Mass Demonstrations Resume in Downtown LA and Santa Ana Against Immigration Policies
More than 1,000 demonstrators took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles and Santa Ana on Monday, continuing their protests against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. The protests, part of a coordinated movement known as A Day Without Immigrants, entered their second day with large turnouts and tense confrontations with law enforcement.
Hundreds Detained in Downtown LA
By Monday night, at least 200 protesters were detained in a tunnel on Cesar Chavez Avenue near Union Station, according to KCAL 9. While most were cited and released, video footage showed a heavy law enforcement presence. Reports from NBC 4 indicated that some demonstrators hurled rocks and bottles at LAPD officers as they attempted to disperse the crowds.
Earlier in the day, approximately 1,000 protesters gathered outside Los Angeles City Hall before marching through downtown. The demonstrators waved flags and chanted as they moved along West First and North Spring streets, eventually reaching an overpass near the 101 Freeway. Police, having learned from Sunday’s protests, stationed officers on freeway ramps to prevent marchers from entering the highway, which had been briefly blocked the previous day.
Around 2:15 p.m., protesters returned to City Hall, where they took over the steps and adjacent streets. Some demonstrators spray-painted messages on the building, including anti-Trump slogans—one of which misspelled the president’s name as “Turmp.”
Santa Ana Joins the Movement
Meanwhile, in Santa Ana, another 150 demonstrators gathered near the federal courthouse at Fifth and Ross streets. Holding signs with slogans such as “Mexicans Aren’t Going Anywhere” and “Don’t Bite the Hands That Feed You,” they received honks of support from passing motorists.
Organizers Tonali Un and Carla Valencia, both social justice activists, expressed hope that the demonstrations would become a recurring movement. They strategically chose the location near federal court and immigration buildings to maximize visibility.
“I think people are finally opening their eyes,” Un said, adding that many individuals who had previously supported Trump now regretted their decision. “People are finally realizing they have to do their research.”
According to Un, some Latino voters who had supported Trump believed he would not aggressively pursue immigration crackdowns. Now, they were witnessing the direct impact of his policies and taking to the streets in opposition.
A Growing Protest Movement
Monday’s protests followed a weekend of demonstrations across Southern California, including in Riverside and Garden Grove, where protesters temporarily blocked freeway lanes. While Monday’s events remained largely peaceful, the evening clashes with police in downtown LA underscored the growing tension between law enforcement and activists.
As the demonstrations continue, activists are calling for more awareness and resistance against the administration’s immigration policies, vowing to keep the movement alive.
