Left struggles to cope after US Marines temporarily detain civilian in LA

Reality butt up against narrative Friday as a temporary detainee of U.S. Marines in Los Angeles relayed how he was treated and the outrage mob asserted it was time “to rise up.”

“By force if necessary.”

Since anti-federal law enforcement protests had kicked off in the once-Golden State a week earlier, reactions to the vandalism, violence and arson smacked of what many had described as rather “insurrection-y.” Now, after a self-identified U.S. Army veteran was temporarily detained after crossing into an area outside a federal building cordoned off by caution tape, social media rabble-rousers appeared primed to amplify the incident as cause to ignite a powder keg heading into the weekend.

Video posted by Reuters showed as a Marine outside the Wilshire Federal Building jumped into action, closing on the man later identified as Marcos Leao, instructing him not to go any further after entering the area. After he was zip-tied, the man was hoisted off the ground and patiently waited with the Marines as more gathered to sort out the situation.

Sharing the video described as the “first known incident” of a civilian deployment since President Donald Trump had ordered Marines to aid the National Guard in Los Angeles, one social media account argued, “We’re officially living in a police state,” as others added to the hyperbole.

This is the Reuters video of US Marines in Los Angeles detaining a civilian near federal property — the first known incident since their deployment. Military officials have stressed they cannot make arrests. The man was later released.

We’re officially living in a police state. pic.twitter.com/KvM0q0rcbo

— Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) June 14, 2025

Yep.

— Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) June 14, 2025

The US military confirmed Marines in Los Angeles have detained a civilian for the first time, after being shown this photo by Reuters.

Earlier, two defense officials said Marines are authorized to TEMPORARILY detain people if “threatened” or “harassed.”

This was outside the… pic.twitter.com/WbqxjkHoII

— Carl Nasman (@CarlNasman) June 13, 2025

And here we are living in a third world country…this sucks.

— BovineObserver (Official) (@BovineObserver) June 13, 2025

Rome has now reached the level of corruption and despotism where it turns the military on the people.

— “Mild and Rare” Nate (@kdogni) June 13, 2025

Meanwhile, Leao, a naturalized citizen of the United States via his military service, had explained the situation to Reuters. As he told it, he was rushing to get to an appointment with the Department of Veterans Affairs when he had crossed the caution tape boundary.

“They’re just doing their job,” he said of the Marines who asked him to stop and then detained him. As for their conduct, Leao had explained he was treated “very fairly.”

“I had my headphones in, so I didn’t hear them. They told me to get down on the ground. I basically complied with everything they were saying,” The Associated Press reported him saying. “I didn’t know it was going to be this intense here.”

“There was nothing wrong, it’s just procedure,” Leao had said. “This is the Federal Building, so I understand that anything that happens her can actually get federal accusations.”

He also expressed, “It reminds you to take a big compliance with everything that they say.”

The video also showed the Marines escorting Leao toward the building as the AP indicated he had been held for over two hours and that it wasn’t until Los Angeles police had arrived that he had been released without charges.

“Any temporary detention ends immediately when the individual(s) can be safely transferred to the custody of appropriate civilian law enforcement personnel,” a spokesperson for the U.S. military’s Northern Command told Reuters.

Friday’s detention came as the protests had thus far been isolated to major cities were expected to go nationwide on Saturday. Though treated as an organic uprising, the “No Kings” rallies had been proven to be coordinated astroturf with the typical network of money flowing in and out of organizations, including those receiving taxpayer dollars, as exposed by Data Republican.

Those decrying the way the situation was handled faced a reality check from those demanding a restoration of order.

If we were in a police state, no one would be filming and you would never have seen the guy again. Stop cosplaying that you’re in some sort of real struggle.

— Jenifer Erickson (@JeniferEri83011) June 14, 2025

We would not have to worry about it if democrats didn’t want to assault law enforcement and destroy shit

— Spindleguy (@ChadRaney1) June 14, 2025

Tasty nothingburger.

— Ken ⌘⌥⇧⎋ (@kenspi) June 13, 2025

Cry more commie. Don’t walk past a barrier at a federal building when Marines are guarding it. Dumb asses.

— Quarrion (@QuarrionC) June 14, 2025

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

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