US protests spread nationwide

Protests in the US over federal immigration enforcement raids and President Donald Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles are spreading nationwide and are expected to continue into the weekend, the AP reports.

While many demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been peaceful, with protesters chanting slogans and carrying signs, others have led to clashes with police, resulting in hundreds of arrests and the use of chemical tear gas to disperse crowds.

In Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott posted on social media that an unspecified number of National Guard troops "will be deployed to locations across the state to maintain peace and order."

Activists say they will hold even larger demonstrations in the coming days, including "No Kings” events across the country on Saturday, coinciding with Trump's planned military parade in Washington, D.C.

The Trump administration has said that immigration raids and deportations will continue regardless.

• Seattle: "Abolish ICE Now”

Hundreds of protesters marched through downtown Seattle on Wednesday night toward a federal building where immigration cases are processed, some dragging a nearby dumpster and setting it on fire. The building was covered in graffiti with the message "Abolish ICE Now” written in large letters on the front window. Some protesters placed electric bikes and traffic cones at the entrance to block access.

Dozens of officers lined up in front of the protesters near the federal building, some of them spraying them with pepper spray. Officers surrounded the crowd, trying to push demonstrators away from the federal building, with some protesters throwing fireworks and rocks at officers, according to the Seattle Police Department.

• New York City: "ICE, get out of New York”

Police detained more than 80 people during protests in Lower Manhattan's Foley Square on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Protesters chanted and waved signs that included the slogan "ICE, get out of New York” as they gathered near an ICE facility and federal courts. Police estimated that about 2,500 people attended. Some protesters jumped over metal barriers and clashed with officers, who pushed them to the ground. Video footage showed demonstrators throwing objects at law enforcement vehicles, according to the source.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said most of the protesters were peaceful and only a few caused a disturbance that required police intervention.

• San Antonio: Hundreds gather outside City Hall

More than 400 people gathered outside City Hall Wednesday night for an anti-ICE demonstration, according to local officials. The protest was largely peaceful, with many listening to music at full volume. Nearby streets were closed, while police officers watched from hundreds of feet away.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus encouraged the peaceful demonstration but said his officers would respond if "it turns violent.”

Texas Department of Public Safety officials said the Texas National Guard was present at the protest. Guard members were not seen standing with law enforcement officers in front of a small crowd of demonstrators.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott declined to say how many troops would be sent, saying only that they would be deployed to "strategic locations where they can provide the strongest response” needed. He did not say whether he or the president had deployed them, but he stressed, "We want to make sure that what happened in California does not happen in Texas.”

Mayor Ron Nirenberg said he had not asked the governor to deploy the National Guard, and officials said they did not know how many troops were being sent, where they would be stationed or what they would do.

"I want to acknowledge the anger and frustration that exists with the federal government's crude interpretations of immigration law and its callous approach to human rights,” Nirenberg said, adding, "Exercise your right to free speech, but I urge you to keep it lawful and peaceful.”

• Philadelphia: Protesters arrested

About 150 protesters gathered outside the Federal Detention Center and marched to ICE headquarters, then back to the detention center.

Police ordered a group marching along a main road to disperse, and when they ignored orders, officers arrested 15 of them. Several officers used force during the arrests and their conduct will be reviewed, police said, without elaborating on what kind of force was used. Two officers suffered minor injuries.

• San Francisco: Buildings vandalized, cars damaged

About 200 protesters gathered outside the San Francisco Immigration Courthouse after activists said several people were arrested there.

Protests in the city grew to several thousand demonstrators on Sunday and Monday, and more than 150 people were arrested after buildings were vandalized and cars, police vehicles and buses were damaged. Police said two officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

• Chicago: Vandalism and assault

Police said 17 people were arrested at a protest that filled a downtown plaza and took over surrounding streets Tuesday night. Some of those arrested were charged with vandalism, and four were charged with misdemeanors, including aggravated assault on an officer.

A 66-year-old woman was treated for a broken arm after being hit by a car, the AP notes. No other injuries were reported.

• Denver: "Cowards, ICE”

A group of protesters gathered outside the Colorado state capitol, creating a sea of signs, one of which read: "Show your faces! Cowards, ICE.” The group then split in two, with hundreds chanting and marching down two major thoroughfares, blocking traffic.

Police ordered them to disperse. Officers used smoke and pepper balls to control the crowd, and 17 people were arrested, Denver Police said Wednesday.

• Spokane: State of siege

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown has imposed a state of siege in downtown Spokane, Washington, after a protest Wednesday afternoon outside an ICE office.

Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall said more than 30 protesters were arrested and officers used "pepper balls” on the crowd, KREM-TV reported.

Brown said in a news conference Wednesday that the curfew was meant to "protect public safety,” adding that the vast majority of protesters were peaceful.

"We respect their right to peacefully protest and be angry about federal policies,” said Lisa Brown, adding, "I was a person protesting federal policies, and that is a right that we have.”

The curfew was in effect from 9:30 p.m. Wednesday until 5 a.m. Thursday, according to a statement from the city. The curfew did not apply to law enforcement, emergency personnel, the media, people leaving a soccer game at a local sports venue, area residents, and people traveling for work.

"We want to uphold the right of everyone to peacefully protest in this city and this country, but we will not tolerate chaos, disorder or violence,” Tisch said Wednesday during an appearance on Fox 5 New York.

Police said they arrested 86 people, including 52 who were released on misdemeanor citations and 34 who were charged with assault, resisting arrest and other offenses.

• Los Angeles: Mexican flag, symbol of demonstrations

Los Angeles has been rocked by protests since late last week, when ICE officers raided several garment factory jobs, according to CNN. Although the protests began peacefully, they later resulted in arrests and violent confrontations. The Mexican flag is a symbol of the protests in Los Angeles, but demonstrators also waved flags of other Latin American countries.

President Donald Trump sent National Guard soldiers and Marines to Los Angeles, which outraged Governor Gavin Newsom, who described the possible involvement of the Marines as "a flagrant abuse of power."

It is worth noting that more than 3.4 million people of Mexican origin or born in Mexico live in Los Angeles County, more than in any other county in the US.