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During a week of protest, Los Angeles has been the central stage for national immigration debate, with experts on both sides characterizing the battle through the lens of their own perspectives.
Not everyone is satisfied with the action – there have been vandalism, destruction, injuries – isolated but impressive moments that sometimes veil peaceful demonstrations. But for many of the demonstrations, they had a message that they wanted to hear.
During these demonstrations, Los Angeles Times reporters interviewed protesters and asked why they were demonstrating. This is what they had to say:
Alejandra Flores attended the protest in front of the Westin Lux along with her daughter and mother, who have recently become American citizens.
“I have three generations of families here. We came for families who don’t come out. We can talk for them.”
Mariza Perez Fuerta attended her first protest this week. She was young and could not protest a few years ago, because her mother was afraid.
“I’m 23 now, especially since this is part of me, I want to fight for things I didn’t fight before. I’m the first generation.”
Priscilla Ramos spent the first day of protest this week in front of the Metropolitan Detention Center, where the Marines were expected to arrive.
Priscilla Ramos held the sign in a protest in front of the Metropolitan Detention Center on Friday.
(Christopher Buchanan/Los Angeles Times)
“Personally, I have a close friend who has been influenced by it. [by] Their fear of their parents’ lives and themselves had to increase the hours they worked so that their parents were at home and not in the community… I listen in solidarity with my friends. ”
Cynthia Guardano was born in the US in a mixed status family. She was performing a downtown demonstration on Friday.
Cynthia Gardeno protests in support of her family.
(Christopher Buchanan/Los Angeles Times)
“My parents are immigrants from El Salvador, so it is truly personal to us, because it is the imperialism of the United States that influenced our community.
Jason Petty, a 46-year-old musician from Boyle Heights, told The Times, who went to the rally because “This is our community – we are immigrants.”
Petty, a former ninth grade history teacher, said he was born and raised in Los Angeles and was here during the 1992 riots. He was black and his grandmother lived in Watts during the 1965 Watts riots. His father was a Black Panther.
Petty said he has a fourth-grade daughter and an immigration agent recently came to a neighbourhood near her school. He said he had to have a difficult conversation with her, and he assured her that she was safe and why it was important to go to the meeting.
“There’s no need to worry, but mom and dad are stuck with their friends.”
Outside Santa Ana’s city hall this week, Alicia Rojas observed the protest from afar. People from Colombia refused her application for pardon as a child. Rojas, now a US citizen, grew up in the era of Proposition 187, recalls all racism against people like her at the time.
“I get angry inside, but this is the healthiest thing. Above all. I’m here to look after the kids.”
19-year-old Michel Hernandez marched in a federal building with a Mexican flag covered in shoulders. The daughter of a Mexican immigrant said she was worried about her family and friends during the ice attack.
“[I want] Become a voice for those who can’t speak. ”
Francesca Olivas attended an anti-ice demonstration outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles, just two hours from Hemet. She was carrying an upside-down American flag attached to a Mexican flag.
“We’re in pain, so we’re turning the American flag upside down. We’re going to get it back.”
24-year-old Aaron Fontan has also been involved in the Black Life Matter protest, saying he felt police pushbacks and extremists were familiar this time. However, he felt that so many people were willing to show it as anti-ice protests.
“We’re in LA where such historical protests began, so here we were the Chicano movement, the Rodney King riots. That’s what shapes the community. That’s what shapes the policy here.”
Beyond the protest, some civic leaders have also expressed their opposition to escalation in immigration enforcement.
Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. The son of immigrants, Alberto Carvalho, is openly speaking about his mission to protect students.
“I spoke to parents who said their daughter would be the first in their family to graduate from high school. They are not there to witness that because they fear that their graduation location will be targeted. Which country are we becoming?”
Service employee United Nations California President David Fuerta was injured and detained while documenting an immigration enforcement raid in downtown Los Angeles last week.
“This is about how we stand together as a community and resist the injustice that is happening. Hardworking people and our families and members of our community are treated like criminals. We all have to oppose this insanity.
Times staff writers Christopher Buchanan and Annie Goody Cornz contributed to this report.
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