John Block, a House Representative from New Mexico, has said that Democratic leaders are supporting violent protesters contributing to chaos in major cities. The statement was made on the social media platform X.
"Reminder: This is who Gavin Newsom and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham are standing with," said Block, New Mexico State Representative for 51st District (R). "No wonder Los Angeles and Albuquerque are war zones. Thug trash is being applauded by the likes of MLG + Newsom. They hate America, and it shows."
In June 2025, Los Angeles and Albuquerque experienced significant unrest related to federal immigration enforcement and local political tensions. According to Reuters, in Los Angeles, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids triggered large-scale protests where demonstrators clashed with police, blocked roads, and set vehicles on fire, prompting National Guard intervention. Meanwhile, in Albuquerque, unrest flared over local budget issues and immigration policy, with demonstrators damaging property near Civic Plaza. These incidents marked some of the most intense urban protests of the year.
Los Angeles saw over 100 protest-related arrests in June 2025, including 45 in downtown and at least 60 in surrounding areas for charges like obstruction and vandalism. According to AP News, many arrests were linked to demonstrations against ICE operations. In Albuquerque, a city police report cited a 22% rise in protest incidents over the past month, with 12 involving violence or property damage.
Since early 2025, Democrat-led cities have reported diverging trends in crime and protest activity. A report by Axios indicated that cities like Minneapolis and San Francisco saw declining violent crime rates while protest-related unrest surged in cities like Los Angeles. FBI data showed a national 6% drop in violent crime from the previous year; however, local spikes in civil disorder have offset broader safety gains in some urban areas.
Block is a Republican representing District 51 in the New Mexico House of Representatives since January 2023. As reported by Ballotpedia, he holds degrees from Santa Fe Community College, Rutgers University–Camden, and Eastern New Mexico University. He founded The Piñon Post and is known for advocating conservative positions on immigration, education, and fiscal policy.
