Anti-ICE demonstrations escalate nationwide ahead of Saturday military parade

The Hill

2 days ago

Protests against raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) popped up in major cities across the country this week as organizing groups gear up for a nationwide day of action on Saturday against President Trump and the military parade in Washington, D.C.
Demonstrations began June 6 in Los Angeles after immigration raids at several local businesses and escalated in pockets of the city. Democratic officials have blamed President Trump for inflaming the situation after he deployed California National Guard troops and Marines to assist local law enforcement.
A federal judge ruled on Thursday that Trump's mobilization of the troops was illegal and that they should be returned to the command of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). But an appeals court paused the ruling just hours later and will hold a hearing on the matter on Tuesday.
The protests in Los Angeles have inspired similar demonstrations across the country. Most protests have been largely peaceful, although some individual interactions between protestors and police have turned violent. Hundreds of people have been arrested in cities across the country.
The demonstrations come ahead of planned 'No Kings' protests Saturday in more than 1,500 locations. They'll counter the military parade in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday — a date that is also Trump's 79th birthday.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has continued immigration raids and deportations, ramping up actions in agriculture and food processing facilities in California, New Mexico and Nebraska.
Here's a look at some of the protests that have developed in cities outside Los Angeles.
Thousands of people gathered near federal buildings in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday and Wednesday. An initially peaceful rally on Tuesday night became chaotic as groups of demonstrators clashed with police, resulting in 86 arrests.
Around 200 people gathered and blocked traffic near Philadelphia's Federal Department of Corrections on Tuesday during rush hour. According to WHYY, tensions rose after a group of police officers moved in on the demonstrators and attempted to break up the crowd. Fifteen people were arrested, two of them treated for minor injuries. Two police officers were also injured.
The response in the nation's capital has been on a smaller scale. Dozens of people gathered in the Columbia Heights neighborhood on Tuesday to protest the raids.
More than 200 people attended a rally hosted by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) outside Boston City Hall on Monday in response to the protests in Los Angeles.
Speakers also condemned the arrest of SEIU California President David Huerta, who was detained by federal agents on June 6 during a protest against immigration raids in Los Angeles. Huerta, who is now facing federal charges, has become a rallying point for protesters and Democratic lawmakers alike.
Another group of people continued protesting outside the Massachusetts State House on Tuesday.
Police used tear gas to disperse a protest that gathered Tuesday night along a highway in a suburb of Atlanta, according to the local Fox affiliate. The demonstration initially drew a 'large and passionate' crowd of families and community members, chanting in English and Spanish.
Local police said they gave the crowd multiple warnings to disperse before an agreed-upon deadline. After that cutoff passed, police said several people in the crowd began throwing rocks and shooting fireworks. Six people were arrested.
Demonstrations on Tuesday turned chaotic after a driver plowed into a crowd of protesters, injuring at least one person. Some protestors also clashed with police, who arrested 17 people.
A largely peaceful rally of hundreds of people took place on Thursday in downtown Chicago, including a march to Trump Tower.
The local SEIU chapter rallied on Monday to protest Huerta's arrest. A different group organized by local immigrants rights groups marched to an ICE detention center in Aurora, Colo., the same day.
Another protest drew more than 1,000 people to the Colorado State Capitol on Tuesday. At about 6 p.m., a crowd of people broke off and began blocking an intersection and marching in the road. A smaller group was stopped by law enforcement near a highway interchanged and dispersed with several rounds of pepper ball guns.
Denver police made 17 arrests related to the demonstrations that afternoon.
Police detained 94 people at a Wednesday night protest, claiming that some in a crowd of approximately 800 people threw bottles and rocks at officers.
The clashes with police follow a rally on Monday by the local SEIU chapter in solidarity with Huerta.
Protesters gathered outside Seattle's federal building on Tuesday and Wednesday. Demonstrations on Wednesday started calm and then became chaotic as the sun set, with a protestor setting off at least one firework. Eight people were arrested.
About 400 protestors gathered on Wednesday evening in downtown San Antonio near the Alamo, which was closed to the public.
The demonstrations follow an announcement by Gov. Greg Abbott that he would deploy National Guard troops to sites of planned protests. Troops were seen in the area of Wednesday's demonstration, Texas Public Media reported, but they did not interact with protestors.