As Southern California braces itself for July Fourth celebrations, many communities are choosing to either cancel or reschedule their events amid widespread fear of immigration raids orchestrated by the federal government.
Interestingly, organizations opposing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies are planning to conduct protests in downtown Los Angeles. This comes after previous demonstrations, which were marked by violence, prompted Trump to deploy state National Guard and U.S. Marines despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections.
In response to the ongoing fear and unrest, the city has decided to postpone its annual Fourth of July block party. This event typically takes place in Gloria Molina Grand Park, located near City Hall and several federal buildings, one of which is currently functioning as a detention center that has become a focal point for demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
The momentum for protests gained traction during the “No Kings” march on June 14, where demonstrators faced crowd dispersal tactics including tear gas and pepper spray applied by law enforcement. In chaotic scenes, protesters fled towards Grand Park, scrambling for safety as they were pushed away from federal buildings.
Recent reports from the Department of Homeland Security indicate that over 1,618 individuals have been detained in Los Angeles alone since the intensified immigration enforcement began last month. The crackdown has instilled deep fear across Southern California, where approximately 1.4 million residents are estimated to be living without legal authorization, as noted by the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute.
Despite the city’s fresh challenges, several Los Angeles-based organizations are marking Independence Day with protests, with plans for a “freedom” car cruise and rally outside City Hall. This coalition comprises multifaith organizations, labor unions, activists, and artists, all united in opposition to the federal government’s actions.
Following their rally, activists from Centro CSO are expected to march outside the federal courthouse in solidarity with Alejandro Orellana, who faces charges related to distributing face shields to individuals deemed suspected rioters. Orellana, arrested earlier, has been charged with conspiracy to commit civil disorder, and aiding and abetting civil disorders. He was released on bond last month, with a preliminary hearing set for Thursday afternoon.
Another event of significance is planned for Friday by the local chapter of 50501, which organized the previous “No Kings” rally. This day-long demonstration aims to demand an “end to the occupation” of Los Angeles by ICE, the National Guard, and Marines. The group declared, “This isn’t a celebration. It’s a stand.”
In addition to protests in downtown Los Angeles, smaller communities such as Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, and El Sereno — neighborhoods with significant immigrant populations — have opted to postpone their Fourth of July festivities. These decisions come after several alarming immigration arrests in high-profile cases.
In one incident last month, federal agents controversially blocked and detained a car carrying four U.S. citizens, including children, while pursuing Christian Damian Cerno-Camacho, who was arrested for allegedly assaulting an immigration officer. Cerno-Camacho’s family plans to file a lawsuit against the federal government in response to the incident.
The climate of uncertainty and fear prompted local activists in Boyle Heights to block off a bridge linking the area to downtown Los Angeles, marching in solidarity with their community members while performing traditional mariachi music at the site of another arrest.
As public calls intensify for the National Guard to return to their regular duties, there have been some shifts — this week, 150 members were reassigned for wildfire season preparedness. However, as the ongoing situation remains tense, approximately 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines are still stationed at federal buildings in the Los Angeles area while a lawsuit filed by California against the Trump administration is poised to make its way through court.
Notably, a three-judge appeals court recently ruled that the White House likely acted lawfully when it federally authorized the National Guard without the governor’s consent, contrasting earlier decisions made by a lower court that deemed the action illegal. In light of this, Governor Newsom has voiced intentions to seek legal avenues to regain control over the National Guard.
Some lawmakers and legal organizations are stepping up their legal efforts as the holiday weekend approaches. On Wednesday, several immigrant rights groups initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration, aiming to halt what they describe as a blatant disregard for both the Constitution and federal law during immigration raids occurring in Los Angeles.
Mohammad Tajsar, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, condemned the actions taken against communities, stating, “Since June 6th, marauding, masked goons have descended upon Los Angeles, terrorizing our brown communities and tearing up the Constitution in the process. No matter their status or the color of their skin, everyone is guaranteed Constitutional rights to protect them from illegal stops. We will hold DHS accountable.”
The Department of Homeland Security has countered these allegations, asserting that the claims made against their operations are unfounded.
This week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors also approved a motion to pursue legal action against the Trump administration, following a lawsuit filed by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi targeting Los Angeles for its sanctuary city policies, which restrict local enforcement agencies from separately cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
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