Fetterman: Dems lose ‘moral high ground’ when they don’t condemn protest violence, vandalism

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman slammed fellow Democrats who have not condemned incidents of violence and vandalism that have marred protests in Los Angeles over the Trump administration’s immigration raids there.

“I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations and immigration — but this is not that,” Fetterman, D-Braddock, said in a post on the social media platform X.

The post was accompanied by a photo of a protester standing on top of a burning car waving a Mexican flag, with other cars engulfed in flames nearby.

I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration—but this is not that.

This is anarchy and true chaos.

My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/pPYbvP6xR0

— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) June 10, 2025

“This is anarchy and true chaos,” Fetterman wrote. “My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement.”

Los Angeles police said they made more than 100 arrests Monday evening, 96 of them for failing to disperse in the downtown area.

One person was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and another for vandalism. Two police officers were injured, taken to a hospital and released.

At least 100 more arrests were made in the previous three days of protests, according to reports.

President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of more than 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines despite the objections of the governor and local leaders.

While the Guard members were originally deployed to protect federal buildings, California Gov. Gavin Newsom filed an emergency request in federal court Tuesday to block the Trump administration from using the National Guard and Marines to assist with immigration raids.

The filing included a declaration from Paul Eck, deputy general counsel in the California Military Department. Eck said the department has been informed that the Pentagon plans to direct the California National Guard to start providing support for immigration operations, including holding secure perimeters around areas where raids are taking place and securing streets for immigration agents.

Fetterman has called out members of his own party on several occasions.

In March, he said Democrats who made silent protests such as waving signs with political messages on them and walking out during Trump’s joint address to Congress were a “sad cavalcade of self-owns and unhinged petulance.”

“We’re becoming the metaphorical car alarms that nobody pays attention to — and it may not be the winning message,” Fetterman added.

He also has faced backlash from some Democrats for his support of Israel and tougher immigration laws and for showing an openness to working with Trump. Outside his party, many have praised Fetterman for acting independently.

The Associated Press contributed.