stewart Kwoh, cofounder and co-executive director of The Asian American Education Project.
- Ambassador (ret.) Michael Lawson, former president and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League.
- Andy Lipkis, founder of the TreePeople.
- Monica Lozano, former publisher and CEO of La Opinion.
- Cindy Miscikowski, CEO of The Ring Group.
- Michele Siqueiros, CEO of LA Local News Initiative.
- Miguel Santana, president and CEO of the California Community Foundation.
- Steve Soboroff of Soboroff Partners.
- Gerun Riley.
- Peter Taylor, former president of ECMC Foundation.
- Helen Iris Torres.
- Arturo Vargas, senior advisor of NALEO Educational Fund.
- Brandon D. Young, partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP.
“This is not a proper or lawful use of our military,” the statement said, addressing President Donald Trump directly. “Local law enforcement must be allowed to do their jobs. The Governor will tell you when, and if, Los Angeles needs your help.”