An eruption of protests in response to recent ICE raids in Southern California has roiled communities across greater Los Angeles this month.
Many of the protests have been peaceful, but some altercations between protesters and federal agents and local law enforcement have resulted in dozens of injuries and arrests.
One protester now facing federal charges is Alejandro Orellana, an East L.A. resident and member of the Boyle Heights-based social justice group Centro CSO.
According to a complaint issued June 12 by FBI Special Agent Rene Persaud, Orellana is being charged with “conspiring to commit civil disorders” and “aiding and abetting civil disorders” for allegedly passing out face shields and water bottles to demonstrators at a downtown L.A. protest on June 9. The complaint said that Orellana was assisted in distributing the face shields by “an unidentified woman.”
On June 12, the FBI raided Orellana’s family home in East L.A. and took the 29-year-old into custody. Orellana is a longtime supporter of immigrants’ and workers’ rights, according to other Centro CSO members.
Then on June 18, a U.S. magistrate judge, for reasons that are as yet unclear, issued a warrant allowing federal officials to search the cell phone of another Centro CSO member, Vera “Verita” Topete.
As immigration raids have expanded in scope and intensity in recent weeks, Homeland Security officials have vowed to arrest anyone allegedly interfering with law enforcement actions. But critics say that some labor, immigrant rights and other activists are being illegally harassed, detained and arrested simply for exercising their 1st Amendment rights to observe, document raids and defend their communities. In one high-profile incident earlier this month, California Service Employees International Union president David Huerta was injured and detained while documenting a June 6 raid in downtown Los Angeles, leading to protests demanding his release.
Here’s what we know so far:
On the morning of June 12, FBI agents raided the home of Orellana and arrested him on two charges stemming from alleged actions he took at a protest in downtown Los Angeles on June 9, according to the complaint.
The charges, conspiracy to commit civil disorders and aiding and abetting civil disorders, both carry up to a five-year maximum statutory sentence, according to U.S. Attorney Bilal “Bill” Essayli. At a press conference, Essayli said that Orellana had been taken into custody “for his role in supporting the violent protests in downtown Los Angeles.” Essayli said that Orellana had passed out face shields “to individuals who appear to be engaged in violence and vandalism.”
Orellana was kept at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles until his release the following day, Centro CSO co-founder Carlos Montes said.
In a social media video, Orellana could be heard saying, “Protesting is not a crime” on the steps of the federal courthouse after $5,000 bail was posted by family and friends, according to Montes.
His preliminary hearing and first court appearance was originally scheduled for Friday, June 27 but was later postponed to Thursday, July 3, per the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California’s calendar.
On June 26, a warrant was executed to search an electronic device belonging to Vera Topete, another Centro CSO member.
Since his release, several activist groups, including the National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression and National Students for a Democratic Society, have decried Orellana’s arrest and demanded the charges against him be dropped.
Here’s what we’re still trying to confirm:
It’s unclear exactly what Orellana’s motive was in allegedly distributing the masks, and who was the unidentified woman allegedly assisting him. The masks, Uvex bionic face shields, are designed for protection against chemical splashes and high-impact flying debris. The masks would have helped demonstrators stay safe during unrest where LAPD officers were seen firing less-than lethal rounds at protesters, journalists and bystanders alike. In his press conference, Essayli said that Orellana “was not handing them out to peaceful protesters.”
The number of masks distributed, how they were paid for and who the people were accepting the masks is unknown at this time.
It is also yet to be determined to what extent the National Guard and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department were involved in the raid on Orellana’s home.
Sources have claimed that Orellana was a former U.S. Marine but Boyle Heights Beat has yet to verify Orellana’s service history.
Boyle Heights Beat reached out to the FBI to inquire whether the warrant executed on Topete’s property is connected in any way to Orellana’s case, but has yet to receive a response.
Orellana speaks out
At a press conference organized by Centro CSO on Friday at Ruben Salazar Park, Orellana shared the following statement:
“I want to thank everyone who came out to support today. At the risk of repeating myself, I want to thank everyone who showed up to my initial hearing: Friends, Family, Community, and Allies. It is through your combined efforts that I am able to be among you today. Furthermore, I want to give special recognition to Centro CSO for taking to the streets the moment that it was known that I was in federal custody, and who mobilized for my prompt release. I want to thank Legalization for All Network, Union Del Barrio, Black Lives Matter LA, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and others for answering these calls to action and those who released statements in my defense. I want to thank my close friends and my family for their support I am confident that the justice system will absolve me of any wrongdoing, and I thank you for your support during this process.”
Boyle Heights Beat will continue to cover new developments on this story.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 6:38 p.m. to reflect a statement made by Alejandro Orellana.