Marines will take over protection of Wilshire Federal Building in L.A. today
Marines will take over protection of Wilshire Federal Building in L.A. today
At noon on Friday, a company of infantry Marines from Marine Corps Ground Air Station Twentynine Palms will take over the role of protecting the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles, assuming the mission from Army National Guard soldiers who have been on the property this week, said Major Gen. Scott Sherman, the commander of Task Force 51.
The company has been there training with soldiers, but are now taking over guarding the federal building. A company is 200 Marines and officials said they will be armed with their service rifles.
The Task Force has amassed 4,700 personnel — mostly National Guard — in response to the protests that have broken out in the Los Angeles area over immigration enforcement starting on June 6. The National Guard soldiers will be moved to protect federal law enforcement, Sherman said, adding they will not being doing the enforcement, but will focus on protecting the federal personnel.
“We are committed to protecting lives, property and preserving peace and public safety,” he said.
On June 7, at the direction of the president, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the mobilization and deployment of 2,000 California National Guard soldiers from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. A day later, Hegseth ordered the mobilization of an additional 2,000 service members. On June 9, an extra force of 700 Marines from Twentynine Palms were readied.
At present, Sherman said about 2,000 soldiers and 200 Marines are on the ground protecting federal installations and supporting federal personnel.
“Starting today, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines will focus on the protection of property and personnel and functions that reside in those (federal) locations,” Sherman said. “The soldiers that reside in those duties will transition to provide protection to federal law enforcement as they conduct their law enforcement functions. The soldiers will not participate in law enforcement activities; rather, they will be focused on protecting federal law enforcement personnel.”
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