Greater than 60 largely peaceable protests happened this weekend towards U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions, together with a number of in Southern California.
However whereas many protests have been with out incident, they weren’t quick on anger and moments of stress. Organizers known as the gatherings the “ICE Out for Good” weekend of motion in response to the deadly taking pictures of Renée Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis.
In Huntington Seaside, Ron Duplantis, 72, carried a diagram to symbolize the three pictures fired at Good, together with one by way of her windshield and two others that appeared to undergo her facet window.
“These final two pictures,” he stated, “make it clear to me that that is homicide.”
Contributors within the “ICE Out” protest maintain indicators Sunday in Huntington Seaside.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Occasions)
Huntington Seaside has seen previous clashes between Trump supporters and anti-racism activists, however as of mid-afternoon, Sunday’s protest was tense at occasions, however freed from violence. About 300 individuals — and two dozen counterprotesters — stood exterior Metropolis Corridor, with protesters carrying anti-ICE indicators, ringing cowbells and chanting “ICE out of O.C.”
As vehicles sped previous them on Foremost Road, many motorists honked in a present of solidarity, whereas some rolled down their home windows to shout their assist for ICE, MAGA and President Trump.
“The explanation why I’m right here is democracy,” stated Mary Artesani, a 69-year-old Costa Mesa resident carrying an indication that learn “RESIST.” “They’ve to recollect he gained’t be in workplace endlessly.”
Contributors within the “ICE Out” protest in Huntington Seaside maintain indicators as a automobile with a MAGA hat within the windshield passes.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Occasions)
The Trump administration has largely stood behind the ICE agent, recognized as Jonathan Ross, with Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem saying he acted in self-defense. Democratic officers and lots of members of the general public have stated the movies of the taking pictures circulating on social media seem to contradict at the least a few of the administration’s assertions.
“I’m outraged a girl was murdered by our authorities and our authorities lied to our faces about it,” stated protester Tony Zarkades, 60, who has lived within the Huntington Seaside space for almost 30 years. A former officer within the Marines, Zarkades stated he’s considering of shifting to Orange to flee the presence of so many Trump supporters in Huntington Seaside.
Massive protests towards ICE occurred within the Bay Space in addition to Sacramento and different California cities over the weekend. In Oakland, lots of demonstrated peacefully on Sunday, though the evening earlier than, protesters assembled on the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Constructing and left graffiti, in line with a report within the San Francisco Chronicle.
In Los Angeles on Saturday evening, protesters marched by way of the downtown space to Metropolis Corridor and previous the
Edward Roybal Federal Constructing, with the L.A. Police Division issuing a dispersal order at about 6:30 p.m., in line with Metropolis Information Service.
Whereas most of the protests centered on what occurred to Good in Minnesota, additionally they acknowledged Keith Porter Jr., a person killed by an off-dutyICE agent in Northridge on New Yr’s Eve.
In Huntington Seaside, the coastal group has lengthy had a popularity as a Southern California stronghold for Republicans, although its politics have lately been shifting. Orange County has a painful legacy of political extremism, together with neo-Nazism. In 2021, a “White Lives Matter” rally within the space resulted in 12 arrests.
On Sunday, a small group of about 30 counterprotesters waved Trump and MAGA flags on a nook reverse from the anti-ICE rally.
Counterprotester Victoria Cooper, 72, holds indicators and shouts at members of the “ICE Out” protest in Huntington Seaside.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Occasions)
“We’re right here to assist our nation and president and assist ICE,” stated Kelly Johnson, who gave his age as “sufficiently old to be your sugar daddy.”
Sporting an “ICE Immigration: Making America Protected Once more” T-shirt, Kelly stated the protesters have been “paid agitators” who had been lied to by the media.
“Take a look at the opposite angles of the [shooting] movies,” he stated. “She ran over the officer.”
Standing with him was Jesse Huizar, 66, who stated he identifies as a “Latino for Trump” and was right here to “assist the blue.”
The Chino resident stated he got here to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 5, however that he has no worry of ICE as a result of he “got here right here legally.”
Huizar stated Good’s demise was unhappy, however that she “if she had complied, if she obtained out of her automobile and adopted orders, she’d be alive proper now.”
However their voices have been largely overpowered by these of the anti-ICE protesters. One of many occasion’s organizers, 52-year-old Huntington Seaside resident Denise G., who declined to provide her final title, stated they’ve been gathering in entrance of Metropolis Corridor each Sunday since March, however that this was by far one of many largest turnouts they’ve seen.
She felt “devastated, offended, and extra decided than ever” when she noticed the video of Good’s taking pictures, she stated.
Counterprotester Kelly Johnson stands throughout from the “ICE Out” demonstration.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Occasions)
“It could possibly be any certainly one of us,” she stated. “The individuals not out right here right this moment want to grasp this could possibly be their member of the family, their partner, their youngsters. The time is now. All arms on deck.”
Close by, 27-year-old Yvonne Gonzales had gathered with about 10 of her mates. They stated they have been motivated to come back as a result of they have been outraged by the taking pictures.
“I want I used to be shocked by it,” Gonzales stated, “however we’ve seen a lot violence from ICE.”
She suspected that race was an element within the outpouring of assist, noting that Good was a white lady whereas many others who’ve been injured or killed by immigration enforcement actions have been individuals of coloration, however that it was nonetheless “nice to see this turnout and visibility.”
A couple of toes away, 41-year-old Christie Martinez stood along with her youngsters, Elliott, 9, and Kane, 6. She teared up interested by the taking pictures and the current ICE actions in California, together with the killing of Porter.
“It’s unhappy and sickening,” stated Martinez, who lives in Westminster. “It makes me actually unhappy how persons are focused due to their pores and skin coloration.”
