This week marks a jarring collision of the military and civilian relationship, one that has traditionally remained carefully apolitical. It's a week bookended by two high-profile events, both steeped in Trump-era symbolism.

It comes as roughly 200 Marines are being deployed to Los Angeles on Friday to protect federal property and personnel, according to a military commander.

WASHINGTON—In response to the Trump administration’s activation and deployment of members of the military for “the protection of federal functions and property” during protests in Los Angeles, Freedom House interim Copresidents Gerardo Berthin and Annie Boyajian issued the following statement:

The deployment of troops to Los Angeles raises questions about what Trump can and can't do with the military on U.S. soil, and whether he's crossing the line.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said that Trump's mobilization of troops in LA exceeded his authority and ordered the president to return control of the state's National Guard to Governor Gavin Newsom.

Sen. Alex Padilla was removed from a Los Angeles news conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, while a federal judge weighed the merits of military deployments on Thursday.

It feels like we’re participating involuntarily in a stunt to see what happens when the federal government steps in, how far can they go usurping state power or local power, and as a warning to other cities around the country.

Sen. Jack Reed brought up the situation in Los Angeles and questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the administration's use of National Guardsmen and Marines to deal with the protests.