Protesters in downtown Los Angeles clashed with law enforcement as police in riot gear moved in on demonstrators opposing President Trump’s immigration policies and mass deportations. The protest, which had been organized via social media, began at Placita Olvera on Olvera Street near DTLA and quickly escalated.
By mid-day, demonstrators had taken over portions of the 101 Freeway at Alameda Street, blocking traffic on both sides and creating extensive gridlock. The Los Angeles Police Department, supported by the California Highway Patrol, eventually cleared the freeway as protesters spilled onto the downtown streets. However, many soon returned to the busy thoroughfare along Los Angeles Street.
The signs carried by the protesters conveyed strong messages against current immigration policies. One placard declared, “The real criminal is in the White House,” while another stated, “Jesus said ‘Love Thy Neighbor,’ not deport them.”
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In response, LAPD implemented several street closures in the vicinity, including on Spring Street between Temple and 1st Streets. Despite labeling the event as “non-permitted” on social media, the department noted that the demonstration had remained largely peaceful.
Later in the day, crowds began assembling outside City Hall, and around 6 p.m. police started to deem the protests unlawful, ordering demonstrators to disperse. Tensions rose as groups re-entered the 101 Freeway, once again halting traffic. In one incident, several L.A. Metro buses were defaced with graffiti, including the phrase “F— Ice.”
By approximately 7 p.m., a city-wide tactical alert was issued. Officers, equipped with less-than-lethal weapons and dressed in riot gear, formed barriers designed to push back the protestors and control their movements. Although video footage from KTLA showed confrontations between police and a group of protesters still in the downtown area, it remains unclear if any arrests were made.
The anti-ICE sentiment was not confined to Los Angeles, as similar demonstrations erupted across Southern California—in Ventura, Riverside, and San Diego Counties—and in other major U.S. cities.
By 8 p.m., the California Highway Patrol announced that the downtown stretch of the 101 Freeway had been cleared, posting on X: “Thank you for your patience, as we got the 101 in DTLA!”
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