On Wednesday, Senator Dick Durbin from Illinois stated that he did not recall any of his Democratic colleagues referring to the anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles as "peaceful." When questioned by a reporter about this designation, Durbin expressed his surprise, leading to a follow-up inquiry on whether he denounced the protests, which some perceive as riots. He firmly condemned violence in any form, whether it occurs in the Capitol or in Los Angeles.
Despite Durbin's lack of awareness regarding the terminology used by his fellow party members, comments have been made suggesting that the protests were peaceful. Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey noted that many of these protests have arisen as a reaction to chaos instigated by the President, while Senator Alex Padilla from California insisted that the majority of protesters are indeed peaceful and deeply passionate. Representative Nanette Barragán also mentioned on CNN that the current administration targets peaceful expressions of dissent.
On the other hand, criticism arose when former Vice President Kamala Harris described the situation in Los Angeles as "overwhelmingly peaceful." In response, conservative commentators highlighted the disconnect between Democratic rhetoric and the reality of the violence occurring. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton faced similar backlash for her remarks attributing the chaos to President Trump’s intentions rather than addressing the violent actions directly.
The protests, which started with some peaceful demonstrations, quickly escalated into property destruction and violence, culminating in injuries to several law enforcement officers and multiple arrests. The situation prompted Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to impose a citywide curfew.
In an unusual display of dissent within the party, Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania criticized his colleagues for not sufficiently condemning the violent actions in Los Angeles. He lamented that the party loses moral standing when it fails to address the rioters' actions, stating, "This is not that," in reference to the distinction between peaceful protests and acts of violence.
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