In response to President Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportation, thousands of Angelenos took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles on Sunday.
The protest started at the historic Olvera Street, but crowds quickly filled the steps of LA City Hall and the 101 Freeway, carrying signs in English and Spanish calling for immigration reform. Dating back to Mexican and Spanish rule, the Olvera Street plaza serves as a historic area for members of the LA Latine community and tourists to get a taste of Mexican culture.
“We want to bring awareness that not every immigrant is a criminal and we shouldn’t be generalized,” said Emily Tovar, the organizer of the demonstration. “The mass majority of immigrants are here for a better life.”
The 28-year-old Mexican American make-up artist started the protest and wanted to use her platform for advocacy. It gained social media traction and support from a coalition of organizations like Socialist Alternative LA, Party for Socialism and Liberation LA and The People’s Struggle San Fernando Valley. Other organizers included online advocates such as Flower in Spanish and Chica de La Luz.
“This [deportations] is an attack on all workplaces and we need to take the offensive,” said Ian Cooper-Smith, a guest speaker for Socialist Alternative LA who spoke on the empowerment of independent working class autonomy in politics. “The real defense against deportations and removing their power is by shutting down the workplace itself.”
Many social media influencers also attended the protest and expressed their discontent with the current administration’s attitude and actions towards immigration.
Trino Garcia and Adam Vasquez, known on social media pages as trinoxadam, were among some of the influencers who rallied in downtown Los Angeles for the protest. They are a gay Mexican American couple who are known for challenging perceptions of sexuality and masculinity in Chicano culture.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re first generation or third generation,” said Trino Garcia. “Even though we don’t experience it, it’s still part of us and people forget.”
Handing out free shirts and water, streetwear brands like Ghetto Rodeo and El Fin, which aim to represent the local Mexican community, also showed up to the protest.
“It’s always been about community, we started from the community,” said Brian Salcedo, owner of Ghetto Rodeo. “A lot of how they are treating us is not right not only at the Latino level, but at a human level.”
Some community members arrived in a traditional Mexican-style, wearing a long, flowing skirt, skull make-up, and a flower crown.
“I thought I needed to be here to represent my people and my culture,” said Chicana Catrina artist La Muerte Maria. “So, that’s why I decided to represent to the best of my ability showing my art.”
The demonstration is similar to other anti-ICE rallies happening across the country in states like Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina. Other protests are expected to continue to occur throughout the week.
“I am motivated by anger,” said the primary organizer Tovar. “We continue to make noise until our voices are heard.”