Thousands are expected to protest Friday in Los Angeles and Orange counties as a part of a nationwide day of action seeking to stop funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
What is likely to be the area’s largest rally will take place outside Los Angeles City Hall and at the adjacent Gloria Molina Grand Park, beginning at 1 p.m.
The rallies are part of a nationwide day of action, started by University of Minnesota student groups in response to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers in Minneapolis. Organizers have dubbed it “National Shutdown.” Its aim is “stop ICE’s reign of terror,” according to the organizers’ website, nationalshutdown.org.
“The people of the Twin Cities have shown the way for the whole country — to stop ICE’s reign of terror, we need to SHUT IT DOWN. On Friday, January 30, join a nationwide day of no school, no work and no shopping,” organizers wrote online.
Protests are also planned for 10 a.m. at the Woodland Hills Target store, 12:30 p.m. at Burbank City Hall, 2 p.m. at Abbott Kinney and Venice boulevards in Venice and 3 p.m. on the corner of Valencia Boulevard and McBean Parkway in Santa Clarita.
In Orange County, a protest is set for 2:30 p.m. in San Juan Capistrano at the intersection of Camino Capistrano and Del Obispo Street.
Los Angeles Unified School District schools will remain open Friday.
“Schools are providing students with opportunities on campus for student expression, offering additional district resources and guidance for students to engage in meaningful discussions on campus,” according to a statement from the district.
Proof Bakery, a worker-owned cooperative in Atwater Village, will be among businesses closing, ABC7 reported.
Signs reading “ICE out” in Spanish are on its storefront along with a notice explaining why the business will be closed Friday, according to ABC7.
“We’ve seen historically that strikes work,” employee Daniela Diaz told ABC7. “I hope the violence stops. I want ICE out of our communities.”
Some businesses are expected to provide discounts for protesters.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump said, “We have to take criminals out of our country, so from that standpoint, nothing’s going to change — and we have to find out all of the fraud that has taken place in Minnesota.”