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LOS ANGELES, June 9 (OLA NEWS) –
Protesters gathered en masse in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday night to denounce the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sparking a tense standoff with law enforcement officers in full riot gear. The demonstration, which began peacefully, quickly escalated as participants voiced anger over systemic injustices, immigration raids, and the broader militarization of policing in urban communities.
Graffiti bearing slogans such as “F*** ICE” and “F*** Trump” appeared on city walls and public buildings, while protesters erected makeshift barricades using dumpsters and traffic cones to block police advances. A man standing defiantly atop a sculpture raised both middle fingers as a line of officers loomed in the background — a striking image that captured the mood of defiance.
Throughout the evening, the California Highway Patrol and local police deployed heavily along key intersections and outside government buildings. Several protesters were detained. Others, wearing masks and waving signs reading “Hands Off the Kids,” demanded the immediate shutdown of ICE facilities and called for broader immigration reform.
Smoke filled the air as sirens blared and strobe lights from patrol vehicles illuminated the streets, while hundreds of residents joined in the chants. The protest reflects ongoing tensions in Los Angeles, a city where immigration enforcement remains a deeply divisive issue.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the arrests or any injuries reported during the night.
Reporting and picture by Djamel Hamdad, Ola News Los Angeles; editing by Alexandre Minguez.
