Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s infamous “Summer of Love” remark during a 2020 CNN interview perfectly captured the left’s unserious response to left-wing violence. When asked by Chris Cuomo how long the lawlessness in her city would last, she smirked and said, “I don’t know. We could have a Summer of Love!”—as if mobs taking over city blocks was just a quirky festival.
That same mindset is sadly still alive and well today. The same radical ideology that excused burning cities as “justice” now shrugs at mobs attacking ICE agents and torching federal property in Los Angeles. It’s not just a repeat of 2020—it’s proof that the left learned nothing from it. And once again, the rest of us are left to clean up the mess.
At the center of it all is Mayor Karen Bass, who’s proving that her priorities lie with illegal immigrants, not law-abiding citizens or the officers trying to protect them.
Bass wasted no time fanning the flames, releasing a statement dripping with leftist buzzwords and deliberate omissions. “As Mayor of a proud city of immigrants,” she wrote, “I am deeply angered by what has taken place.” Of course, she left out the part where those “immigrants” are in the country illegally. No mention of the ICE agents being attacked. No acknowledgment of the legitimate federal law enforcement operations underway. Just raw, reflexive anti-ICE rhetoric meant to stir up the mob.
She followed that up with a series of tone-deaf media appearances in both English and Spanish, insisting, “We are going to fight for all Angelinos, regardless of when they got here, whether they have papers or not.” Translation: if you’re here illegally, don’t worry—Karen Bass has your back, even if that means throwing law enforcement under the bus and letting your city be set afire.
As the violence escalated, Bass dragged her feet. It wasn’t until Trump deployed the National Guard that she finally issued a mealy-mouthed call for calm. Even then, her messaging centered more on condemning ICE than the rioters.
This is a difficult time for our city. As we recover from an unprecedented natural disaster, many in our community are feeling fear following recent federal immigration enforcement actions across Los Angeles County.
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) June 8, 2025
Reports of unrest outside the city, including in Paramount,…
And if you think this is just poor messaging, think again—it’s policy. Bass and her fellow Democrats are committed to making Los Angeles a sanctuary for lawlessness, even if it means innocent people pay the price.
Naturally, Gavin Newsom couldn’t resist chiming in, accusing the National Guard deployment of being more about “spectacle” than necessity.
The federal government is taking over the California National Guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles — not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle.
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) June 8, 2025
Don't give them one.
Never use violence. Speak out peacefully.
Right—because nothing screams “spectacle” like Molotov cocktails and burning patrol cars. Newsom then encouraged people to “speak out peacefully,” but couldn’t be bothered to condemn the actual violence.
Meanwhile, not even the LAPD would call out the violent riots for what they were.
Thankfully, the Trump administration isn’t playing games. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it exactly as it is: "In recent days, violent mobs have attacked ICE Officers and Federal Law Enforcement Agents carrying out basic deportation operations in Los Angeles, California. These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California’s feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens.”
She added, “The Trump Administration has a zero tolerance policy for criminal behavior and violence, especially when that violence is aimed at law enforcement officers trying to do their jobs. These criminals will be arrested and swiftly brought to justice. The Commander-in-Chief will ensure the laws of the United States are executed fully and completely.”
This is exactly what happens when leftist leaders vilify law enforcement, coddle illegal immigrants while ignoring the needs of law-abiding citizens, and excuse mayhem as some twisted form of political speech. What we’re seeing isn’t a surprise—it’s the direct result of policies that reward lawlessness and punish order. So here we are again: another summer, another eruption of far-left chaos treated like it’s noble or necessary. We’ve seen this movie before. And just like in 2020, the radical left shrugs and calls it “justice.” But anyone with common sense knows the truth. This isn’t justice. It’s a national embarrassment.
