Clashes erupt at LA anti-ICE protest
Protesters clashed with police and some remaining National Guard members during an apparent anti-ICE demonstration in downtown Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Central Division issued a traffic advisory on social media at 8:41 p.m. for the area of Alameda Street between Temple and Aliso Streets for “demonstrators possibly being on the roadway.”
Video provided by the news video service, Key News, later in the night shows about a dozen demonstrators gathered on the roads, clashing with L.A. police officers outside of the federal Metropolitan Detention Center.
A large number of LAPD personnel appeared to form skirmish lines and push away demonstrators. However, at one point, the footage shows National Guard members lining up in tactical gear with shields in formation.
There were no reports of tear gas or flash bangs deployed or a declaration of an unlawful assembly.
An assault on a federal officer defending the detention center escalated the situation and led to one possible arrest, but officials have not confirmed or commented on this information.
In addition, unconfirmed reports from social media users and community leaders noted immigration enforcement actions in the L.A. area earlier in the day, including Hawthorne and Beverly Hills, as well as Santa Ana.
Social media creator Memo Torres reported that in Santa Ana, federal agents were seen blocking off areas near an elementary school. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) responded to KTLA’s media inquiry on this, stating, “ICE was not at an elementary school nor was there any enforcement action at an elementary school. ATF served federal criminal warrants at a private residence located at 105 S. Birch Street in Santa Ana, California. The underlying charges were unrelated to immigration enforcement. ATF agents were assisted by ICE ERO and HSI.”
KTLA also reached out to the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment on these reports.
