Demonstrators gathered in a tense city following two days of skirmishes between protesters and federal officers over immigration operations that prompted the White House’s rare move to deploy troops without first being asked by the state.

Dozens of National Guard members, wearing helmets, riot gear and carrying rifles, arrived in Los Angeles Sunday morning after being called up by President Donald Trump to quell violent demonstrations.

The move appeared to be the first time in decades that a state’s national guard was activated without a request from its governor.