In an act of civic engagement, a diverse group of individuals congregated outside the Federal Detention Center on Alameda Street in downtown Los Angeles for an entire week. Their purpose was manifold – collect supplies like food and water, stand against the border patrol raids, and monitor the traffic emerging from the facility. However, on Friday morning, their continuous 24-hour protest was halted as law enforcement and sanitation employees applied city ordinances typically targeted at homeless populations to dissolve the encampment famously known as the ‘ICE Out of L.A. Camp.’
Law enforcement vehicles rolled in near the Federal Building around 10 o’clock in the morning and swiftly cordoned off Alameda Street between Temple and Commercial Streets. The city employees then turned their attention towards several canopies under which lay piles of supplies – water bottles, snack boxes, loudspeakers, ‘know your rights’ pamphlets, and art materials, all kept safe from the scorching sun and 80-degree heat. By midday, the area was cleared off, excluding a few personal items that the protesters were able to salvage. One protestor expressed regret over the lost provisions but remained undeterred, ‘We lost lots of food and water,’ they said, ‘But we won’t let this dampen our spirits.’
No sooner had the police vehicles disappeared than a fresh folding table appeared, and people started arriving in their vehicles, bearing further donations. ‘They can seize our possessions, but they mustn’t harm our people,’ declared a determined Eddy. The ‘ICE Out of L.A. Camp’ was, he described, ‘a resource for the community to exercise their First Amendment right of free speech, and engage in peaceful protest.’, even for 24 hours straight.
There’s a desire in people to express their views and we aim to provide them with a safe space that doesn’t lock them into traditional hours,’ Eddy elaborated. He emphasized the importance of the camp’s location, stating, ‘This is a critical location for anyone seeking to feel and observe the forces at play. Watching the vehicles enter, seeing the masked men and women, you begin to sense the injustice, and that motivates you.’
Alongside supplying resources to the protestors, Eddy mentioned they also lend support to their indigent neighbors by offering food and water. ‘Activism and protest come in varied forms,’ Eddy explained. ‘The disturbing footage of DHS forcefully detaining our peaceful protestors tend to go viral, but the rest of the day, we are here campaigning peacefully.’, he said.
As the protestors were busy reconstructing their base,, LAPD patrol cars kept patrolling the area. Just before 1 p.m., as one participant was setting up a new 10×10 canopy tent, an LAPD officer pursued a man who had briefly stood before an LAPD SUV and apprehended him. Numerous officers arrived at the scene. An officer informed that the man was alleged of obstructing a law enforcement vehicle and would be cited and released.
Next, a group of officers walked over to a lady who introduced herself as Melissa. LAPD Sergeant Claudia Avila questioned Melissa, ‘Ma’am, did you set up that E-Z Up? I’m going to give you a minute to bring it down,’ she cautioned. Throughout the day, two laws, LAMC 56.11 and LAMC 41.18, were invoked – same penal codes often utilized to regulate homeless populations, prohibiting individuals from leaving personal items in public spaces, or erecting tents near ‘sensitive sites.’
In regard to the so-called ‘ICE Out of L.A. Camp’, the police insisted that the camp was located within a 500-foot radius of a daycare clinic sited at 255 East Temple Street. The address referred to the DTLA Veteran Affairs Clinic, situated across the street from the encampment. Ignoring the given warning, Melissa was detained shortly. As the police were ushering her into an SUV, she chanted, ‘Long Live the People, free the people!’
By 2:35 p.m., the officers approached the four corners of E-Z Up, dismantled it, and hauled it away while protestors echoed their dissent through loudspeakers. But yet again, as soon as the officers departed, people started arriving with cases of water and other donations to reequip the camp.
Amid this, the police continued their surveillance over the area. In the meantime, Melissa was seen strolling down Alameda Street, her radiant smile untouched and gleaming like the sun. During a quick interview, she shared that she was cited for erecting a tent within a 500-foot distance of a daycare unit before being released.
When inquired if her apprehension would discourage her from engaging in future protests, Melissa chuckled and said, ‘I’m back again. My husband asked me, ‘What are you doing there?’ And I answered, I have to do it for our people, I have to be present here.’
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