The Anti-ICE Insurgency Keeps Up In Los Angeles
Rioters throw rocks and concrete at federal agents, tear gas deployed...
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The “No Kings” protest brought out tens of thousands of people out by City Hall. Unlike many other “No Kings” locations, there was a good mix of older and younger people in attendance. It is because there were a lot of younger people in the crowd, it was no surprise when some of them made their way to the Roybal Federal Building to battle against federal agents once again.
The loading dock location for the federal building has long been the site of many riots since last June. The open parking space usually provides crowds easy access to the rear of the building in order to cause damage or prevent vehicles from entering or leaving. Because of the repeated attacks, there have been security fences installed to stop the crowd’s easy access.
As usual, however, the presence of a fence provides the anti-ICE rioters a target to go after. It did not take long before people started to kick the fence’s gate in an attempt to break it or try to peel apart the panels of the fence. The Federal Protective Service came out to get the agitators to stop. When the agents got close, rioters started to throw bottles and spit at them, resulting in pepper balls and tear gas being used.
Because I was so focused on the skirmishes at the fence, I did not notice other people in the crowd had broken apart concrete barriers to make small pieces in order to throw at the agents. Federal agents deployed more canisters once the concrete chunks were being thrown. The Department of Homeland Security later stated two agents were injured by the thrown concrete.
Once most of the tear gas dissipated, the crowd came back to continue their attacks. It took some more time before the Los Angeles Police Department showed up. Dozens of protesters and rioters remained in the street despite several dispersal warnings from police. Federal agents and LAPD did make arrests, targeting those who threw concrete or did not leave the area. The Los Angeles Times reported 70 people were arrested.
“To those who were smashing concrete blocks and throwing them at our officers, we have you on video. We will find you and arrest you too. You’ve been warned,” said Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California.
WATCH: