Mayors of 30 Southern California cities, from Ventura to Downey, stood together on Wednesday, begging the Trump administration to stop the spread of fear, seeking an end to the immigrant raid.
They gathered for a press conference set up by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to share the tragic stories of community members affected by the ice attack.
Other leaders said that while immigrant raids have not yet been carried out in the cities, the ice is “psychologically” in the community.
“A week ago, it was all peaceful, even in all the representatives behind me in the city of Los Angeles and the city. Things started to get difficult on Friday, when the attack took place,” Bass said the ongoing anxiety was “provoked by the White House.”
Following an argument between federal agents and protesters in Paramount over the weekend, some people have been avoiding going to work and leaving their home “out of fear,” said Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons.
“Life is confused,” Lemons said. He added that city swap competitions are plagued by fear while street vendors have no way to make money.
Mayor Paramount said the city council is working to create a special fund to support those affected by the attack.
Marine veteran, Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores, called for the withdrawal of the military, including 700 Marines from Twentin Palms, and called militarization a “terror-based tactic” targeting immigrant communities.
“My brothers, I have fought in various theatres myself. I have fought wars. I’ll tell you this. The person you’re called a foreigner is not a foreigner,” Flores said.
Downey Mayor Mario Trujillo said ice agents attacked Home Depot and La Fitness in his town on Wednesday morning.
“They are creating chaos and fear,” Trujillo said. “This is not a way to provide public safety to our community. We are calling on management to change courses and do their work right.”
Ventura Mayor Janet Sanchez Palacio also raised warnings that ongoing attacks will affect California’s agricultural industry as many farm workers in Ventura are undocumented.
“When our workforce lives are fearful, the sector is a no-harvest,” said Sanchez Palacio. “This impact can be felt not only at the local level but also at the national level.”
Despite widespread protests in response to the offensive ice attacks in Southern California, President Trump claimed that the deployment of the National Guard saved the city of Los Angeles.
“If they didn’t ‘send the troops’ to Los Angeles over the past three nights, a once-beautiful and great city would be burning to the ground now,” he wrote on social media after being called “incompetent.”
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