National Protests Erupt to Defend Immigrant Communities and Push Back Against Escalating Federal Power

After hours of peaceful demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles, a sharp escalation outside the Metropolitan Detention Center revealed why public protest remains essential when communities feel unheard. As a crowd of roughly 200 people gathered with flags, signs, and bullhorns opposing immigration crackdowns, officers pushed into demonstrators and sprayed a chemical irritant, sending people scrambling. Mario Zermeno, standing well back, said, “I was probably 15 feet and I wasn’t up front,” his eyes red and watering as others rushed to help rinse them. Witnesses feared others were hit at much closer range.

From above the entrance, officers used tables as shields and fired what appeared to be nonlethal rounds; an officer on the roof aimed an orange rifle and shot multiple times. A green-and-yellow irritant clouded the area, marking the first serious flare-up after a day that had begun calmly. Earlier, thousands filled City Hall steps in a broad, multiracial show of unity against deportations and the violence surrounding recent operations. Xavi Moreno described the scene as “student led, it’s young, it’s Black, brown, white, Asian… Everybody is here across the country,” adding, “I hope it sends a loud message that we’re done, and it doesn’t stop today.”

As confrontations have increased nationwide, including shootings in Minnesota, demonstrations have grown into a coordinated “ICE Out Everywhere” shutdown calling for sustained pressure. Dan Egan, who helped lead chants of “ICE out of L.A.!” said, “We probably got like 5,000, 6,000 people out here and it does my heart good. I hope we can sustain this effort.” When President Donald Trump dismissed participants as “paid agitators,” Egan replied, “You don’t need to pay people to come out on the streets. L.A. is angry and you can feel it today.”

Link: LA Times