Los Angeles, the city of sprawling protests and political resistance, was subject to scrutiny last weekend—this time, in the skies. Flight trackers and aircraft data showed that an MQ-9 Reaper, a military-rated drone often employed in foreign combat areas, flew over LA during political protests.
The drone, which traced a hexagonal flight path over Paramount and downtown LA, later went on to be tracked toward the US-Mexico border. The aircraft lacked an initial callsign, raising suspicions and speculations among civil rights activists and aerial hobbyists.
Air traffic control audio recordings captured by tracking enthusiast "Aeroscout" apparently verified that the aircraft was a DHS-piloted Q-9 Reaper drone.
Trump Administration Criticized for Militarization of Surveillance
The fact that such a drone hovered over one of America's largest cities during peaceful protests has raised new alarms regarding the Trump administration's deployment of military resources for surveillance domestically. The aviation tracker spotted the predator drone, according to 404 Media.
Although not new, Customs and Border Protection deployed such drones in 2020 amid the George Floyd protests; this increase, particularly in a Democratic city, is perceived as more politically motivated.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wasn't modest, labeling the drone activities an ominous "test case" for tactics of authoritarianism.
"This is what happens when the federal government moves in and takes the authority away from the state or away from local government. I don't think our city should be used for an experiment." Bass added that the "chaos" in the city was "started" by "Washington DC" and that "nothing warranted the raids" that had taken place as part of ICE's operations."
DHS and LAPD Accused of Intimidation Tactics
Drone use wasn't the only issue. Protestors also experienced hostility from local police. An LAPD helicopter was filmed threatening protesters, stating, "I have all of you on camera. I'm going to come to your house."
The divide between intimidation and surveillance is narrowing as facial recognition software and data collection tools become available to law enforcement.
Civil liberties organizations are now warning about what they characterize as a deliberate wearing away of privacy and due process. Critics contend that these new high-tech approaches are less public safety-oriented and more dissident-silencing in Democratic leaning cities.
Is the Federal Response a Political Distraction?
Numerous people are wondering why the Trump administration picked this time to exercise its federal muscle in Los Angeles. Some believe the theatrics of deploying military-style force are intended as a diversion from harmful headlines, most notably recent accusations tying Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, according to Gizmodo.
Media commentators, such as Jon Stewart and many experts, imply that the military spectacle can be less about regaining order and more about a shift in attention. The Washington narrative maintains this is about law and order, but to others, it appears more like an electoral stunt wrapped in riot gear.
ⓒ 2025 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
