Seven House Democrats—that’s right, only seven—stood up Friday to condemn the violent riots that have engulfed Los Angeles, while their colleagues shamefully hid behind partisan rhetoric and excuses. This resolution, introduced by California Republican Rep. Young Kim, should have been a straightforward, nonpartisan statement: violent riots are unacceptable in the United States of America. Yet, in today’s radicalized Democrat Party, even acknowledging reality seems controversial.
Riots erupted in Los Angeles on June 6 after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted lawful raids targeting illegal immigrants, criminals who flout our nation’s laws and sovereignty. Predictably, far-left agitators pounced, turning what began as a series of protests into full-fledged riots. Storefronts were looted, self-driving vehicles were set ablaze, and violent confrontations with law enforcement became a nightly spectacle. As the cost of this destruction surpasses $30 million, Democrats have chosen to downplay or outright deny the severity of the unrest.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries himself, when confronted by the Daily Caller News Foundation, had the audacity to balk at calling this chaos a “riot.” Instead, he prefers the sanitized term “unrest.” This Orwellian doublespeak is not just an insult to the intelligence of American voters; it is an insult to the brave law enforcement officers who risk their lives to restore order. Jamie Raskin, leading Democrat on the House Judiciary Panel, went further, decrying the resolution—which simply condemns violence and honors law enforcement—as “totally partisan.” If condemning violent riots and thanking our brave officers is partisan, then perhaps Democrats need to reassess their definition of bipartisanship.
The resolution explicitly praised ICE for “keeping our communities safe in the face of danger.” This, of course, sent the far-left Democrats into convulsions. Radical voices within their party, such as Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, have consistently demonized ICE. Frost even went so far as to label ICE’s lawful detention of illegal immigrants as “terrorism in our communities.” Such inflammatory rhetoric emboldens the violent actors who seek to undermine our nation’s rule of law.
Seven brave Democrats dared to reject their party’s dangerous rhetoric and voted alongside Republicans. Among them, California Reps. Jim Costa and Adam Gray displayed a backbone sorely lacking among their colleagues. But let’s be honest—seven Democrats standing against violence out of nearly two hundred is hardly cause for celebration. Rather, it is a stark reminder of how far the Democratic Party has drifted from mainstream American values.
GOP Majority Leader Steve Scalise captured the mood perfectly, stating unequivocally, “We will not tolerate violence against any law enforcement officials.” It’s sad that such a simple declaration of American values has become controversial in the halls of Congress.
The real tragedy here is not merely the millions in damages or the businesses destroyed; it is the erosion of fundamental principles and the normalization of lawlessness. Democrats who refuse to condemn riots implicitly condone them, signaling to radical activists that violent tantrums will be tolerated as long as the cause aligns with left-wing politics. This is unacceptable, dangerous, and fundamentally un-American.
As conservatives, we must remain vigilant against this pernicious trend. American cities should never become playgrounds for violent demonstrators. Federal immigration laws must be enforced without apology or hesitation. Our law enforcement personnel deserve gratitude and support, not demonization from elected officials.
Americans across the political spectrum once agreed that riots, violence, and destruction are wrong. Now, however, it seems that basic common sense is too much to expect from today’s Democrat leadership. It’s time for responsible Democrats and all Americans to demand accountability and reject the radicals who excuse violence in the name of politics. Our nation’s future depends on choosing law and order over chaos and division.