Watch as people protest ICE and support strikes in Boyle Heights
The demonstrations followed the shooting deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Preti by federal agents in Minnesota.
- Amid planned anti-ICE protests in Southern California, small demonstrations have erupted following reports of federal immigration enforcement in Boyle Heights.
- One source said it was “beautiful” to see people coming together and agreeing to shut down on January 30 as part of a national call for a strike.
(This story has been updated to change or add photos and videos.)
Stores in Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights neighborhood will temporarily close as part of a nationwide strike scheduled for Friday, January 30, in response to the shooting deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Preti by federal immigration agents in Minnesota, organizers said.
On Wednesday, Jan. 28, about two dozen people gathered at the intersection of East Cesar Chavez Street and North Soto Street in a community that many Latino and Hispanic residents call home. Organizers chanted in Spanish, “Let’s ICE leave LA,” and “Seve, sesiente, el pueblo esta presente,” as passing drivers honked their horns in solidarity.
The measure, known as a “national shutdown,” is supported by various advocacy groups and unions who are calling on people across the country not to go to school, work or shop. The national shutdown calls for defunding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and an end to their “reign of terror.”
It’s the latest effort to protest ICE and comes as Americans have seen large numbers of Minnesotans dealt with by federal immigration agents in the state throughout January, spurring demonstrations in other areas, including Southern California.
“We see all the violence that is happening in our communities, and we have a lot of support from small and medium-sized businesses for this Friday’s strike. It’s about communities showing up and coming together to show our true strength,” said Gabriela García of the Socialism and Liberation Party, making the announcement at a press conference on January 28.
About 20 businesses in Boyle Heights have already agreed to close, according to two community organizers.
“They understand the importance of worker solidarity and coming together as a working class,” PSL member Daniel Torres told USA TODAY Network. “It’s really great to see that they really want to come together and agree to closure because their businesses have been so affected. One business owner told me today that the community she serves is too scared to come forward.”
Torres said the owners she spoke to aren’t getting any deals, and it’s “the same story for most vendors and business owners here in Boyle Heights.”
“They’ve taken a huge hit to their business and they’re still expected to pay their bills, they’re still expected to pay their rent,” Torres said.
Torres said Cesar Chavez Avenue, First Street and Soto Street are a “mixed mix” of businesses, from places that sell clothing to panaderias and bakeries, and said she has spoken to many businesses and business owners who support the closure.
“They’re like, ‘What else can I do?'” Torres said. “They feel the situation has gotten too bad to go toe-to-toe with ICE on the streets. They need to hold back from work to send a message to Trump and this administration that they will no longer tolerate it.”
The demonstration in Boyle Heights began after several people were reportedly detained by federal immigration agents earlier in the day. LA Taco reported that three people were detained by federal immigration enforcement agents in the area on January 28th.
ICE and Border Patrol did not immediately respond to USA TODAY Network’s emailed questions seeking confirmation of their activities in the community on Jan. 28.
Garcia said the demonstration was “out of love” for the community and to show those detained by federal agents that they have their support and are thinking about their neighbors.
During the demonstration, Torres explained that one way they are fighting back is by withholding work, and that they will continue to stand with the community and protect their neighbors and those who need it.
“We shouldn’t have to suffer like this,” Torres said, visibly and audibly emotional. “It makes me so angry to see our own people suffering. We deserve better…I’m crying because I’m angry. I’m angry and we’re doing everything we can to help our neighbors, because it could happen to any of us.”
“The legal guards who were killed, Renee and Alex, it could have been any of us. So we’re here to say we’re going to keep fighting back,” Torres added. “We’re going to continue to show up on the streets. We’re not going to be harassed by ICE or the LAPD.”
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. please contact her pbarraza@usatodayco.com.
