June 10, 2025 • 34 mins
ICYMI: Hour One of ‘Later, with Mo’Kelly’ Presents – PART ONE of Mo’Kelly’s special in-depth coverage of the fourth straight day of protests against the ICE raids in Los Angeles & Orange County with KFI Reporter Michael Monks - on KFI AM 640…Live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app & YouTube @MrMoKelly
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
KFIM six.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Kelly here, and we are continuing our live coverage of
the events going on not only in downtown but also
the protests which i've emerged in Orange County, and we're
all being inundated with all sorts of imagery. We've seen
what they call b roll footage from the previous days.
But let me just be here to remind everyone, me included,
(00:36):
we don't know where all of this is headed. We
don't know what tonight will bring. We don't know exactly
how all this is going to play out, and I
think we have a collective responsibility to not get ahead
of where we are and what this is. I know,
working in media is not uncommon for news outlets in
(00:59):
person analogies to want to Sometimes there's a race to
characterize events because it suits a particular feeling about them.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Not so fast, not so fast. We're going to take
our time with us tonight.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Right now, we see some incidents which are happening in
Santa Ana. I'm looking at k COW watching what is
happening in downtown Los Angeles. It seems relatively quiet. In
other words, I see LAPD. They are moving forward, moving
people out from a specific area. It's not clear how
(01:39):
wide to a perimeter that LAPD is trying to set,
but you can see LAPD in riot gear. They are
moving people down the street, and from what I can see,
for the most part, people are being orderly in the
way that they are leaving downtown. Of course, when the
sun goes down, that may change, and I think a
(02:00):
lot of us are concerned about what happens when the
sun goes down, because let's be honest, there are always
people who are going to do show up for the
latest protest because they have an issue with police, or
they want to create mayhem, they want to do something.
In other words, not everyone is afraid of going to jail.
Not everyone is afraid of instigating an incident with law enforcement.
(02:26):
And they will be out tonight, and hopefully there will
not be a lot of them, or they will not
be enough to shift the tide of what's going on
right now. But we're going to sit here and we're
going to give you the best information that we can.
We are going to try to give you as much
analysis as possible. I can tell you upfront I have
(02:47):
no dog in this fight whatsoever.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Whatsoever.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
I want calm, I want peace, I want everyone to
remain safe, and from a protest standpoint, I actually do
want everyone to be heard, because this is still America.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
But I do not want any type of violence.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I am hoping that we can get through this evening
and into the night with no major incidents, with no violence,
with no looting, with no attacks on police officers. And
I just texted some of my law enforcement friends just
reminding them be safe out there because they have what
I would say is a mostly impossible job, because there
(03:28):
are people going to try to provoke them tonight no
matter what, and they have to remain calm, and sometimes
is grossly unfair what is said to them, thrown at them,
and they can't react in a way that I think
regular people would want to react. But unfortunately that is
part of the job. And we'll see what we saw
(03:51):
over the weekend. A perfect example Friday, there was something
that was going on.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Oh, let me back up.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Got to give great, great, great credit to LA Police
Department in the LA County Sheriff's Department for maintaining collective
control over downtown area this weekend in some of the
outer lying areas. I know I had some friends who
were driving down the freeway as people started walking on
(04:19):
to block the freeway, and the coordinated response from CHP
and LAPD to get drivers off the freeway to make
sure that it was safe and people were not run down.
I'm not trying to be fun and trying to be
very serious was nothing short of amazing in that regard.
So it does show a level of preparedness that our
(04:40):
law enforcement apparatus has for times just like these, and
the way it was handled over the course of the weekend.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
You remember Friday.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I know that this show was the first show to
really lean into what was happening downtown, and we were
telling you what was happening, and we were speaking with
Michael Munks, and at that point it seemed like there
really wasn't a lot going on, but you were still
kept in a no so you realize, all right, this
is not a thing yet, not as a Friday night
(05:10):
around ten o'clock. And then over the course of Saturday,
when there were other ice raids and arrest made in Paramount,
it started ratcheting up again, and we want to make
sure and it was something different. You know Saturday had
a different feeling than Friday. Saturday had a very different
energy than Friday. And we saw what happened to the
(05:31):
way mos we saw, we saw other acts of violence.
And let me also be clear. People have been rushing
to depict this as either a full blown riot or
they want to call it a peaceful protest, and I
think we need to make sure that there has to
be nuanced in our characterization of what is actually going on.
(05:55):
And this is the only way I really can explain it.
And I love analogies, and I'll probably have ten more tonight,
but that's the best way I can communicate certain ideas.
And I always say that not all rain is a thunderstorm,
and not all thunderstorms are hurricanes. But if you rush
to call something a hurricane before it actually is, you
(06:17):
don't leave yourself anywhere to go. And tomorrow, if you
understand the analogy, there may be a hurricane.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
That is a possibility.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
But if there is a hurricane tomorrow, it doesn't mean
on Saturday it was also a hurricane.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Could have been just rain.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
And let's not be so quick to characterize us as
a full blown riot or try to misrepresent it as
wholly peaceful protests. It's neither. There are varying degrees in between.
Yes there was violence, Yes there were attacks on officers.
(06:55):
Yes there was some looting. But if we're honest, it's
in it. It was at least in a very focused area.
And again I commend law enforcement for keeping it contained
in that particular area. I'm old enough to remember nineteen
ninety two, and they call it the Rodney King verdict,
But it didn't have to do what Rodney King had
to do with officers Lawrence Powell, Stacy Coon, and so forth.
(07:17):
But people recognize what I'm talking about when I say
Rodney King. That verdict for the civil trial which led
to the riots of nineteen ninety.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Two, enveloped the whole city.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
You could see the business systems of fires being burned
down across dozens and dozens of blocks. I along with
my fraternity brothers at the time, I was only twenty two,
so we were out there helping in the cleanup effort.
I distinctly remember that you had any number of people killed,
(07:52):
there's no legitimate comparison at this point. We all remember
in twenty twenty what that led to. And also around
the circumstances surrounding a riot are very very different. Like,
for example, all the schools of LAUSD were open today.
That's usually enough case. There was no curfew put in place.
(08:14):
For example, there was a soccer match at BMO Stadium
over the weekend. There was the BET Live experience which
was going on in the Convention Center. BT Experience was downtown.
We had the Pride Parade going on in West Hollywood
that was only three miles maybe north of downtown. In
other words, the city was not dealing with this. It
(08:34):
was basically four or five blocks, no exaggeration. So what
I'm saying is tonight may be different. We don't know,
but let's not be in a rush to characterize it
as something it has not risen to the level of,
at least as of yet. And again, I am hoping
for nothing but peace. I am hoping that there's no
(08:55):
further escalation. We'll have to see as the sun goes
down how people and agitators alike will respond.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
In this moment, you're listening to Later with Moe Kelly
on demand from KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I Am six forty mo' kelly here with you until
ten o'clock as we continue to follow the various protests
around southern California. I say various because not only is
it in downtown LA, but also in Santa Ana in
Orange County. And by now you probably know I would
say the biggest piece of news with Secretary of Defense
(09:33):
piece Pete Hagseth, said that around seven hundred Marines quote
are being deployed to Los Angeles to restore order close
quote and they're going to be coming from second Battalion,
seventh Marine Regiment. It's an infantry unit based in twenty
nine Poems, California, and the Marines are being deployed from
(09:56):
Camp Pendleton as well. Now what there the role is.
I'm going to tell you that I don't know someone
else who does not roll Specifically the role in how
it will be involved with the management of the situation
is LAPD Chief Jim McDonald. He said the statement that
(10:17):
the agency has decades of experience managing large scale public
demonstration and can handle the protests, and he also said
the arrival of federal military forces in Los Angeles absent
clear coordination, presents a significant logistical and operational challenge for
those of US charge with safeguarding this city. That is
(10:40):
LAPD Chief Jim McDonald, and I don't know what conversations
are being had between LAPD and the federal government. I
don't know whether these marines are receiving their primary instructions
from the Department of Defense or are they working with
local law enforcement. Now, what I do know is they're
(11:01):
supposed to be stationed specifically in front of federal offices
to protect them and also provide security around them. But
I don't know how that intersects with law enforcement. And
according to Jim McDonald, chief of LAPD, he has questions
as well. Don't know exactly how that will take shape.
(11:23):
We're going to have to watch that together and see
how it happens and when it happens. I do notice
in some areas tallis is downtown or Santa Anna that just.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Looks like this is downtown if it's out Santa Ana okay,
Santa Okay.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
There are some people who are lying in the street,
I guess, trying to be objectors and and make it
more difficult there. Yes, they're lying in the street just
in front of I don't know which police department that is.
I guess maybe as Santa Ana PDE. But they're right
in front of officers, just laying down prone. It doesn't
(12:03):
seem that they were instructed to get in that position.
It seems like that they're laying down there to present
themselves as obstacles and their catacorner from a federal building
where you can see what I assume to be National guardsmen.
It is not an escalation, but it seems to be
an active, conscious defiance where although police are not actively
(12:27):
moving forward, I get the sense that people who are
protesting are laying down in advance of that. In fact,
you can see it on our YouTube right now at
mister mo'kelly. You can see exactly to what we're referring
as we have the cacal fee there.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
This is in front of the federal building, okay, in
Santa Ana.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Okay, So that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Yes, So that would be the National guardsman in front
of the federal building. It says police. There's not an
identifying police department. I am making the assumption at Santa
Ana PD. I don't know if there are other agencies
folded in, but there is no violence at this moment
(13:07):
in either Los Angeles or Santa Anna. We've seen some
arrests of individuals. I think during the first segment there
was an arrest of an individual by four or five
members of law enforcement. But at this point it's still calm.
The officers are not in an aggressive position. You can see,
at least by a CA cow somewhat relaxed, almost like
(13:31):
they're waiting for the next instruction. Uh, looks like, oh,
something's happening right now. Okay, now they're moving forward. Now
they're moving forward in Unison. This is in downtown LA.
This is specifically in downtown LA. Then move forward and
then stopped. I don't know if there was any type
of contact between a protester and a member of law enforcement,
(13:51):
but then it stopped and now police have been backed off.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
So this is similar to what we were reporting on
on Friday night. It looks as if this is a
coordinated effort to start clearing individuals out of the streets
in downtown. And this is what Michael Monks was reporting
on that officers are moving, the crowd is moving down.
Officers move forward, the crowd moves down.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
And it's almost like a stagger, you know, they'll move
a little bit and stop, move a little bit and stop.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Mark. I don't know. In your.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Investigation. Have you come across any type of official order
to disperse in downtown or Santa Ana as of yet,
not at the moment, no, but I'm scanning everything I
possibly can, and I will let you know if something
like that comes across. I can tell you though. In
downtown LA police are now directly moving forward. It seems
(14:44):
like there was a flashbang which was just set off,
and there is some sort of police vehicle which is
right behind that separation line. So police are advancing somewhat casually.
I mean, they're not moving at a quick pace. Protesters
for the most part, seem to be cooperating and moving back,
(15:06):
and now they stopped again, so they're moving at a
deliberate pace, but a staggered pace. They'll take maybe ten
steps and wait for a moment, and then they'll take
another ten steps and wait for a moment. I'm not
getting any audio, so I'm not hearing per se whether
they are giving instructions as far as dispersing or moving
back to a certain perimeter point. That's something we'll try
(15:28):
to look at during this next break and get some
clarity as far as what commands have been given, what
instructions have been given and whether there is a dispersal
order in place, and also whether there might be any
curfew handed down for tonight. That's something that I'm looking
for and that to me, that would be indicative of
some level of escalation where they feel that they have
(15:50):
to send everyone home directly home now to keep it
from getting worse.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
But we'll keep following this.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
We're following what is happening in downtown Los Angeles and
Santa Anna simultaneously. They are still nonviolent protests at this point.
There have been a couple of skirmishes, but no escalation
as of yet. As the sun goes down, of course,
it may get more dangerous, but nothing nothing too much
(16:20):
of an escalation to report at this point, but we're
continuing to follow it. Will be with you until ten
o'clock tonight. I'm Mo Kelly as we continue our coverage
of the protests in Los Angeles and Orange County. K
if I AM six forty. We're live everywhere in the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
You're listening to Later with Mo Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
K if I AM six forty, We're live everywhere in
the iHeartRadio app. As we continue our coverage of the
live events unfolding in both downtown Los Angeles and also
now Santa Anna and joining us now is I would say,
the man of the hour, Michael Monks. We just heard
your promo about you getting tear gassed. Let me first
(17:04):
ask you, are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine. I appreciate
that very much.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Yeah, it was a very quick incident that took place
yesterday afternoon. Really the only time that I think those
of us in the media were hit by tear gas.
I know some of our colleagues were later hit by
pepper balls in another incident. First time getting tear gassed,
it was a not pleasant do not recommend, but you know,
that's life in Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Man.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
I want to bring in Mark Ronnerd because he knows
a little something about this.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Welcome to the club, Thankslark. How did it feel?
Speaker 5 (17:38):
It felt like you telling me a very long story.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
So remarkably unpleasant then, is what I'm gathered, No tease.
The thing about getting tear gassed is that you never
build up a tolerance for it, and the twentieth time
is every bit is unpleasant as the first time.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Oh you know you might find that out.
Speaker 5 (17:57):
What I felt about it was, Oh, this stuff is
how do you say effective? Because everybody they wanted everybody
out of the street. This particular incident involved the National
Guard using tear gas on protesters and those of us
in the media who were in the crowd covering this
thing so that they could clear the street to make
way for about twenty federal vehicles to go into the
(18:17):
parking garage. And boy did it work. Everyone scrambled out
of the way, coughing fits. But you know what I'll
tell you, MO, is that protesters in Los Angeles, not
just the general people that come down to these things,
but the protesters, the people that live for this, no
matter what the issue is, they are longing to get
into it with the police any chance they get. They
(18:39):
know how to act in defense when this stuff happens.
They know what tools they need, they know how they're
supposed to help each other, and maybe most importantly for
their case, they know how to get to the scene
of one of these things very fast.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
What should not that we know what to expect, but
what should we be concerned about? Beyond the sun going
down and obviously agitators getting in the mix. Have you
seen anything else which has alarmed you.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
Well, it feels a bit like right now this moment,
because of course there are a lot of people in
downtown Los Angeles right now, despite the fact that the
police have told everybody to go home. It's a constant
powder keg right now, and all you need is one
little spark. I know we're dealing with some stuff in
Santa Ana as well now, but here in downtown Los Angeles,
which has been the epicenter in southern California for this
(19:31):
type of activity, it's hanging by a thread.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
I'll tell you.
Speaker 5 (19:35):
I just I'm in downtown right now. As I left
Burbankar Studios and pulled into downtown, first, traffic was way
too easy today on the freeway, so you get the
sense that people have maybe stayed home or at least
away from downtown. And then when you hit the surface streets,
you have to know your way around. Because I saw
(19:58):
a ton of people, probably one hundred, walking down Temple
Street and more cars behind them waving Mexican flags holding
up signage coming from that area and headed in the
direction of where these protests are. So not only is
it still ongoing, but there are more people on their way.
(20:20):
So It's a volatile situation, and all it takes is
for that spark. And again, these elite protesters, the ones
that long for this stuff, they're always down there waiting
for the opportunity to call some rucus.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
I wonder, though, as this night unfold and you say
people are coming to the scene, is there a perimeter
where cars can no longer pass? In other words, how
close do you think you can drive up to the
protests or have the police set up a perimeter where
there at least not letting cars get in.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
Multiple agencies have shut down various streets. So a lot
of the surface streets near the Civic Center area of
downtown Los Angeles, that's the name that they give the
area where a lot of the civic buildings are City Hall,
the federal building for example, the County building, those things.
And I did just drive near there, but not through there.
Surface streets are closed, and so are the freeway exits
(21:15):
to them. So if you were on the one to
one and wanted to get off at Los Angeles Street,
that is blocked. The one ten is blocked, for example,
of access to the one ten from downtown, what was
blocked in this area as well? So the CHP is
standing there in a line, not just cones blocking it,
but they are officers standing in a line blocking access
(21:36):
to the freeway ramps that way. So they are trying
to limit the vehicular traffic. But the pedestrian traffic is
what I saw. I saw again about one hundred people
marching down Temple Street in the direction of this. So
I don't know where their cars are, but they got
the message they weren't driving any closer, so they got
out and carried on on foot.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
You may not know the answer to this question, but
I think people may have this same question, even though
they may have. Well, let me back up, has there
been an official order to disperse?
Speaker 2 (22:06):
As far as you know.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
I think we're waiting for that. There is definitely a
tactical alert out there, meaning that the police officers need
to stay on duty in case things go awry here.
I mentioned this to you back in Burbank. I'm surprised
that we haven't heard at least official chatter that may
be a curfew or something right implemented for this area.
I gotta tell you, I hate to editorialize because I
(22:29):
like to be an impartial observer of these things. But
when we talk about whether this situation is in control,
whether the local police have it in control. It's really
unclear to me, but it seems like it could be.
I think back to yesterday, shortly before getting tear gassed.
I'm looking around. I'm thinking, this is a federal building
(22:51):
that folks are protesting out of, and that's why there
are federal agents on that property, and that is why
the National Guard is stationed there because they have been federalized.
It's the President who sent them there. But this protest
was large, and it was spilling into Alameda Street, which
is city property. At what point could this thing have
been stopped early so that it did not escalate? It
was clearly an unlawful assembly. People are allowed to protest,
(23:14):
but there are protocols, there are permits, and if you
have a permit, you have a lot more freedom and
leeway with what you're doing, where you're doing it, how
much time you can do it. This was an unlawful
assembly from the start, and I did not see a
single Los Angeles Police officer on the scene of that
protest until they pulled up by the dozens about two
and a half hours later. Because a massive march was
(23:36):
headed in that direction.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Let me ask you about Friday, because we were talking
after the order to the spurs had been given. To
the best of your knowledge, had they prevented after that
order the approach of pedestrian traffic where people still allowed
or not prevented to walk up and join the protests.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
No, you were blocked off from walking. In fact, that's
the same thing that happen. And yesterday, by the time
the LAPD showed up, it was a bit ironic in
my view, because there was a bullhorn one of the
protesters was using urging people to go to City Hall
where a second protest, a much larger when a rally,
if you will, was supposed to be unfolding. That evolved
(24:15):
into the massive march back in the direction of the
Federal building. But the police, the LA police, would not
let people leave Alameda Street to go to city halls
and it's back in the direction of the Federal Building.
And it was at that moment that both sides at
Alameda Street around the Federal Building saw large police presence.
They were starting to block the freeway entrances and anticipation
of what ended up happening protesters on the freeway. But
(24:39):
again my question it just keeps going back to, is
there not a police tactic that can be used to
disrupt these unlawful assemblies before they grow out of hand?
Because this is not a permitted protest. This is not
a street that is supposed to be shut down, and
that's true for all of these streets that are disrupted
right now in downtown Los Angeles at point, Why are
(25:01):
they not stopping this in its tracks before it gains traction?
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Well, I you know, I didn't get any success, but
I texted Chief McDonald. I don't expect them to call
me back, but I've been reaching out to various members
of law enforcement who might be able to talk and
kind of touch upon your concerns in mind, because I
would ask the question, if we know that a curfew
and or an order to disperse might encourage people to
(25:28):
take their ass home, why would we not have that
at this point? Because we know, and maybe the feeling
is if they do that too soon, it encourages a
clash because then you're forcing people out as opposed to
hoping they'll just leave on their own. I don't know
if there's a good answer to this, but from way
from the way you describe it. More and more people
(25:49):
are coming, so them naturally dispersing is not going to happen.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Am I right?
Speaker 6 (25:54):
No?
Speaker 5 (25:54):
I think you're absolutely right, because every time I've seen
the dispersal order issued, people have spurs the I guess
the majority, maybe even almost all, based on the volume
of people. When they hear you're going to jail. If
you don't leave, they leave. But there is a certain
class of agitator, and it's not necessarily the hard line
(26:18):
immigration folks. This is what starts to dilute the message.
There are activists in Los Angeles that are at the
ready for protests like this. They live for this, they
enjoy this, They're prepared for this in a way that
you can't even really imagine. They've got equipment, they have tactics,
they have practice, they know what they're doing. They're the
ones that are going to be left behind. And so
to your point, that may this, it's not like the
(26:39):
laped doesn't know this, so that may discourage them. They
might decide when the time is right to get rid
of everybody else so that they can be prepared for
the clash that they know is ultimately going to come.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Regardless when we talked on Friday, I could hear a
lot of background noise in a sense of instructions over
the megaphone telling people what to do, where to go.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
I'm not hearing that tonight.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Is there any communication from what you can tell directly
from police and protesters.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
I think right now it seems like people are getting
their bearings on where this thing is going to go tonight,
because it's been a similar area but different locations, and
so when you change the geography a bit, you've got
different hiding places, you have different barriers that you have
to avoid. And I think right now the communication has
been clear that this is you know, you're not supposed
(27:30):
to be here. The police are standing here at the ready,
please go home. There are more people coming, so that
message is not resonating. I haven't heard as many bullhorn
messages as we heard. I mean, there was a helicopter
yelling at us on Friday saying you get out of here.
It's an unlawful as simply. But they said that for
well over an hour. And at what point do these
(27:51):
threats become real?
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Well got to jump in there, because if the past
is prologue and we haven't received the order to to
spur we haven't heard the bullhorn messages of lee or
you will be arrested.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
We're behind schedule, are we not? Exactly?
Speaker 5 (28:08):
That's exactly right, and you know now that this is
going to be coming on the daily. So that's why
I have the question about one, why aren't these unlawful
assemblies being stopped immediately? And two why isn't there a
ban on people being out after a certain time in
certain parts of Los Angeles right now? I know that
(28:29):
people don't like to hear that. I don't want to
curf you. I live downtown. You know, I don't want
to feel confined to where we live. But if it's
for the greater good, you gotta do it. This neighborhood
has been It's already a dirty, filthy, ransacked, graffitied neighborhood
that is completely neglected by city government at all levels
(28:51):
and all departments. And now pile on these protests and
the massive mess and the increased graffiti that's going on.
This isn't so serving my neighborhood at all. I'd like
people to leave.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Frankly, Michael Monks, I hope you will be safe the
rest of the evening. Can we possibly call upon you
later in the evening to give us an update.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Absolutely, I'll be monitoring, and I think if things get
too hairy, we need to send Mark Ronna out with
the tear gas and get this thing cleaned up there.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Done that. Hey, Mark's not too late.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
I mean, if you get a jump, you know, a
head start, you can get down there before they have
the order to disperse.
Speaker 6 (29:25):
I think I may hold the record for a journalist
getting tear gassed and shot with rubber bullets.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
And I don't we have to go to a break.
Speaker 6 (29:31):
But Michael, did you see over the weekend the footage
of the reporter getting shot while she was all.
Speaker 5 (29:36):
The ones from Australia? And you know, Moe, when you
and I were talking on Friday night, she was next
to me for a good part of it, and she
and I talked and she was just nice as can be.
I'm sorry I don't have her name, Handy, but we
chatted a bit and then I saw her in those
videos from yesterday getting shot in the butt, and I
just felt so bad.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
That could have been you, It could have been made.
Watch out for that.
Speaker 6 (29:56):
They're not lethal, but they sure do smart. I can
tell you that from first hand. Ex first ask experience.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
As they say, the night is young, so we hopefully,
hopefully you will not get shot, Michael Monks, but we
will be in touch with you later on Hit me
Out KFI AM six forty on mo Kelly as we
continue our coverage of the protests both in downtown and
in Santa Anna.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
As the sun goes down, we'll have more in just
a moment.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
You're listening to later with mo Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
KFI AM six forty, It's mo Kelly. We're live everywhere
in the iHeartRadio app. As we continue to follow the
events downtown and also in Santa Anna. It's still relatively quiet.
We know that there have been some announcements. We know
that lausd is going to be in session tomorrow, and
I talked about that at the top of the show,
(30:47):
and I was trying to draw this distinction as far
as what people call a riot, what people conceive as
a riot, and I'm basically saying, if you call it
a riot, now you have nowhere to go if it
should get actually to what we saw in twenty twenty
or what we saw in nineteen ninety two. And one
of the reasons I brought that up was life for
(31:07):
most Angelino's is not impacted right now. School is still open,
kids are going to school, people are going to work.
There is no curfew. We talked about that as of yet.
These are all leavers which have not been pulled. Now
we can talk about the wisdom in doing it or
not doing it. You heard me in my conversation with
(31:28):
Michael Monks about whether a call for a curfew should
already be in place to avoid possible future issues or problems,
or whether there should already be in order to disperse.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
We have not heard that yet. I asked Mark Ronert.
He has not seen that yet.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
So we're going off the best information we have available.
But LAUSD has said that school is going to be
in session tomorrow. I assume that's not likely to change
because they made an official statement on that. The as
far as we know, that's not going to change. In
and Taya, let me just ask you, as someone as
(32:05):
an administrator in a school environment, do you take anything
from that? Do you make anything of that?
Speaker 4 (32:12):
I take that to mean that this situation is relatively isolated.
In addition to the announcement that LAUSD will be open,
they have also said that all graduation ceremonies will commence
as normal tomorrow and Wednesday. I believe Wednesday is the
official official last day. But for them to come out
(32:34):
and say that all graduation ceremonies will happen, all commencements
will happen, you will be safe, students will be safe.
They are working with LA Sheriff and LAPD to ensure
all of this. It means that from the city telling
them everything is okay, We've got it covered in these
(32:56):
areas here.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Something else I remember and also notice back yet, in
nineteen ninety two, all events were shut down. We did
not have any sporting events. You know, it wasn't like
the Dodgers were playing. It wasn't like the Lakers were playing.
When you had the riots of nineteen ninety two, the
city was completely shut down top to bottom, no school
(33:19):
curfew in place, I think for three or four days.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
It was just a completely different situation.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
That is not to say that these protests have been
completely peaceful, And that's why I want people to understand
there is nuance here. There are levels to this. As
far as yes, there has been violence cannot be denied. Yes,
there have been attacks on property, and some looting cannot
be denied. But we're not looking at twenty twenty, not yet,
(33:47):
not yet. At least, we are not looking at what
nineteen ninety two was. Not yet at least, and the
next couple of days we'll see whether it's going to
escalate or de escalate. And that's why we are here
to give you the best information that we have as
it happens, and make sure that you are best in
form moving forward. Is KF I am six forty. I'm
(34:07):
o Kelly. We'll have more in just a moment. We're
live everywhere at the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
App KSI and KOs T h D two, Los Angeles,
Orange County.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
More stimulating talk
You're listening to Later with Moe Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
KFIM six.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Kelly here, and we are continuing our live coverage of
the events going on not only in downtown but also
the protests which i've emerged in Orange County, and we're
all being inundated with all sorts of imagery. We've seen
what they call b roll footage from the previous days.
But let me just be here to remind everyone, me included,
(00:36):
we don't know where all of this is headed. We
don't know what tonight will bring. We don't know exactly
how all this is going to play out, and I
think we have a collective responsibility to not get ahead
of where we are and what this is. I know,
working in media is not uncommon for news outlets in
(00:59):
person analogies to want to Sometimes there's a race to
characterize events because it suits a particular feeling about them.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Not so fast, not so fast. We're going to take
our time with us tonight.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Right now, we see some incidents which are happening in
Santa Ana. I'm looking at k COW watching what is
happening in downtown Los Angeles. It seems relatively quiet. In
other words, I see LAPD. They are moving forward, moving
people out from a specific area. It's not clear how
(01:39):
wide to a perimeter that LAPD is trying to set,
but you can see LAPD in riot gear. They are
moving people down the street, and from what I can see,
for the most part, people are being orderly in the
way that they are leaving downtown. Of course, when the
sun goes down, that may change, and I think a
(02:00):
lot of us are concerned about what happens when the
sun goes down, because let's be honest, there are always
people who are going to do show up for the
latest protest because they have an issue with police, or
they want to create mayhem, they want to do something.
In other words, not everyone is afraid of going to jail.
Not everyone is afraid of instigating an incident with law enforcement.
(02:26):
And they will be out tonight, and hopefully there will
not be a lot of them, or they will not
be enough to shift the tide of what's going on
right now. But we're going to sit here and we're
going to give you the best information that we can.
We are going to try to give you as much
analysis as possible. I can tell you upfront I have
(02:47):
no dog in this fight whatsoever.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Whatsoever.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
I want calm, I want peace, I want everyone to
remain safe, and from a protest standpoint, I actually do
want everyone to be heard, because this is still America.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
But I do not want any type of violence.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I am hoping that we can get through this evening
and into the night with no major incidents, with no violence,
with no looting, with no attacks on police officers. And
I just texted some of my law enforcement friends just
reminding them be safe out there because they have what
I would say is a mostly impossible job, because there
(03:28):
are people going to try to provoke them tonight no
matter what, and they have to remain calm, and sometimes
is grossly unfair what is said to them, thrown at them,
and they can't react in a way that I think
regular people would want to react. But unfortunately that is
part of the job. And we'll see what we saw
(03:51):
over the weekend. A perfect example Friday, there was something
that was going on.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Oh, let me back up.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Got to give great, great, great credit to LA Police
Department in the LA County Sheriff's Department for maintaining collective
control over downtown area this weekend in some of the
outer lying areas. I know I had some friends who
were driving down the freeway as people started walking on
(04:19):
to block the freeway, and the coordinated response from CHP
and LAPD to get drivers off the freeway to make
sure that it was safe and people were not run down.
I'm not trying to be fun and trying to be
very serious was nothing short of amazing in that regard.
So it does show a level of preparedness that our
(04:40):
law enforcement apparatus has for times just like these, and
the way it was handled over the course of the weekend.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
You remember Friday.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I know that this show was the first show to
really lean into what was happening downtown, and we were
telling you what was happening, and we were speaking with
Michael Munks, and at that point it seemed like there
really wasn't a lot going on, but you were still
kept in a no so you realize, all right, this
is not a thing yet, not as a Friday night
(05:10):
around ten o'clock. And then over the course of Saturday,
when there were other ice raids and arrest made in Paramount,
it started ratcheting up again, and we want to make
sure and it was something different. You know Saturday had
a different feeling than Friday. Saturday had a very different
energy than Friday. And we saw what happened to the
(05:31):
way mos we saw, we saw other acts of violence.
And let me also be clear. People have been rushing
to depict this as either a full blown riot or
they want to call it a peaceful protest, and I
think we need to make sure that there has to
be nuanced in our characterization of what is actually going on.
(05:55):
And this is the only way I really can explain it.
And I love analogies, and I'll probably have ten more tonight,
but that's the best way I can communicate certain ideas.
And I always say that not all rain is a thunderstorm,
and not all thunderstorms are hurricanes. But if you rush
to call something a hurricane before it actually is, you
(06:17):
don't leave yourself anywhere to go. And tomorrow, if you
understand the analogy, there may be a hurricane.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
That is a possibility.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
But if there is a hurricane tomorrow, it doesn't mean
on Saturday it was also a hurricane.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Could have been just rain.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
And let's not be so quick to characterize us as
a full blown riot or try to misrepresent it as
wholly peaceful protests. It's neither. There are varying degrees in between.
Yes there was violence, Yes there were attacks on officers.
(06:55):
Yes there was some looting. But if we're honest, it's
in it. It was at least in a very focused area.
And again I commend law enforcement for keeping it contained
in that particular area. I'm old enough to remember nineteen
ninety two, and they call it the Rodney King verdict,
But it didn't have to do what Rodney King had
to do with officers Lawrence Powell, Stacy Coon, and so forth.
(07:17):
But people recognize what I'm talking about when I say
Rodney King. That verdict for the civil trial which led
to the riots of nineteen ninety.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Two, enveloped the whole city.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
You could see the business systems of fires being burned
down across dozens and dozens of blocks. I along with
my fraternity brothers at the time, I was only twenty two,
so we were out there helping in the cleanup effort.
I distinctly remember that you had any number of people killed,
(07:52):
there's no legitimate comparison at this point. We all remember
in twenty twenty what that led to. And also around
the circumstances surrounding a riot are very very different. Like,
for example, all the schools of LAUSD were open today.
That's usually enough case. There was no curfew put in place.
(08:14):
For example, there was a soccer match at BMO Stadium
over the weekend. There was the BET Live experience which
was going on in the Convention Center. BT Experience was downtown.
We had the Pride Parade going on in West Hollywood
that was only three miles maybe north of downtown. In
other words, the city was not dealing with this. It
(08:34):
was basically four or five blocks, no exaggeration. So what
I'm saying is tonight may be different. We don't know,
but let's not be in a rush to characterize it
as something it has not risen to the level of,
at least as of yet. And again, I am hoping
for nothing but peace. I am hoping that there's no
(08:55):
further escalation. We'll have to see as the sun goes
down how people and agitators alike will respond.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
In this moment, you're listening to Later with Moe Kelly
on demand from KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I Am six forty mo' kelly here with you until
ten o'clock as we continue to follow the various protests
around southern California. I say various because not only is
it in downtown LA, but also in Santa Ana in
Orange County. And by now you probably know I would
say the biggest piece of news with Secretary of Defense
(09:33):
piece Pete Hagseth, said that around seven hundred Marines quote
are being deployed to Los Angeles to restore order close
quote and they're going to be coming from second Battalion,
seventh Marine Regiment. It's an infantry unit based in twenty
nine Poems, California, and the Marines are being deployed from
(09:56):
Camp Pendleton as well. Now what there the role is.
I'm going to tell you that I don't know someone
else who does not roll Specifically the role in how
it will be involved with the management of the situation
is LAPD Chief Jim McDonald. He said the statement that
(10:17):
the agency has decades of experience managing large scale public
demonstration and can handle the protests, and he also said
the arrival of federal military forces in Los Angeles absent
clear coordination, presents a significant logistical and operational challenge for
those of US charge with safeguarding this city. That is
(10:40):
LAPD Chief Jim McDonald, and I don't know what conversations
are being had between LAPD and the federal government. I
don't know whether these marines are receiving their primary instructions
from the Department of Defense or are they working with
local law enforcement. Now, what I do know is they're
(11:01):
supposed to be stationed specifically in front of federal offices
to protect them and also provide security around them. But
I don't know how that intersects with law enforcement. And
according to Jim McDonald, chief of LAPD, he has questions
as well. Don't know exactly how that will take shape.
(11:23):
We're going to have to watch that together and see
how it happens and when it happens. I do notice
in some areas tallis is downtown or Santa Anna that just.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Looks like this is downtown if it's out Santa Ana okay,
Santa Okay.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
There are some people who are lying in the street,
I guess, trying to be objectors and and make it
more difficult there. Yes, they're lying in the street just
in front of I don't know which police department that is.
I guess maybe as Santa Ana PDE. But they're right
in front of officers, just laying down prone. It doesn't
(12:03):
seem that they were instructed to get in that position.
It seems like that they're laying down there to present
themselves as obstacles and their catacorner from a federal building
where you can see what I assume to be National guardsmen.
It is not an escalation, but it seems to be
an active, conscious defiance where although police are not actively
(12:27):
moving forward, I get the sense that people who are
protesting are laying down in advance of that. In fact,
you can see it on our YouTube right now at
mister mo'kelly. You can see exactly to what we're referring
as we have the cacal fee there.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
This is in front of the federal building, okay, in
Santa Ana.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Okay, So that makes sense.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Yes, So that would be the National guardsman in front
of the federal building. It says police. There's not an
identifying police department. I am making the assumption at Santa
Ana PD. I don't know if there are other agencies
folded in, but there is no violence at this moment
(13:07):
in either Los Angeles or Santa Anna. We've seen some
arrests of individuals. I think during the first segment there
was an arrest of an individual by four or five
members of law enforcement. But at this point it's still calm.
The officers are not in an aggressive position. You can see,
at least by a CA cow somewhat relaxed, almost like
(13:31):
they're waiting for the next instruction. Uh, looks like, oh,
something's happening right now. Okay, now they're moving forward. Now
they're moving forward in Unison. This is in downtown LA.
This is specifically in downtown LA. Then move forward and
then stopped. I don't know if there was any type
of contact between a protester and a member of law enforcement,
(13:51):
but then it stopped and now police have been backed off.
Speaker 4 (13:55):
So this is similar to what we were reporting on
on Friday night. It looks as if this is a
coordinated effort to start clearing individuals out of the streets
in downtown. And this is what Michael Monks was reporting
on that officers are moving, the crowd is moving down.
Officers move forward, the crowd moves down.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
And it's almost like a stagger, you know, they'll move
a little bit and stop, move a little bit and stop.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Mark. I don't know. In your.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Investigation. Have you come across any type of official order
to disperse in downtown or Santa Ana as of yet,
not at the moment, no, but I'm scanning everything I
possibly can, and I will let you know if something
like that comes across. I can tell you though. In
downtown LA police are now directly moving forward. It seems
(14:44):
like there was a flashbang which was just set off,
and there is some sort of police vehicle which is
right behind that separation line. So police are advancing somewhat casually.
I mean, they're not moving at a quick pace. Protesters
for the most part, seem to be cooperating and moving back,
(15:06):
and now they stopped again, so they're moving at a
deliberate pace, but a staggered pace. They'll take maybe ten
steps and wait for a moment, and then they'll take
another ten steps and wait for a moment. I'm not
getting any audio, so I'm not hearing per se whether
they are giving instructions as far as dispersing or moving
back to a certain perimeter point. That's something we'll try
(15:28):
to look at during this next break and get some
clarity as far as what commands have been given, what
instructions have been given and whether there is a dispersal
order in place, and also whether there might be any
curfew handed down for tonight. That's something that I'm looking
for and that to me, that would be indicative of
some level of escalation where they feel that they have
(15:50):
to send everyone home directly home now to keep it
from getting worse.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
But we'll keep following this.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
We're following what is happening in downtown Los Angeles and
Santa Anna simultaneously. They are still nonviolent protests at this point.
There have been a couple of skirmishes, but no escalation
as of yet. As the sun goes down, of course,
it may get more dangerous, but nothing nothing too much
(16:20):
of an escalation to report at this point, but we're
continuing to follow it. Will be with you until ten
o'clock tonight. I'm Mo Kelly as we continue our coverage
of the protests in Los Angeles and Orange County. K
if I AM six forty. We're live everywhere in the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
You're listening to Later with Mo Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
K if I AM six forty, We're live everywhere in
the iHeartRadio app. As we continue our coverage of the
live events unfolding in both downtown Los Angeles and also
now Santa Anna and joining us now is I would say,
the man of the hour, Michael Monks. We just heard
your promo about you getting tear gassed. Let me first
(17:04):
ask you, are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine. I appreciate
that very much.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Yeah, it was a very quick incident that took place
yesterday afternoon. Really the only time that I think those
of us in the media were hit by tear gas.
I know some of our colleagues were later hit by
pepper balls in another incident. First time getting tear gassed,
it was a not pleasant do not recommend, but you know,
that's life in Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Man.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
I want to bring in Mark Ronnerd because he knows
a little something about this.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Welcome to the club, Thankslark. How did it feel?
Speaker 5 (17:38):
It felt like you telling me a very long story.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
So remarkably unpleasant then, is what I'm gathered, No tease.
The thing about getting tear gassed is that you never
build up a tolerance for it, and the twentieth time
is every bit is unpleasant as the first time.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Oh you know you might find that out.
Speaker 5 (17:57):
What I felt about it was, Oh, this stuff is
how do you say effective? Because everybody they wanted everybody
out of the street. This particular incident involved the National
Guard using tear gas on protesters and those of us
in the media who were in the crowd covering this
thing so that they could clear the street to make
way for about twenty federal vehicles to go into the
(18:17):
parking garage. And boy did it work. Everyone scrambled out
of the way, coughing fits. But you know what I'll
tell you, MO, is that protesters in Los Angeles, not
just the general people that come down to these things,
but the protesters, the people that live for this, no
matter what the issue is, they are longing to get
into it with the police any chance they get. They
(18:39):
know how to act in defense when this stuff happens.
They know what tools they need, they know how they're
supposed to help each other, and maybe most importantly for
their case, they know how to get to the scene
of one of these things very fast.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
What should not that we know what to expect, but
what should we be concerned about? Beyond the sun going
down and obviously agitators getting in the mix. Have you
seen anything else which has alarmed you.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
Well, it feels a bit like right now this moment,
because of course there are a lot of people in
downtown Los Angeles right now, despite the fact that the
police have told everybody to go home. It's a constant
powder keg right now, and all you need is one
little spark. I know we're dealing with some stuff in
Santa Ana as well now, but here in downtown Los Angeles,
which has been the epicenter in southern California for this
(19:31):
type of activity, it's hanging by a thread.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
I'll tell you.
Speaker 5 (19:35):
I just I'm in downtown right now. As I left
Burbankar Studios and pulled into downtown, first, traffic was way
too easy today on the freeway, so you get the
sense that people have maybe stayed home or at least
away from downtown. And then when you hit the surface streets,
you have to know your way around. Because I saw
(19:58):
a ton of people, probably one hundred, walking down Temple
Street and more cars behind them waving Mexican flags holding
up signage coming from that area and headed in the
direction of where these protests are. So not only is
it still ongoing, but there are more people on their way.
(20:20):
So It's a volatile situation, and all it takes is
for that spark. And again, these elite protesters, the ones
that long for this stuff, they're always down there waiting
for the opportunity to call some rucus.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
I wonder, though, as this night unfold and you say
people are coming to the scene, is there a perimeter
where cars can no longer pass? In other words, how
close do you think you can drive up to the
protests or have the police set up a perimeter where
there at least not letting cars get in.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
Multiple agencies have shut down various streets. So a lot
of the surface streets near the Civic Center area of
downtown Los Angeles, that's the name that they give the
area where a lot of the civic buildings are City Hall,
the federal building for example, the County building, those things.
And I did just drive near there, but not through there.
Surface streets are closed, and so are the freeway exits
(21:15):
to them. So if you were on the one to
one and wanted to get off at Los Angeles Street,
that is blocked. The one ten is blocked, for example,
of access to the one ten from downtown, what was
blocked in this area as well? So the CHP is
standing there in a line, not just cones blocking it,
but they are officers standing in a line blocking access
(21:36):
to the freeway ramps that way. So they are trying
to limit the vehicular traffic. But the pedestrian traffic is
what I saw. I saw again about one hundred people
marching down Temple Street in the direction of this. So
I don't know where their cars are, but they got
the message they weren't driving any closer, so they got
out and carried on on foot.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
You may not know the answer to this question, but
I think people may have this same question, even though
they may have. Well, let me back up, has there
been an official order to disperse?
Speaker 2 (22:06):
As far as you know.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
I think we're waiting for that. There is definitely a
tactical alert out there, meaning that the police officers need
to stay on duty in case things go awry here.
I mentioned this to you back in Burbank. I'm surprised
that we haven't heard at least official chatter that may
be a curfew or something right implemented for this area.
I gotta tell you, I hate to editorialize because I
(22:29):
like to be an impartial observer of these things. But
when we talk about whether this situation is in control,
whether the local police have it in control. It's really
unclear to me, but it seems like it could be.
I think back to yesterday, shortly before getting tear gassed.
I'm looking around. I'm thinking, this is a federal building
(22:51):
that folks are protesting out of, and that's why there
are federal agents on that property, and that is why
the National Guard is stationed there because they have been federalized.
It's the President who sent them there. But this protest
was large, and it was spilling into Alameda Street, which
is city property. At what point could this thing have
been stopped early so that it did not escalate? It
was clearly an unlawful assembly. People are allowed to protest,
(23:14):
but there are protocols, there are permits, and if you
have a permit, you have a lot more freedom and
leeway with what you're doing, where you're doing it, how
much time you can do it. This was an unlawful
assembly from the start, and I did not see a
single Los Angeles Police officer on the scene of that
protest until they pulled up by the dozens about two
and a half hours later. Because a massive march was
(23:36):
headed in that direction.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Let me ask you about Friday, because we were talking
after the order to the spurs had been given. To
the best of your knowledge, had they prevented after that
order the approach of pedestrian traffic where people still allowed
or not prevented to walk up and join the protests.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
No, you were blocked off from walking. In fact, that's
the same thing that happen. And yesterday, by the time
the LAPD showed up, it was a bit ironic in
my view, because there was a bullhorn one of the
protesters was using urging people to go to City Hall
where a second protest, a much larger when a rally,
if you will, was supposed to be unfolding. That evolved
(24:15):
into the massive march back in the direction of the
Federal building. But the police, the LA police, would not
let people leave Alameda Street to go to city halls
and it's back in the direction of the Federal Building.
And it was at that moment that both sides at
Alameda Street around the Federal Building saw large police presence.
They were starting to block the freeway entrances and anticipation
of what ended up happening protesters on the freeway. But
(24:39):
again my question it just keeps going back to, is
there not a police tactic that can be used to
disrupt these unlawful assemblies before they grow out of hand?
Because this is not a permitted protest. This is not
a street that is supposed to be shut down, and
that's true for all of these streets that are disrupted
right now in downtown Los Angeles at point, Why are
(25:01):
they not stopping this in its tracks before it gains traction?
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Well, I you know, I didn't get any success, but
I texted Chief McDonald. I don't expect them to call
me back, but I've been reaching out to various members
of law enforcement who might be able to talk and
kind of touch upon your concerns in mind, because I
would ask the question, if we know that a curfew
and or an order to disperse might encourage people to
(25:28):
take their ass home, why would we not have that
at this point? Because we know, and maybe the feeling
is if they do that too soon, it encourages a
clash because then you're forcing people out as opposed to
hoping they'll just leave on their own. I don't know
if there's a good answer to this, but from way
from the way you describe it. More and more people
(25:49):
are coming, so them naturally dispersing is not going to happen.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Am I right?
Speaker 6 (25:54):
No?
Speaker 5 (25:54):
I think you're absolutely right, because every time I've seen
the dispersal order issued, people have spurs the I guess
the majority, maybe even almost all, based on the volume
of people. When they hear you're going to jail. If
you don't leave, they leave. But there is a certain
class of agitator, and it's not necessarily the hard line
(26:18):
immigration folks. This is what starts to dilute the message.
There are activists in Los Angeles that are at the
ready for protests like this. They live for this, they
enjoy this, They're prepared for this in a way that
you can't even really imagine. They've got equipment, they have tactics,
they have practice, they know what they're doing. They're the
ones that are going to be left behind. And so
to your point, that may this, it's not like the
(26:39):
laped doesn't know this, so that may discourage them. They
might decide when the time is right to get rid
of everybody else so that they can be prepared for
the clash that they know is ultimately going to come.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Regardless when we talked on Friday, I could hear a
lot of background noise in a sense of instructions over
the megaphone telling people what to do, where to go.
Speaker 2 (26:59):
I'm not hearing that tonight.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
Is there any communication from what you can tell directly
from police and protesters.
Speaker 5 (27:07):
I think right now it seems like people are getting
their bearings on where this thing is going to go tonight,
because it's been a similar area but different locations, and
so when you change the geography a bit, you've got
different hiding places, you have different barriers that you have
to avoid. And I think right now the communication has
been clear that this is you know, you're not supposed
(27:30):
to be here. The police are standing here at the ready,
please go home. There are more people coming, so that
message is not resonating. I haven't heard as many bullhorn
messages as we heard. I mean, there was a helicopter
yelling at us on Friday saying you get out of here.
It's an unlawful as simply. But they said that for
well over an hour. And at what point do these
(27:51):
threats become real?
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Well got to jump in there, because if the past
is prologue and we haven't received the order to to
spur we haven't heard the bullhorn messages of lee or
you will be arrested.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
We're behind schedule, are we not? Exactly?
Speaker 5 (28:08):
That's exactly right, and you know now that this is
going to be coming on the daily. So that's why
I have the question about one, why aren't these unlawful
assemblies being stopped immediately? And two why isn't there a
ban on people being out after a certain time in
certain parts of Los Angeles right now? I know that
(28:29):
people don't like to hear that. I don't want to
curf you. I live downtown. You know, I don't want
to feel confined to where we live. But if it's
for the greater good, you gotta do it. This neighborhood
has been It's already a dirty, filthy, ransacked, graffitied neighborhood
that is completely neglected by city government at all levels
(28:51):
and all departments. And now pile on these protests and
the massive mess and the increased graffiti that's going on.
This isn't so serving my neighborhood at all. I'd like
people to leave.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Frankly, Michael Monks, I hope you will be safe the
rest of the evening. Can we possibly call upon you
later in the evening to give us an update.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
Absolutely, I'll be monitoring, and I think if things get
too hairy, we need to send Mark Ronna out with
the tear gas and get this thing cleaned up there.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Done that. Hey, Mark's not too late.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
I mean, if you get a jump, you know, a
head start, you can get down there before they have
the order to disperse.
Speaker 6 (29:25):
I think I may hold the record for a journalist
getting tear gassed and shot with rubber bullets.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
And I don't we have to go to a break.
Speaker 6 (29:31):
But Michael, did you see over the weekend the footage
of the reporter getting shot while she was all.
Speaker 5 (29:36):
The ones from Australia? And you know, Moe, when you
and I were talking on Friday night, she was next
to me for a good part of it, and she
and I talked and she was just nice as can be.
I'm sorry I don't have her name, Handy, but we
chatted a bit and then I saw her in those
videos from yesterday getting shot in the butt, and I
just felt so bad.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
That could have been you, It could have been made.
Watch out for that.
Speaker 6 (29:56):
They're not lethal, but they sure do smart. I can
tell you that from first hand. Ex first ask experience.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
As they say, the night is young, so we hopefully,
hopefully you will not get shot, Michael Monks, but we
will be in touch with you later on Hit me
Out KFI AM six forty on mo Kelly as we
continue our coverage of the protests both in downtown and
in Santa Anna.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
As the sun goes down, we'll have more in just
a moment.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
You're listening to later with mo Kelly on demand from
KFI AM six forty.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
KFI AM six forty, It's mo Kelly. We're live everywhere
in the iHeartRadio app. As we continue to follow the
events downtown and also in Santa Anna. It's still relatively quiet.
We know that there have been some announcements. We know
that lausd is going to be in session tomorrow, and
I talked about that at the top of the show,
(30:47):
and I was trying to draw this distinction as far
as what people call a riot, what people conceive as
a riot, and I'm basically saying, if you call it
a riot, now you have nowhere to go if it
should get actually to what we saw in twenty twenty
or what we saw in nineteen ninety two. And one
of the reasons I brought that up was life for
(31:07):
most Angelino's is not impacted right now. School is still open,
kids are going to school, people are going to work.
There is no curfew. We talked about that as of yet.
These are all leavers which have not been pulled. Now
we can talk about the wisdom in doing it or
not doing it. You heard me in my conversation with
(31:28):
Michael Monks about whether a call for a curfew should
already be in place to avoid possible future issues or problems,
or whether there should already be in order to disperse.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
We have not heard that yet. I asked Mark Ronert.
He has not seen that yet.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
So we're going off the best information we have available.
But LAUSD has said that school is going to be
in session tomorrow. I assume that's not likely to change
because they made an official statement on that. The as
far as we know, that's not going to change. In
and Taya, let me just ask you, as someone as
(32:05):
an administrator in a school environment, do you take anything
from that? Do you make anything of that?
Speaker 4 (32:12):
I take that to mean that this situation is relatively isolated.
In addition to the announcement that LAUSD will be open,
they have also said that all graduation ceremonies will commence
as normal tomorrow and Wednesday. I believe Wednesday is the
official official last day. But for them to come out
(32:34):
and say that all graduation ceremonies will happen, all commencements
will happen, you will be safe, students will be safe.
They are working with LA Sheriff and LAPD to ensure
all of this. It means that from the city telling
them everything is okay, We've got it covered in these
(32:56):
areas here.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Something else I remember and also notice back yet, in
nineteen ninety two, all events were shut down. We did
not have any sporting events. You know, it wasn't like
the Dodgers were playing. It wasn't like the Lakers were playing.
When you had the riots of nineteen ninety two, the
city was completely shut down top to bottom, no school
(33:19):
curfew in place, I think for three or four days.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
It was just a completely different situation.
Speaker 3 (33:24):
That is not to say that these protests have been
completely peaceful, And that's why I want people to understand
there is nuance here. There are levels to this. As
far as yes, there has been violence cannot be denied. Yes,
there have been attacks on property, and some looting cannot
be denied. But we're not looking at twenty twenty, not yet,
(33:47):
not yet. At least, we are not looking at what
nineteen ninety two was. Not yet at least, and the
next couple of days we'll see whether it's going to
escalate or de escalate. And that's why we are here
to give you the best information that we have as
it happens, and make sure that you are best in
form moving forward. Is KF I am six forty. I'm
(34:07):
o Kelly. We'll have more in just a moment. We're
live everywhere at the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
App KSI and KOs T h D two, Los Angeles,
Orange County.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
More stimulating talk
Later, with Mo'Kelly News
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