Maxine Waters Taunts Armed Agents During LA Riots: "You Better Shoot Straight"

Representative Maxine Waters was thrust into the spotlight after an intense encounter at a federal building in Los Angeles during ongoing migrant protests, an incident that quickly spread on social media. The 86-year-old Democrat, well-known for her vocal advocacy, was filmed making her way past walls covered in graffiti and up to a barricaded entrance as tensions ran high outside the government facility.

Waters announced her intention to use her congressional authority to check on David Huerta, a prominent SEIU union leader detained during a wave of recent ICE raids. As she approached the building’s plywood-shielded doorway, a crowd looked on while California National Guard members secured the area. “Hello, hello, hello,” Waters called out, only to be told by an agent that the lobby was closed to all visitors. Despite the rebuff, Waters persisted, demanding entry and expressing concern about Huerta's fate, stating to bystanders, "I just want to see David Huerta!"

Onlookers questioned Waters about the situation, prompting her to allege that Huerta was “targeted” and that she did not yet know the reason for his arrest. “I don’t know whether they are going to deport him? I want to report back to my caucus what is happening,” she said, expressing frustration at being kept out of the process. In a follow-up statement, Waters described her visit to the Metropolitan Detention Center as an effort to investigate what the SEIU has called a “violent sweep” by immigration enforcement authorities.

The altercation escalated further when Waters was seen in another video clip confronting heavily armed National Guard troops deployed throughout the city. In the footage, she can be heard imploring the guardsmen not to use force against what she called “peaceful demonstrators” exercising their right to protest. She insisted that all individuals deserve respect, due process, and fair treatment under the law, stating, "Peaceful, nonviolent demonstrations are critical to protecting our constitutional rights."

Waters did not shy away from harsh criticism of the Trump administration, accusing the president of fostering a climate of fear and intimidation in sanctuary cities across the nation. “The President of the United States is a cruel, dishonorable human being,” Waters declared, warning that agents could be encouraged to "shoot somebody down." She added, “This is about how they’re going to treat people of color in America… They have all the guns – we know they have all the guns.”

At one point, Waters directly addressed the armed forces, challenging their loyalty and intent: "What are you going to do? You're going to shoot some kid? You're gonna shoot an elected official? If you shoot me, you better shoot straight." Her comments echoed a broader sentiment of distrust and heightened tensions between law enforcement, federal agents, and local communities caught in the crossfire of policy disputes and street-level unrest.

As political leaders continue to grapple with the fallout from these high-profile confrontations, questions remain about the handling of recent immigration enforcement actions and the government’s response to public demonstrations. Waters has called on fellow elected officials to take every measure possible to prevent violence and to ensure that the rights of all Americans are protected during this fraught period in Los Angeles.