Police in riot gear moved in on protesters in downtown Los Angeles after a daylong demonstration against Trump’s immigration policies and mass deportations.
The protest, which was organized and promoted on social media, originated on the Placita Olvera on Olvera Street near DTLA and saw demonstrators on the 101 Freeway at Alameda Street blocking both sides of roadway by 12:30 p.m., causing massive gridlock.
Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department assisted by California Highway Patrol were able to clear the freeway as protesters took to downtown surface streets, but then quickly got back on the major artery through downtown at Los Angeles Street.
Many of the protesters were carrying signs, some of which were speaking out against Trump’s policies regarding immigration.
“The real criminal is in the White House,” one sign read. Another read “Jesus said ‘Love Thy Neighbor,’ not deport them.”
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L.A. police dressed in riot gear seen downtown where anti-ICE demonstrations had taken over much of the area on Feb. 2, 2025. (KNN News) -
L.A. police dressed in riot gear seen downtown where anti-ICE demonstrations had taken over much of the area on Feb. 2, 2025. (KNN News) -
L.A. police dressed in riot gear seen downtown where anti-ICE demonstrations had taken over much of the area on Feb. 2, 2025. (KNN News) -
L.A. police dressed in riot gear seen downtown where anti-ICE demonstrations had taken over much of the area on Feb. 2, 2025. (KNN News) -
L.A. police dressed in riot gear seen downtown where anti-ICE demonstrations had taken over much of the area on Feb. 2, 2025. (KNN News) -
L.A. police dressed in riot gear seen downtown where anti-ICE demonstrations had taken over much of the area on Feb. 2, 2025. (KNN News) -
L.A. police dressed in riot gear seen downtown where anti-ICE demonstrations had taken over much of the area on Feb. 2, 2025. (KNN News) -
L.A. police dressed in riot gear seen downtown where anti-ICE demonstrations had taken over much of the area on Feb. 2, 2025. (KNN News) -
L.A. police dressed in riot gear seen downtown where anti-ICE demonstrations had taken over much of the area on Feb. 2, 2025. (KNN News)
The Los Angeles Police Department ordered multiple street closures in the area, including Spring Street between Temple and 1st Streets. In a post to X, the LAPD called the demonstration “non-permitted,” but also said the protests were peaceful so far.
Crowds of protesters began gathering outside City Hall as LAPD, at around 6 p.m. began announcing the demonstrations to be unlawful and ordering people to disperse, even as some groups again breached the 101 Freeway bringing traffic to a halt.
Shortly after 7 p.m., a city-wide tactical alert was issued as officers in riot gear and armed with less-than-lethal weapons formed lines to block protesters’ movements and push them back.
It is currently unclear if any arrests were made, though video of the demonstrations obtained by KTLA show police clashing with at least one group of protesters who had yet to leave the downtown area.
Anti-ICE demonstrations broke out across Southern California on Sunday, including in Ventura, Riverside and San Diego Counties, as well as in other major cities across the U.S.
Austin Turner contributed to this report.
