During the national Labor Day protests on Monday, Los Angeles protesters marched from the LA City Hall to the downtown Federal Building, leading to a standoff with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and two arrests.
A group of approximately 200 protesters gathered around speakers in the City Hall park area. After speeches concluded, protesters prepared to march to the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building, a hotspot for the 24/7 ICE Out of L.A. protest. Masks and face shields were handed out in anticipation of an aggressive response by law enforcement. Motorbikes did wheelies and burnouts in the street outside the police station, whipping up energy and applause. The short march snaked through Little Tokyo amid a chorus of chants and music.
At the Federal Building, now surrounded by a metal fence assembled last month, protesters slammed and kicked the barricade as Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers walked out in riot gear. The protesters broke the gate several times, prompting agents to disperse the crowd with pepperballs and mace. Later in the night, the agents sallied outside the gate and formed a line, pushing protesters off the sidewalk.
A crew of protesters worked at breaking the barricade by removing water barrels and cutting wires supporting the heavy metal fence. Kilo, a Hawaiian transgender person, has been protesting at the federal building for thirty-seven days straight.
“The fence has become a playground for us,” Kilo said. “They think they’re fooling us, but no way – we’re ready to buckle up and go.”
Five people were arrested during the night by federal agents who rushed into the streets and tackled them. They were detained in the federal stronghold.
“Every night, they grab one or two of us,” Kilo said. “Lately, they’ve been really aggressive, tackling and beating us in the street. They’re trying to intimidate us, but it’s making us want to fight back.”
