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A line of uniformed National Guard members wearing helmets and face shields stands in formation behind clear riot shields labeled “California National Guard.”
A wide-view of a crowd of protesters holding signs as they gather in front of a legislative building during a protest. The signs contain various phrases such as "no kings" and "dump Trump."
Three people grab a person as they push them out of a room during a press conference.
A person walks by a homeless encampment in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 18, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela for CalMatters/CatchLight Local
A view of a lawmaker, with long brunette hair and wearing a black blazer with a purple shirt, as they put their hand over their heart during the Pledge of Allegiance of a legislative session. The lawmaker is surrounded by other lawmakers who are also taking the oath.
A row of law enforcement officers dressed in combat gear hold plastic shields in front of them that say "California National guard" on them during a protest.
A line of sheriff’s deputies in tactical gear and gas masks fire less-lethal weapons through a barrier of yellow crowd-control fencing during a protest. Smoke emits from one of the launchers. Behind them, more officers are stationed on trucks equipped with barricades and mounted weapons. The scene is tense and highly militarized in a residential-looking area at dusk.
Oil pumps in the Kern River Oil Field near Bakersfield on July 6, 2022. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
Three small, weathered buildings sit side by side on a wet street in a mountain town. The structures show signs of age, with faded paint, boarded windows, and moss-covered roofs. Bare trees stand behind them, and a misty forested hillside rises in the background under an overcast sky. The scene is quiet and damp, evoking a sense of stillness and isolation.
Students in a class at Lake Marie Elementary School in Whittier on Nov. 17, 2022. Photo by Lauren Justice for CalMatters

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