Pro-immigrant Activists Arrested at Rally Against ICE Raids
More than 300 protesters marched through downtown Los Angeles Thursday in a protest against recent raids by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel. Police arrested about three dozen of the marchers.
The demonstration, dubbed "An Interfaith Day of Prophetic Action," began late Thursday morning at Placita Olvera United Methodist Church, 115 Paseo de la Plaza.
The protestors marched to a rally outside the old LAPD Parker Center headquarters building at 150 N. Los Angeles St., some carrying signs that read, "All Religions Believe in Justice."
Early Thursday afternoon, about three dozen protesters who sat in the street were taken into custody, according to Guillermo Torres, a representative of the demonstrators.
"There is no better time than now -- Holy Week -- to put our faith into action by taking the risky, solidarity-filled self-giving love of Jesus into the streets to confront hatred, violence and injustice," said the Rev. Francisco Garcia, co-chair of the Sanctuary Task Force of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.
Among organizations participating in the demonstration and rally were Bend the Arc-Jewish Action, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, and various other faith-based groups, immigration rights organizations and labor organizations.