LA is pushing back against ICE: an overview

Photo by The Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles has long held a reputation of strong beliefs and loud voices. In a city known for taking action, residents have been standing up to injustices for years. In recent times, major protests have gained traction across the area and nationally including: The Women’s March, BLM protests, and No Kings protests. Still not even two months into this year, people have begun to voice their outrage against Donald Trump’s presidency, and specifically, ICE’s agendas. Agents using extreme, unconstitutional, and even fatal methods of deportation has led to citizen movement.

This year alone, eight lives have been lost at the hands of ICE agents. It is important that we remain educated on the political climate of our country so that action is taken as necessary. Luis Gustavo Núñez Cáceres, Geraldo Lunas Campos, Víctor Manuel Díaz, Parady La, Renee Nicole Good, Luis Beltrán Yáñez–Cruz, Heber Sánchez Domínguez, and Alex Pretti are among these fatalities so far. Whether killed in protest, detention, or in direct violence, the length of this list is frightening.

In response to federal agents, Los Angeles has spoken up. Here is a look at how we’ve been exercising our first amendment rights in the past week alone.

Friday January 30th

On Friday, there was a National shutdown boycotting school, work, and any big business shopping across the country. This aimed to make a statement and interrupt the flow of daily life in condolences to recent ICE violence in Minneapolis.

Photo by Ivy Spruell

Meanwhile, in DTLA, thousands of protesters gathered to encourage the protection of undocumented and racially profiled residents. This peaceful protest united activists under common belief. Smaller, but just as powerful, protests took place in neighborhoods across the county including, but not limited to Highland Park, Pasadena, and Burbank as well.

Photo by The Los Angeles Times

Saturday January 31st

Again, hundreds of activists gathered for “ICE OUT” protests at City Hall downtown. Between these protests on Saturday and Sunday, LAPD reported over fifty arrests mostly under failure to disperse at unlawful assemblies.

Sunday February 1st

More marches were led against government officials, reportedly stopping LA traffic.

Wednesday February 4th

Finally, in early February, LAUSD staged a walkout and exercised the right to protest in a march from City Hall to Metropolitan Detention Center. Among an estimated 4,500 students from around 20 district high schools, an impressive number of Eagle Rock students came to support.

Photo by The LAist

As shown on Wednesday, even as youth, it is important to understand our civic duty of protesting and the value in our words. It is our responsibility to act against injustice even when it means speaking up against leaders. Protesting is progressive when we remain peaceful, vigilant, and educated. This is only the beginning of an impactful movement that everyone is encouraged to join.