National Guard Arrives in Pacific Palisades to Prevent Potential Looters

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

As protests over police brutality and the death of George Floyd continued across Southern California and around the globe—including a group in the Palisades—the National Guard arrived in the business district of Pacific Palisades on Sunday, May 31.

“Tens of thousands of people took to the streets this weekend to peacefully protest,” Councilmember Mike Bonin shared in a tweet. “Their demonstrations—and our city—were disrupted and marred by violence from a few that were out to take advantage and cause chaos.”

A group of protesters peacefully gathered in the Village area on Sunday afternoon, holding signs that displayed messages including “Black Lives Matter.”

“Today we should be in the classroom helping students process all that is happening around us,” Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner shared in a statement June 1. “The killing of George Floyd, a handcuffed, unarmed Black man in Minneapolis, is wrong and it shocks the senses. There are no words to express the pain, the helplessness and the anger many of us are feeling.”

Many businesses across town boarded up storefronts beginning Monday afternoon, including those located within Palisades Village, to prevent potential looting that hit neighboring cities. The development was closed starting Monday through at least Thursday, June 4, “for the safety and security of our community,” a spokesperson said.

The National Guard returned to the Palisades Monday evening, but it was unclear as the Post went to print if they would return Tuesday.

Concurrently, the County of Los Angeles had been under several days of curfew, beginning at 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. Sunday through Tuesday night. On Wednesday evening, the countywide curfew was shifted from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday morning.

Palisades beach patrol officers Rusty Redican and Jimmy Soliman were deployed on Saturday evening in Fairfax and on Sunday evening in West LA, according to information provided by the Pacific Palisades Community Council.

Redican and Soliman were reported to have been doing double duty—continuing to attend their work every morning at the Palisades beach areas and bluffs.

“We thank Officers Redican and Soliman and all of our local law enforcement officials for their dedication to protecting the community,” PPCC continued.

Temescal Gateway Park was briefly closed on Monday, June 1, over concerns but reopened after a few hours.

As the Post went to print Tuesday, no instances of looting in the Palisades had been reported.

This is a developing story. Updates will be made as they are available.