Downtown Los Angeles erupted into chaos Friday as thousands of protesters marched through the city, demonstrating against federal immigration enforcement operations. The protests, part of a nationwide day of action, were sparked by the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by federal immigration officers and an increase in ICE operations across the United States.
March and Confrontation at the Federal Building
The crowd initially gathered outside Los Angeles City Hall Friday afternoon, gradually swelling as demonstrators marched through the streets, eventually moving toward Boyle Heights. After an hour-long march, a large group reached the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building.
At the federal complex, tensions escalated when some protesters threw objects at federal agents stationed at the loading dock. Several demonstrators moved a large construction dumpster to block the entrance while officers deployed pepper balls and tear gas. Parts of the building sustained minor vandalism during the clashes.
“Peaceful protest is a constitutional right,” Mayor Karen Bass said on social media. “I urge Angelenos to exercise that right safely and not give this administration an excuse to escalate.”
The Los Angeles Police Department issued a tactical alert, ordering officers to remain on duty to address potential violence. Officers formed skirmish lines, issued dispersal orders, and arrested individuals labeled as “violent agitators.” Authorities reported that the majority of the crowd dispersed after 10 p.m., though a small group later returned to set a fire in a dumpster outside the building. Firefighters were temporarily blocked from reaching the fire, requiring coordination with LAPD and federal agents to safely extinguish the blaze.
