"If he can successfully militarize LA without significant political consequences, Baltimore is next," said Angela Angel of BLM PAC.

Donald Trump's move to send National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles amid unrest over his immigration policies has given new weight to a lingering question: How far can a president go in using the military to quell domestic disturbances?

Trump issued a memo to deploy troops to areas where protests are occurring or "likely to occur," which may allow forces to operate in other cities.