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.
After a day of peaceful protesting, at nightfall, demonstrators clashed with Los Angeles police once officers declared the assembly unlawful.
A peaceful protest in DTLA turned chaotic after nightfall. Video shows tense moments as police declared a dispersal order.
AIR7 was overhead as a group of protesters began targeting federal agents guarding the loading dock of the federal detention center. The crowd threw trash and debris toward the shielded agent, video shows. The agents fired back with pepper balls and irritant sprays.
Police officers in tactical gear formed a line, pushing protesters away from the federal building, which holds ICE detainees.
The day of action wasn’t just in Southern California — protesters marched nationwide on Friday, demanding an end to ICE operations in their communities. Many demonstrators’ signs showed the names of people killed by federal officers.
The protests were 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.
Mayor Karen Bass urged people to peacefully protest and not vandalize property.
“That just hurts the city. That does not impact the administration in any kind of way that is going to bring about any type of change,” Bass said.
Bass said up to five people had been taken into custody. According to LAFD, one person was specifically arrested for allegedly using a slingshot to shoot hard metal objects at officers.