Los Angeles experienced a day of chaos as large-scale protests against President Trump’s immigration policies and mass deportations erupted in downtown LA, particularly near Union Station and Chinatown. The protest, organized through social media, began at Placita Olvera on Olvera Street in DTLA and quickly escalated, leading to clashes with law enforcement.

Jazmin de la Huerta holds a Mexican flag during a protest against arrests and deportations of migrants by U.S. government agencies in Los Angeles, California, U.S. February 2, 2025. REUTERS/Joel Angel Juarez

At around 12:30 PM, protesters blocked both directions of the 101 Freeway at Alameda Street, causing severe traffic congestion. While the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and California Highway Patrol (CHP) managed to clear the freeway, demonstrators soon regrouped and marched through major downtown streets, disrupting traffic and city operations.

Many protesters carried signs opposing Trump’s immigration policies, with messages such as “The Real Criminals Are in the White House” and “Jesus Said ‘Love Thy Neighbor,’ Not ‘Deport Them.'” The protest, though largely peaceful, was deemed unauthorized by the LAPD, which closed several roads, including Spring Street between Temple Street and 1st Street.

Despite the LAPD’s declaration of the protest as unlawful and orders to disperse by 6 PM, some groups re-entered the 101 Freeway, bringing traffic to a standstill once again. Shortly after 7 PM, police issued a citywide tactical alert, deploying officers in riot gear armed with non-lethal weapons to push back and contain the protesters.

Videos obtained by KTLA show clashes between police and demonstrators who remained in the downtown area. It remains unclear whether any arrests have been made.

The LAPD, overwhelmed by the scale of the protest, struggled to maintain order throughout the day. Critics argue that the city’s inability to handle such disruptions highlights the ineptitude of local government in managing large-scale illegal demonstrations that cripple urban functions.

Los Angeles, often likened to a bustling metropolis, found itself compared to a chaotic South American city as illegal protests brought the city to its knees. The day underscored the challenges faced by law enforcement and city officials in maintaining order amid growing public dissent over federal immigration policies.

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  • nieuws nunspeet vandaag, February 2, 2025 @ 8:36 PM Reply

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