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

Rep. Maxine Waters of California found herself at the center of heated exchanges and dramatic confrontations during the recent migrant riots in Los Angeles, with video capturing key moments as she attempted to enter a federal building and later engaged directly with armed security personnel.

The footage shows the longtime congresswoman briskly walking past walls defaced by graffiti outside a government complex, ascending the steps toward an entrance shielded by plywood. Crowds gathered at the scene watched as Waters approached a group of California National Guard troops stationed at the doorway. Calling out "Hello, hello, hello," she tried to gain entry, explaining, "I just came to use my congressional authority to check on David Huerta," a reference to the SEIU union leader reportedly arrested during the weekend’s protests.

A National Guard agent blocked her way, informing her that the lobby was "secure right now to all visitors" and instructing her to "contact our public affairs office." Waters, undeterred, insisted, "Excuse me, I need to get in," before the officer closed the door firmly in her face. Her determination was clear as she continued calling out for Huerta, telling the crowd that he had been "targeted" without knowing the reason. "I don’t know whether they are going to deport him? I want to report back to my caucus what is happening," she added.

Waters issued a statement later describing her visit to the Metropolitan Detention Center in an attempt to see Huerta, who her allies claim was caught up in what they described as "a violent sweep" by ICE through Los Angeles County. She also referenced a separate viral video in which she confronted heavily armed National Guard members, urging them not to use force against demonstrators.

"I pled with the National Guard, which was heavily armed, not to use their weapons against peaceful demonstrators who were simply exercising their rights to freedom of speech and protest," Waters said. She emphasized the importance of treating all people with dignity and due process, stating, "Peaceful, nonviolent demonstrations are critical to protecting our constitutional rights."

Waters did not hesitate in her criticism of the current administration. "The President of the United States is a cruel, dishonorable human being," she remarked, warning that some officials would "just as soon like to see agents shoot somebody down." Yet she called on elected leaders to do everything possible to prevent such violence. "I want the elected officials to do everything that we can to dissuade them," Waters told reporters after her confrontations.

In another tense exchange captured on video, Waters was heard directly addressing armed personnel arrayed in formation, accusing them of acting as pawns of President Donald Trump. "This is Trump and his outrageous attempt to not only target our sanctuary city, but to frighten us and intimidate us. This is wrong, and I hope that none of you will use those guns to shoot anybody… and allow them to make your service a service when you're killing people," she declared passionately.

Speaking to members of the press, Waters suggested the president was seeking an excuse for martial law and goading protesters into conflict. "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," she stated, highlighting concerns over the militarized response to civic unrest.

In another confrontation with soldiers, Waters pressed them on their orders: "What are you going to do? You're going to shoot some kid?" Then, in a pointed moment, she added, "You're gonna shoot an elected official? If you shoot me, you better shoot straight."

The scenes captured in Los Angeles underscore the extraordinary tensions surrounding federal enforcement actions and the passionate responses they have provoked from local leaders and activists alike. As calls grow for transparency and restraint, these confrontations serve as a stark reminder of the divisions and stakes at play during times of civil unrest.