Latest news with #TrumpProtests
CBC
07-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
An L.A. publication founded to cover tacos and weed is now a major source for ICE raid news
The publication that tells readers where to find the best tacos in Los Angeles is also the publication that tells them where the latest immigration raids are going down. L.A. Taco, a site once dedicated to lifestyle reporting, is now working full-time to cover the raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the massive protests against U.S. President Donald Trump that have sprung up in response. "We still find the best tacos in L.A.," editor-in-chief Javier Cabral told As It Happens host Nil Kӧksla. "But now we've become the most consistent site covering the daily onslaught and terrorism of ICE raids in L.A." And it's paying off. Cabral says a surge of fundraising and new subscribers this summer has pulled the publication back from the brink of collapse. The day everything changed When L.A. Taco launched in 2006, it didn't have investigative news ambitions. "I like to say that it was like a baby Vice, meaning that our beats were primarily tacos, cannabis and graffiti," Cabral said. The publication began to rethink its editorial strategy in 2017, when the newspaper L.A. Weekly laid off nearly all of its staff, leaving a city and surrounding region of more than 10 million people "without any form of alternative independent news," Cabral said. By the time Cabral joined in 2019, L.A. Taco had already restructured as a "news first" publication. So when the first major ICE raid went down in the city's fashion district a month ago, its small staff leapt to action. "The first raid happened on a Friday afternoon. Imagine you're about to check out, you're going to pour yourself a nice cold beer or wine after a long week and then we hear of this very violent ICE raid," Cabral said. "It was like fight or flight, but editorial mode." Since then, Cabral says, they haven't stopped. The publication has an entire section of its website dedicated to ICE news. Social media producer Memo Torres produces daily video updates about "the ICE siege of L.A.," posted on Instagram, with no paywall. L.A. Taco has curated resources on Instagram, in both English and Spanish, including people's rights when being interrogated, and contact information for organizations that can help. "Now in this moment when L.A. needs as many eyes on the streets as possible, L.A. Taco has become indispensable," Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano told the Washington Post, which recently profiled the publication's role in covering the raids. Cabral says they're motivated by a love for their city and the people who call it home. "So as long as ICE is going to keep on, you know, abducting people, L.A. Taco is going to keep on doing these stories." 'They are in the communities' And ICE shows no sign of stopping. The agency has rounded up 1,600 people in Southern California for deportation in the last month alone, according to the L.A. Times. Most of them, the paper notes, have no criminal records. Trump's massive tax and spending cuts bill, which passed in the U.S. Congress last week, includes a massive spending infusion to the tune of $170 billion US for immigration enforcement. Julie Patel Liss, head of journalism at California State University, says L.A. has a massive immigrant community, and journalists have really stepped up meet the moment, from mainstream news to student newspapers and independent outlets like L.A. Taco. But small, scrappy outlets offer a particular vantage point, she said, because their journalists don't have access to the same level of resources as those working comfortable, unionized jobs at legacy media outlets. "That makes them more empathetic," she said. "They are in the communities, and so they're hearing about, you know, different situations perhaps more often than somebody who's not living in that neighbourhood." L.A. Taco staff don't mince words when describing ICE. They call the raids "terrorism" and the arrests "abductions." Cabral says people shouldn't confuse that bluntness with editorialization. "We are an objective news platform, believe it or not," Cabral said. "All we do is just inform people of verified facts and information, and our readers can do whatever they want with that information." ICE did not respond to a request for comment from CBC. Growing subscriber base One year ago, L.A. Taco had furloughed most of its staff and was on the brink of shutting down. "I felt like I failed as an editor-in-chief," Cabral said. But now, he says, it's close to hitting 5,000 paid subscribers, which he says is the "sweet number" it needs to be sustainable at its current staffing levels of four full-time and two part-time employees. L.A. Taco has also been fundraising this summer, and L.A. actress Eva Longoria has agreed to match donations to the site up to $25,000 US. Liss says it makes sense that people are willing to fund this work. "People care about democracy, especially in a time like this when there are so many democratic conventions and standards that are being upended," she said. ICE is currently holding 59,000 people in facilities across the country, . Of those, nearly half have no criminal charges and fewer than 30 per cent have been convicted of crimes. The detained include dozens of Canadians. Last month, a Canadian died in an ICE facility in Florida. One Canadian, detained for several weeks in the spring, told CBC News she was kept in inhumane conditions. Cabral says it's a crisis mainstream media isn't prepared to handle. "If you're watching the local news, they go on to the sports report and the daily weather, and we're like, wait a minute, this is crazy unprecedented times, and our people are still suffering through this," he said. "We just can't move on like life is OK."
Al Arabiya
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
How People Are Celebrating, Protesting, and Traveling for July Fourth
Recent polls suggest a decline in national pride among Americans, especially Democrats, during the Trump era, with some questioning July Fourth celebrations. However, Scott Allen, a California Democrat, plans to celebrate with neighbors, honoring his Marine father and American freedoms. 'We can have protests. We can have free speech,' said Allen, 60. This Independence Day feels different for many. Protests against Trump's policies are planned nationwide, and some Southern California celebrations were canceled due to immigration raids and tariff concerns. Yet, holiday travel is expected to break records. Several Los Angeles communities canceled festivities due to safety concerns over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, which triggered protests and military deployments. El Sereno canceled its parade after ninety percent of participants dropped out. 'The majority Latino community is very patriotic,' said organizer Genny Guerrero. 'But many people are avoiding events out of fear of immigration agents.' A downtown block party and celebrations in suburbs like Bell Gardens were also canceled. Meanwhile, Independence Day events protesting Trump's policies, including Medicaid cuts, are planned by the Women's March. Events range from potlucks to rallies, including one supporting new citizens in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and a larger protest outside Houston's City Hall. 'We're inviting folks to envision what a truly free America looks like,' said Tamika Middleton, managing director of the Women's March. Most US fireworks are made in China, said Julie Heckman of the American Pyrotechnics Association. Tariffs on Chinese fireworks reached one hundred forty-five percent in April before Trump paused them at thirty percent. This minimally affects city fireworks shows but impacts retailers selling backyard fireworks, who aren't passing on the costs to consumers yet. However, Heckman says thirty percent tariffs or higher are unsustainable long-term, especially considering the anticipated demand for America's two hundred fiftieth anniversary in 2026. AAA projected over seventy-two million people traveling at least fifty miles from home, including nearly sixty-two million by car–a record high. Gas prices have risen but remain the lowest since 2021. Nearly six million people will fly, a four percent increase from last year. The Federal Aviation Administration anticipates the busiest July Fourth week in fifteen years.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The U.S. has 'No Kings' say hundreds of El Pasoans who joined anti-Trump protest
Chants of "No Kings" echoed through Edgemere Park as hundreds of El Pasoans joined the nationwide day of protests against the policies of President Donald Trump. Protesters of all ages gathered on the corner of Airport Boulevard with creative signs condemning Trump's attacks on immigrants, in defense of U.S. democracy and echoing the popular Trump acronym, TACO — Trump Always Chickens Out. The protest quickly spread down Edgemere Boulevard as more people continued to arrive throughout the morning for the "No Kings" protests on Saturday, June 14. "We have to be active participants in our democracy, we can't just sit idly by," Christina Franco, a 55-year-old resident of El Paso, said "We don't have kings. We have equal branches of government that have to do each of their parts." People started to gather before 10 a.m. and many remained after 1 p.m. The protest coincided with the president's 79th birthday, Flag Day, and a military parade in Washington, D.C., marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, which will include displays by troops, tanks, and other military equipment. The protests were organized to condemn Trump's increasing overreach, disregard for the independence of the other branches of government and increasingly authoritarian actions. More: For the first time in decades, the US-Mexico border is silent. Here's why The protests were peaceful, with organizers reminding the people who had gathered on the 100-plus-degree day to drink water. Police were a constant presence to guarantee the safety of those who were demonstrating. The protesters were joined by U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, who has condemned the Trump administration's misuse of taxpayer money, including the $45 million spent on the military parade on Saturday. "Our country is in a very precarious moment, as we see judges ignored, as we see democratically-elected leaders arrested, thrown to the ground, handcuffed, and as we see increasing egregious corruption and self-dealing," Escobar said. "I think most of us here understand the grave risk that our country is in. Our democracy is backsliding in a way none of us has seen in this country. Peaceful civic resistance is critical in this moment." More: 'It is a setup': ICE arrests migrants after their hearings at El Paso federal courthouse Millions of people across the United States participated in anti-Trump protests Saturday in nearly 2,000 towns and cities. The national "No Kings" protests were organized by the 50501 movement in support of the U.S.'s democracy. The movement's name stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement. The protest in El Paso was organized by members of the Indivisible the 915 and EPTX United groups. Organizers were happy with the turnout, said Jackie Dean, an organizer with Indivisible the 915. More: El Paso joins national protests against ICE raids and military deployment Saturday's protests follow a week that saw massive protests in Los Angeles against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in southern California. Trump deployed the California National Guard and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles in response to the protests. The protests in Los Angeles quickly spread over concerns of the heavy-handed raids by ICE. "I am out here because they are separating families," Rafael Pineda, a 30-year-old resident of El Paso, said during Saturday's protest. "They are leaving scars not just in our community, but across the world. Human rights aren't being respected. We are acknowledging that reality and that many of us are upset." Jeff Abbott covers the border for the El Paso Times and can be reached at:jdabbott@ @palabrasdeabajo on Twitter or @ on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Hundreds in El Paso join 'No Kings' anti-Trump protest
CBS News
16-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Retailers cash in on Army's 250th anniversary and "No Kings" protest
What to know about Trump's Army anniversary parade and "No Kings" protests What to know about Army anniversary parade What to know about Army anniversary parade Merchandise has cropped up for sale on Amazon, Temu and other online retailers in a move to cash in on two coinciding events: the Army's 250th anniversary parade and the "No Kings" protests against the Trump administration. For the Army's 250th anniversary, hundreds of items appeared for sale on Amazon and Etsy including T-shirts, hats, mugs and more. One T-shirt for sale on Amazon and Etsy, for example, reads "250 Years Defending Liberty" with the U.S. flag, while another commemorates "250 Years of Service" with the message, "Freedom Isn't Free." On China-based a seller shipping goods from a U.S.-based warehouse offers a T-shirt reading "No Kings in America" and featuring the Statue of Liberty and American flag for $5.20. On Amazon, a search for "No Kings" yielded 1,000 results. Much of the merchandise available on the e-commerce giant's site is printed on demand, meaning not in stock. Sellers print T-shirts or make the goods as soon as they are ordered to avoid sitting on unwanted inventory. Walmart, which has distanced itself from an ad promoting No Kings that was funded by Walmart heiress Christy Walton, offers a more limited amount of merchandise related to the events on its website. It's common for sellers to quickly mock up merchandise tied to current events. For example, retailers were quick to start selling apparel featuring images of President Trump with a bloodied ear after he was shot at a rally last year in an assassination attempt. The No Kings protests were scheduled to coincide with a military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating the Army's 250th anniversary. The day was also President Trump's 79th birthday. Editor's note: This story has been updated with more information about the range of items for sale.
The Independent
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Police use tear gas on anti-Trump protesters in LA
Tensions rose at "No Kings" protests against Donald Trump in downtown Los Angeles on the weekend. Law enforcement used officers on horseback, flash bangs, and tear gas to push back and clear out protesters after the formal event concluded. Millions participated in protests against Trump's agenda in more than 2,000 communities, coinciding with a military parade in Washington, D.C., for the Army's 250th anniversary and the president's birthday. The demonstrations were organised to protest against what organisers termed President Trump's authoritarian agenda, including recent immigration raids. Watch the video in full above.
