A large group of protesters blocked traffic in downtown Los Angeles Friday during a July 4 rally opposing federal immigration enforcement raids and other policies of President Donald Trump’s administration.
The “End of Occupation” rally began Friday morning outside City Hall and continued into the afternoon and early evening, with at least several hundred protesters marching through the downtown area, while police, National Guard troops and some Marines stood guard.
The event was sponsored by the group 50501 SoCal in conjunction with SEIU Local 721, CARECEN, NDLON and the Community Power Collective.
Videos from the scene showed many people carrying Pride flags, and flags of Mexico, the United States, California and Palestine, and a 15-foot-tall helium-filled balloon of Trump wearing a Russian military uniform.
The Los Angeles Police Department said demonstrators blocked both sides of Alameda Street by placing traffic barriers in the road. Police issued a dispersal order around 7 p.m., ordering everyone to leave the area. The LAPD said the crowd quickly dispersed, but Alameda between First Street and Aliso, and First Street between San Pedro and Alameda would remain closed until further notice.
At 8:28 p.m., police said all traffic was open on Alameda.
Similar July 4th protests were planned to take place across the country.
Earlier Friday, as many as four people were detained in a federal immigration enforcement raid at a local car wash in the West Hollywood area, according to multiple media reports.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted the raid at around 11 a.m. Friday at the Santa Palm Car Wash at 8787 Santa Monica Blvd., ABC7 reported.
West Hollywood officials condemned the raid.
“On a day meant to honor the ideals of liberty, democracy, and freedom from oppression, we instead confront a deeply troubling reminder of federal overreach. Independence Day should be a time for reflection and reverence, not fear and persecution,” they said.
ICE officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday evening.
Also Friday, the fan group Angel City Brigade staged a walkout in the 12th minute of the LA Galaxy’s match against Vancouver at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. The group said it was “protesting the LA Galaxy administration’s silence in the wake of recent ICE raids, citing the lack of support for their community.”
Federal authorities have carried out a series of immigration raids in Los Angeles County since June 6, sparking widespread street protests and condemnation from local Democratic officials.
This week, ICE officials continued to release information about some of the LA-area detainees who allegedly have criminal records, including the following:
— Minh Le Hoang, a Vietnamese national, who’s allegedly been arrested for robbery, burglary, rape with force/fear, sexual penetration with force, poss/transport of controlled substance, conspiracy, and DUI. Le will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
— Daniel Adan-Lazaro, a Mexican national who’s allegedly been arrested for burglary, threatening with intent to terrorize, grand theft, forging official seal, domestic violence & DUIs. He’ll remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
— Ulises Chavez-Hernandez, a Mexican national who allegedly has criminal convictions for multiple possession of narcotics and DUI and will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
— Jesus Yanes-Felix, a Mexican national who officials say is “a known Surenos gang member from the 818 & has convictions for attempted murder, assault w/ semiauto firearm, threaten with intent to terrorize; he’ll remain in ICE custody for removal proceedings.”
— Oscar Esparza-Perez, a Mexican national arrested for alleged immigration violations who officials say entered the United States without inspection and has been arrested for controlled substance trafficking.
— Francisco Rodriguez Gonzalez of Cuba, who allegedly illegally entered the United States without inspection and has been arrested for fraud by wire, identity theft, conspiracy, aiding and abetting.
— Roel Gordillo Lopez, a Mexican national who’s allegedly been arrested for sexual battery, domestic violence, and DUI.
— Alejandro Gomez Asencio from El Salvador, who officials say illegally entered the United States without inspection and allegedly has criminal convictions for manufacturing dangerous weapons, domestic violence, battery, possession of controlled substance, and grand theft.
— David George Thomas of South Africa, who allegedly illegally entered the United States without inspection and has criminal convictions for domestic violence plus multiple DUIs.
— Humberto Mariano Dominguez of Mexico, who officials say illegally entered the United States without inspection and has criminal convictions for driving under the influence multiple times and driving without a license.
— Abel Urbina-Hernandez of Mexico, who officials say illegally entered the United States on seven occasions and allegedly has criminal convictions for carrying a loaded handgun not registered to owner, DUI, driving while license suspended, and driving without a license.
— Minas Abkarian of Lebanon, who officials say illegally entered the United States without inspection and allegedly has criminal convictions for assault with a firearm on a person and carrying a concealed weapon.
— Luis Espejel Mendoza of Mexico, who officials say illegally re-entered the United States after previously being removed and allegedly has criminal convictions for driving under the influence on multiple occasions and driving without a license.
— Alejandro Lopez of Mexico, who officials say illegally re-entered the United States after previously being removed and allegedly has convictions for possessing a controlled substance for sale and transporting/selling a controlled substance on multiple occasions.
— Rafael Salazar-Santos of Guatemala, who officials say illegally re-entered the United States after previously being removed and allegedly has been arrested for rape of a person incapable of giving consent, forgery, false checks, and false ID to a peace officer.
— Omar Camacho-Miranda, a Mexican national who allegedly has been arrested for rape with force/fear, sex with a minor, lewd acts w/a child under 14, oral copulation, sexual penetration w/foreign object, & child cruelty. He’ll stay in ICE custody for removal proceedings.