The Pennsylvania senator said his party will lose the moral high ground if it fails to condemn the violent riots happening against immigration enforcement in Los Angeles, California.
In Los Angeles, violent riots against immigration enforcement shook the city and prompted President Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard soldiers to aid local law enforcement.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman recently condemned the riots, although the larger Democratic Party has not done so.
On Monday, Fetterman posted a photo on social media of a car in flames with a masked individual waving a Mexican flag.
“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,” he wrote.
Fetterman has suggested that Democrats have not gone far enough in denouncing the violent demonstrations breaking out across the city.
“I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration – but this is not that. This is anarchy and true chaos,” the senator wrote.
Senator Fetterman has been willing to break from his party on issues recently. Notably, he has expressed his staunch support of Israel in its fight against the terrorist group Hamas following the October 7th attacks against Israel.
He has come under speculation by Democrats for his fitness for office. His party has expressed concern for his mental state following his struggle with depression and a previous stroke.
President Trump has received criticism from Democrats for his decision to send the National Guard to quell the violent protests in Los Angeles.
The president wrote on social media, “We made a great decision in sending the National Guard to deal with the violent, instigated riots in California. If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated.”
The Los Angeles riots raged over the weekend. Law enforcement officers were assaulted, federal buildings were surrounded, and cars burst into flames on the streets. With the presence of the National Guard, many of the protests have been brought under control by law enforcement.
The Los Angeles protests come as part of a broader unrest concerning President Trump’s enforcement of federal immigration law.
Since taking office for a second term, Trump has prioritized securing the border and deporting immigrants who have been residing in the United States illegally.
