L.A. protest against Trump part of a nationwide wave of movement

On Trump’s first day in office, over two thousand protesters filled the streets of Los Angeles to voice their concerns about the incoming administration’s policies, particularly regarding immigration and its involvement in providing Israel with billions of dollars in weapons to kill Palestinians. The protest, which coincided with Trump’s inauguration, was organized and called by the ANSWER Coalition, which stands for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism. It has been at the forefront of organizing marches across Los Angeles against war and other social movements since 2003.

Over sixty organizations across different struggles endorsed the march, including immigrant rights groups like the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, United Auto Workers Region 6, Union De Vecinos, and many local community leaders.

Demonstrators first gathered and rallied at City Hall, where speakers from various social justice organizations addressed the audience. They then marched through downtown, carrying signs with messages such as “Full rights for immigrants,” “Stop funding genocide,” and “Defend LGBTQ rights.” These messages echoed through the streets as activists denounced the president-elect’s campaign promises, which many see as a direct threat to marginalized communities. 

The protest, initially organized against Trump’s policies and administration, also addressed the current situation in Los Angeles and Mayor Karen Bass's response to the victims of the Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires.

“We demand that Karen Bass's administration provide full relief to all the Eaton and Palisades fire victims,” said Leonardo Vilchis, an organizer with Union de Vecinos. 

“I am not here to speak for all of Altadena, but I am here to share my story, and I am here to remind the government and private property investors that Altadena is not for sale,” said Shayna Reed, a survivor of the Altadena fire who lost her home in the Eaton Canyon Fire. 

Throughout the program, attendees sent Mayor Karen Bass a clear message that the city needs to provide relief for the victims of all the fires. Speakers criticized Bass for launching Los Angeles 2.0 without entirely helping the victims of the Altadena fire, a historically Black community in Northeast Los Angeles. 

Fear of mass deportation

The president-elect has pledged to enact stricter immigration policies, including ramping up deportation and enhancing border security. These promises have sparked widespread anxiety, particularly among undocumented immigrants and their families.

The march organizers and speakers made the connection that the Karen Bass administration can implement policies to protect undocumented Angelenos but hasn’t.

“If there is one deportation in Los Angeles, it is the fault of Karen Bass and the city council, which has not implemented one policy to protect our community,” said Kenia Alcocer from Union de Vecinos. “If there is one eviction in Los Angeles, it is the fault of the Karen Bass administration for not providing protections for tenants,” Alcocer added. 

Immigration advocates warn that Trump’s policies could lead to the separation of thousands of families and the rollback of protections for vulnerable groups such as asylum seekers and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. 

Protesters also expressed alarm over the incoming administration’s rhetoric on foreign relations and reminded the people of what Trump did during his last term.  

“He almost started a war with Iran by bombing and killing government officials from Iran and Iraq, which could’ve sparked another war,” said Rey Ramirez, a South Central resident. “When it comes to the war machine, Trump is not that different from any other president, and we have to remember that L.A. was a catalyst in the anti-war movement of the ’60s, and we Chicanos played a big role in that,” Ramirez added. 

Unity and resistance  

Leaders from various communities took turns addressing the crowd, urging people to join an organization and build relationships with their communities to resist Trump's attacks on their neighbors. 

“We organized against Trump in his first term, we continued to organize under the Biden administration, and we are still out to defend our communities against Trump's second term,” said Gabriel Quiroz Jr., an organizer with Centro CSO in Boyle Heights. 

The protest in Los Angeles is part of a broader wave of demonstrations nationwide on Trump’s first day in office, with similar events occurring in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. Organizers from the ANSWER Coalition and endorsing organizations say they plan to continue mobilizing in the weeks and months ahead, focusing on defending the victims of the fire and vulnerable communities and holding the new administration accountable.

Los Angeles working class unites against Trump

The peaceful protest united a coalition of Angelenos, including members of the city’s Latino, Asian, African American and LGBTQ+ communities. Leaders from various organizations addressed the crowd, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and collective action. 

The march ended at Pershing Square around 4:30 PM. 

“A lot of people became political actors, leaders and movement builders in their communities, large or small, to stop the Biden administration from sending weapons to Israel,” said Jackie Alabanez, a longtime school teacher. “And those same people will continue to organize and teach the younger generation that probably wasn’t involved in their community during Biden but are now involved because of Trump. More and more people are taking action, and we are seeing that develop in front of us,” Alabanez added. 

Organizers in Los Angeles have vowed to keep the pressure on through continued rallies, community organizing and legal challenges to the new administration's policies.

As the inauguration festivities continue in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles stands in defiance, offering a powerful message: the city’s residents will not remain silent in the face of anti-worker, anti-immigrant threats against their communities.