![\"Protesters](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1769967731_838_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nDamian Kevitt spent Saturday afternoon on a 10-mile bike ride with hundreds of other cyclists, a sticker displaying Alex Pretti\u2019s photo stuck to his jersey.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are just cyclists, clubs, bike shops and individuals who have come together and said, \u2018Hey, Alex was one of us,\u2019 \u201d said Kevitt, while riding on Broadway in Santa Monica. \u201cHe was an ICU nurse, he loved the outdoors, he loved cyclists and he loved cycling.\u201d<\/p>\n
The so-called Unity Ride was one of hundreds of demonstrations across the country throughout the weekend in response to federal immigration raids and the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Protesters gather outside City Hall in L.A. for an anti-ICE protest on Saturday.<\/p>\n
(Genaro Molina \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat he was doing was not a terrorist activity \u2014 he was exercising his right as a citizen and he was killed,\u201d said Kevitt, executive director of Streets Are For Everyone, an organization that aims to make streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. \u201cWe shouldn\u2019t be in fear of being killed by exercising our rights. \u2026 Even if you don\u2019t agree with someone\u2019s political stance, you shouldn\u2019t be penalized for having a political stance.\u201d<\/p>\n
The nationwide demonstrations began Friday with organizers calling for people to avoid shopping and participate in a \u201cnational shutdown\u201d they hoped would convince the Trump administration to tone down aggressive immigration enforcement tactics and actions toward protesters.<\/p>\n
Several other protests were scheduled across California on Saturday, from Culver City to Aliso Viejo, Sacramento and Oakland. <\/p>\n
In downtown L.A. on Saturday afternoon, hundreds of people gathered outside the steps at City Hall and across the street at Grand Park.<\/p>\n
Speakers drew cheers as demonstrators made noise with plastic horns and held up posters, cars driving by honking.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like my ice crushed,\u201d one sign read.<\/p>\n
\u201cMothers, don\u2019t let your sons grow up to be ICE holes,\u201d read another.<\/p>\n
A comedian told vulgar jokes about President Trump and those in his administration.<\/p>\n
![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1769967732_272_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Other protests were scheduled across California on Saturday, including in Culver City, Aliso Viejo, Sacramento and Oakland. <\/p>\n
(Genaro Molina \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
In between speakers, the crowd chanted: \u201cWhen we fight, we win! When we fight, we win!\u201d<\/p>\n
Vendors sold buttons and hats \u2014 some with the tagline \u201cresistance is beautiful\u201d \u2014 while others collected signatures for various ballot measures. Music blasted from speakers. Clusters of friends and families sat on the grass in Grand Park.<\/p>\n
City resident Lisa Keller stood with her two friends, one wearing a sign around his neck that read, \u201cAnother peaceful protester.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked why she showed up Saturday, she let out a heavy sigh.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll try to keep it PG,\u201d said Keller, 64. \u201cI think it\u2019s really important to stand up for the rights of all people living in this country, no matter your immigration status.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1769967733_720_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Anna Obropta, dressed as Lady Liberty, joins hundreds in the \u201cICE Out Of Everywhere\u201d protest in Los Angeles on Saturday.<\/p>\n
(Carlin Stiehl \/ For The Times)<\/p>\n
The demonstration remained largely peaceful through the day, but by 9 p.m. police said federal authorities deployed tear gas on a crowd gathered on Alameda Street between Aliso and Commercial streets. The Los Angeles Police Department said there were \u201cbottles, rocks and industrial size fireworks\u201d and orders to disperse were issued. <\/p>\n
The LAPD declared a tactical alert at 10 p.m., the department\u2019s public information office reported Sunday morning. Officers made one arrest for felony evasion and issued citations to 47 adults and three juveniles for failure to disperse. Reports were taken, but no arrests made, for felony assault with a deadly weapon on an officer and vandalism, and one officer sustained a leg injury, the LAPD said. <\/p>\n