Activists in Alhambra Sunday announced plans to press City Council members to be more proactive in combating Immigration Customs Enforcement actions in their community.
The plan calls for a 1:30 p.m. rally before Monday’s Alhambra council meeting, then going inside to speak in favor of a resolution similar one adopted in June by Huntington Park’s elected officials.
“As seen on countless social media posts, the police stand by idly as our community is getting kidnapped off the street — no warrants, no ID, no questions,” organizers said. The proposed California state ” `No Vigilante’ bill, if passed will be next year. We need ACTION as soon as possible, not more words and affirmations from our legislators.”
The rally and council presentation are being coordinated by members of the San Gabriel Progressive Alliance and the Alhambra Community Group.
Under the proposed resolution, Alhambra police would be required to:
— confirm the identity and legitimacy of individuals claiming to act as federal agents;
— enforce local laws and statutes accordingly, including issuing citations to agents if they break the law;
— verify warrants and take note of the scope, dates, person mentioned in the warrant and the signing judge;
— and restrict unjust unconstitutional searches, seizures and arrests if activities occur without a warrant.
In February, activists in Alhambra disrupted an operation involving agents from ICE, the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Members of Union del Barrio, an immigrant rights activist group, confronted the agents as they arrived at a Target parking lot on West Main Street and used loudspeakers to lead a protest. Shortly afterward, the agents left without detaining or arresting anyone.
On Saturday in the downtown Los Angeles, activists staged a Run Against ICE along a 15-mile route from Koreatown to Olvera Street, and through other communities that have witnessed arrests by ICE agents in recent weeks.
Organizers called it a “non-violent journey of resistance through Los Angeles” and said it was part of a 30-day “Summer of Resistance” campaign designed to push for an end to the raids and deportations they say have “torn families apart.”
Some 2,000 people registered to participate in the run, which included a stop at downtown’s Metropolitan Detention Center on Alameda Street, the site of multiple clashes between people protesting immigration-related arrests and law enforcement officers.
The runners were met with people waving and shouting “thank you.” No arrests were announced.
It was followed by a rally at Olvera Street.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department blamed “outside agitators” for five arrests Friday after demonstrations downtown became unruly.
“Most (demonstrators) were peaceful but once again, as the evening approached, outside agitators began to cause issues,” the Los Angeles Police Department said. “We are requesting that any and all acts of damage or vandalism be documented by photographs or video and forwarded to Central Division.”