Fact check: Are protesters being assaulted by federal forces in LA right now?

1. Summary of the results

The situation in Los Angeles involves confirmed confrontations between federal forces and protesters, but the scale and nature of these confrontations are complex. Federal agents have used force against protesters, including flash-bang grenades and less-than-lethal ammunition during immigration raids in LA's Fashion District ^[1]. The LAPD has fired over 600 non-lethal bullets and used tear gas on protesters ^[2]. A significant federal presence includes 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines ^{[3] [4]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements are missing from the original question:

• The protests were triggered by immigration raids that resulted in over 40 arrests ^[5]
• Some protesters have engaged in violent actions, including throwing rocks and setting vehicles on fire ^[3]
• The situation is being significantly misrepresented on social media, with the protests being more localized than some suggest ^{[3] [6]}
• Multiple journalists have reported being caught in crossfire or targeted by authorities ^[2]
• California Governor Newsom has sued the Trump administration over the military deployment ^[4]
• The federal troops' primary role is to protect federal agents, not conduct raids ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question's framing ("being assaulted") potentially oversimplifies a complex situation:

• Different stakeholders present conflicting narratives:
• Trump administration claims the intervention prevented Los Angeles from "burning" ^[7]
• LA Mayor Karen Bass has condemned violence while promising to arrest and prosecute vandals ^[7]
• Online narratives are "grossly exaggerating" the violence ^[6]

Those benefiting from different narratives include:

• Federal government: Benefits from portraying intervention as necessary and successful
• Immigration rights activists: Benefit from highlighting aggressive federal response
• Local government: Benefits from appearing tough on vandalism while critical of federal intervention
• Social media platforms: Benefit from engagement generated by more extreme portrayals of the situation