Protests against federal immigration raids escalated in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday night, leading to the enforcement of a curfew by Mayor Karen Bass.
Around 9 p.m., law enforcement cleared remaining protesters from the area, one hour after the curfew took effect.
In the midst of this, a protester was seen fleeing down 2nd Street, prompting officers to chase and subsequently tackle him to the ground, placing him in handcuffs.
These arrests marked the sixth consecutive day of demonstrations against the ongoing federal operations targeting undocumented immigrants.
While the streets of downtown L.A. were quieter compared to earlier in the day when hundreds had rallied, a contingent of the LAPD, including officers on horseback, began escorting detained protesters towards the jail.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contributed to the tense atmosphere, releasing a controversial poster urging the public to report what they termed “foreign invaders.”
The poster, featuring Uncle Sam, conveyed a message that activists like American cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz condemned as turning a symbol of patriotism into one promoting anti-immigrant sentiments.
Commenting on this shift, Alcaraz expressed deep dismay, stating that the image now resembles a “white supremacist meme.”
Historically, similar Uncle Sam posters were used to recruit soldiers during both World Wars but have taken on a different connotation in today’s socio-political climate.
Mike Madrid, a veteran GOP strategist, echoed Alcaraz’s sentiments, describing the DHS’s message as reminiscent of the America First movement of the 1930s.
Madrid argued that the overtly negative portrayal of immigrants has stripped the narrative of any hint of civility or humanity.
Despite his dissatisfaction with the current Republican Party under President Donald Trump, Madrid said his conservative values remain unchanged.
On Tuesday, as protests intensified, Mayor Bass announced an 8 p.m. curfew for downtown L.A., aiming to quell incidents of violence and vandalism.
During the first unlawful assembly declaration around 6:25 p.m., protesters were ordered to disperse.
As tensions mounted, the LAPD began using rubber bullets to disperse the crowd at 7 p.m., resulting in many fleeing the scene.
By 7:30 p.m., the LAPD made it clear that all remaining protesters would face arrest, leading to a significant reduction in numbers, with only a few dozen demonstrators left outside the county courthouse.
Facing the inevitability of arrest, some protesters began writing bail support numbers on their arms as law enforcement surrounded them.
That night, law enforcement reported 17 arrests for violating curfew and a total of 203 arrests overall for failing to disperse.
As tensions simmered down, the protests reemerged the following day with a more organized approach.
On Wednesday evening, demonstrators marched from Pershing Square to City Hall, only to be met with a warning from police that the gathering was deemed an unlawful assembly.
The crackdown continued as officers, backed by sheriff’s deputies, moved to disperse the crowd, employing non-lethal munitions in an attempt to control the situation.
The police presence included mounted officers, which amplified the chaos as people fell to the ground while others chanted in protest.
Saul Barnes, a downtown hotel worker, articulated the disruption caused by government actions, highlighting the fears of hotel employees who were predominantly Mexican and worried about ICE raids.
“Everything is destroyed,” he lamented, voicing concerns over the state of local businesses and daily life in Los Angeles.
In contrast, the atmosphere in neighboring Boyle Heights was markedly different, where a vibrant demonstration took place to denounce federal immigration enforcement.
Organized by Centro CSO, a grassroots organization, the protest mirrored a celebration as around 100 participants took to the streets, chanting against the immigration authorities.
Community members celebrated their unity with chants like “Migra out of East Los” as they blocked traffic, reinforcing their determination to resist federal actions.
Matthew Hunter, involved with the organizing group, expressed that protests had been in preparation since President Trump took office, viewing the current climate as a rise in pressure against immigrant communities.
Despite potential risks of negative representation in media, organizers sought to maintain a peaceful atmosphere as demonstrations continued.
The community’s positivity was contrasted against downtown’s turmoil, with demonstrators sharing messages of support for each other and their undocumented friends and family.
On Wednesday afternoon, hundreds gathered near the federal building at Aliso and Temple streets, displaying a clear intention to avoid past violence encountered earlier in the protests.
Led by Gow, demonstrators were instructed to remain peaceful, moving away from conflict sites as they rallied in downtown’s Civic Center and Chinatown.
Gow emphasized the need to outsmart any provocations aimed at inciting violence, asserting that such disturbances would only serve as ammunition for further militarization by federal authorities.
While resisting the government’s tactics, Mayor Karen Bass, flanked by other local leaders, denounced the continuation of immigrant raids and military escalation in the region.
Bass remarked that the presence of military force in the city overshadowed the community atmosphere, branding these raids as unnecessary and fear-inducing for local residents.
Local leaders echoed Bass’s sentiments, with Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores describing the situation as political theater fueled by intimidation rather than public safety.
Speaking directly to military personnel in the area, Flores reinforced the oath to protect all citizens, asserting that this encompasses individuals regardless of their immigration status.
Further illustrating the impact of raids, former Downey Mayor Mario Trujillo reported incidents where ICE targeted everyday locations, including a Home Depot, highlighting the fear permeating immigrant communities.
Meanwhile, the business sector in downtown Los Angeles felt the repercussions of the protests. Sampa, a modern Filipino restaurant, saw cancellations surge and revenue drop significantly within the week.
Co-owner Jenny Valles explained that potential diners opted to stay away due to fear of getting caught up in the protests.
With such concerns affecting operations, the restaurant began to adjust its hours to stay afloat amidst the turmoil caused by ongoing civil unrest.
National Guard and military personnel remained deployed in Los Angeles with a stated mission to protect federal properties rather than engage in law enforcement activities.
U.S. Northern Command General Gregory Guillot clarified that while their role involved protecting federal agents, they were not authorized to make arrests.
However, he acknowledged that there may be rare circumstances when they could temporarily detain a person to avert imminent threats.
As of that Tuesday, a total of 203 arrests had occurred related to the protests, including violations of the ordered curfew and encounters with law enforcement.
These tumultuous days outlined the juxtaposition between passionate protests and government measures, as the city of Los Angeles grapples with the implications of federal immigration policies.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/live/los-angeles-protests-immigration-raid-live-updates
