DHS tear gasses group protesting L.A. ICE raids
An “emergency protest” by a Latin-American rights group responding to immigration raids escalated at the Metropolitan Detention Center loading dock, where protesters threw plastic water bottles and rocks as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers responded with tear gas.
At the protest on Friday, a thousand-person march outside the detention center on Alameda Street halted when a splitoff faction smashed the windows of a parking attendant booth and grabbed the swivel office chair that was inside.
A squad of DHS officers in riot gear assembled just inside the dock with a short barricade. Protesters chanted, “Stop the deportations!”
At 6:10 p.m., the office chair was thrown into the officers’ makeshift pen. The officers then deployed the first round of tear gas, sending protesters reeling.
Over the next hour, more heightened interplay was exchanged from behind barricades. The DHS remained enclosed while protesters shoved dumpsters against their enclosure as a blockade.
Protesters threw water bottles, chunks of concrete, and a pylon. One bottle smashed against the loading dock wall and sent a careen of glass to the floor. A few fireworks emerged from the protesting side.
DHS continued to deploy pepper-spray bullets and stun grenades. Within ten minutes of the initial attack, all the officers donned gas masks.
“I don’t see a riot here, why are you in riot gear?” screamed protesters in chant.
According to DHS, “less-lethal technologies” means "devices (that) are designed to be less likely to cause death when deployed than conventional weapons like firearms, and are used by law enforcement in two primary situations: crowd control and one-on-one suspect apprehension."
Surrounding protesters attacked by the tear gas sprayed water on each other. Others hit with pepper spray poured milk on their faces to dispel the irritant.
Protesters as far away as the freeway overpass on Aliso Street reported irritation due to the tear gas.
Others chanted, “We don’t talk to media!” and “Media is not your friend!” A small group of about 15 cornered a Fox 11 anchor and cameraman and chased them away from the rally.
At 6:44 p.m. officers emerged from a side exit and the range of their projectiles expanded to include the full width of Alameda Street. Protesters standing on the opposite side of the street reported being stung.
At 7:03 p.m. the LAPD declared the protest an unlawful assembly
A Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) helicopter circled overhead. A little after 7 p.m. a voice bearing down from the chopper ordered the group to “leave the area now.”
By 7:10 p.m., each agent was armed with a large transparent shield as the firing of non-lethal ammunitions continued. Giant plumes of orange, blue and yellow gases sent protesters coughing.
At 7:30 p.m. a line of LAPD officers encroached from Commercial Street to execute the dispersal order. Several officers fired rubber bullets at the crowd, who continued chanting “Free them all! Set them free!”
“Everybody in the area is going to jail,” said a voice from the helicopter.
According to the LAPD Central Division, at that time, “the use of less lethal munitions ha(d) been authorized by the Incident Commander.”
Over the next hour, the LAPD line broke off to form a partial cordon along East Temple Street and both sides of North Alameda Street. The march dwindled to 500, then 100, then 50.
At 8:24 p.m., the police department released a city-wide Tactical Alert, prefacing a large-scale mobilization of department personnel. However, the alert was cancelled around 11 p.m.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell released a statement on immigration enforcement on Friday.
“I want to make it clear: the LAPD is not involved in civil immigration enforcement,” he said in the release. “We will not assist or participate in any sort of mass deportations.”
Earlier in the day, residents had reported DHS agents conducting operations at various locations across the county, including a Home Depot, Ambiance Apparel and the Efengee electrical supply company. Local news outlets reported a resultant 44 arrests from the raids, including protesters.
In response, the Unión del Barrio organization arranged an “emergency protest” outside the Metropolitan Detention Center.
“Over 200 people are currently being held at this location in the basement of the courthouse! These people were kidnapped by ICE when they went to their immigration court hearings,” the group wrote on social media before the protest.
Outside the detention center, a Los Angeles teacher recounted witnessing a raid hours earlier, when she was busy preparing for her elementary students’ culmination.
“This morning, I woke up early to get ready for my students’ culmination. It was supposed to be a good day,” said teacher Ruth Reyes. “Three blocks away, I saw day laborers running from our local Home Depot. I took off my heels, grabbed my megaphone and ran in that direction.
“Our friends, neighbors and family are being kidnapped. Our kids are scared. This is the time when we show up for them, for each other.”
By 5 p.m., a group of an estimated 150 protesters surrounded a small staircase by the detention center entrance, shouting “Set them free! Let them stay!” The entrance was blocked by about a dozen DHS agents in green uniforms, who stood quietly.
Eventually, the group ascended the stairs and heightened their chants. One protester was detained and led inside the detention center along with the rest of the agents. Following their departure the group began kicking and pounding the doors with their fists.
Protesters masked in keffiyeh spray painted “Death to Colonialist Domination” and “No ICE” on detention center walls.
Leaving the center entrance, rallyers marched down Alameda Street and met with another group of protesters numbering in the hundreds on Aliso Street. The crowd was populated with civil rights groups like Centro CSO, politicos from the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and unions representing steelworkers and teachers.
Months earlier, thousands had gathered along the same stretch of overpass for A Day Without Immigrants. This time, though, organizers and speakers were intent on involving the detention center inmates.
“If you can see us, knock on the window,” a speaker called from the street.
After they said this, the skyscraping detention center building showed signs of response. Rallyers craned their necks to watch inmates pound windows, press paper signs and flash lights on and off at the crowd in alleged recognition.
As of June 7, additional raids have been reported throughout the county.