DOWNTOWN, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Thousands of people converged in downtown Los Angeles on Friday afternoon as part of a national day of action protesting ongoing federal immigration operations.
The protest is part of the national “ICE Out” rally. Organizers of the movement are demanding that federal immigration agents leave their neighborhoods. The day of action also called for a “national strike,” asking people to keep their children home from school, stay home from work and not buy anything.
The protest began outside City Hall before the protesters marched to East L.A.
It’s just one of many protests around the country in response to two deadly shootings involving immigration agents who killed two U.S. citizens in Minnesota.
Shortly before 5 p.m., AIR7 video captured the moment a group of protesters began to clash with federal agents outside the federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles.
It appeared some protesters were throwing items toward officers before pepper spray was deployed. LAPD declared a citywide tactical alert, meaning all officers need to stay on shift.