National Guard expected to leave LA this weekend
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 2: A demonstrator fist bumps a member of the National Guard during a march in response to George Floyd's death on June 2, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Floyd died while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25. (Photo
LOS ANGELES - National Guard troops will leave the Los Angeles area as soon as Sunday evening, one week after being deployed to assist in managing protests and scattered looting.
A source who was not authorized to speak publicly told the Los Angeles Times that the pullout could be completed later Sunday, while a second source said a small number of Guard personnel would remain to protect some key L.A. assets, but that most have already returned to their bases.
A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department said she was unaware of the reported decision.
"That (information of the pullout) comes out of the mayor's office,'' said Officer Rosario Cervantes of the LAPD's Media Relations Section. "We haven't heard anything.''
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: The Hollywood Sign displays in the distant hills as National Guard troops arrive in front of The Hollywood and Highland Center after California Governor Gavin Newsom deployed them before a protest along Hollywood Bo
A representative for the mayor's office could not be reached for immediate comment.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti called for the Guard on May 30 after heated protests in the Fairfax District that ended with some burglaries and thefts by people police believe were not associated with widespread demonstrations against racism and police brutality.
Daily protests have continued since then, but with no looting or other violence reported for the past several days.