Anti-Ice, Trump Demonstrations Extend To Venice Blvd & Abbot Kinney

WESTSIDE - About 200 or so anti-ICE demonstrators took to the streets of Venice Friday afternoon with placards, pets and signs as the ICE OUT efforts extended around Los Angeles.  

Union members and their families, members of the Democratic Socialists and Peace & Freedom Party were seeking acknowledgement from cars passing by as they honked in favor of reforming the current practices of ICE that have many outraged and upset by the wave of recent shootings in Minneapolis.  

This was the second demonstration in the same location over the last 10 days as several locals and high school students displayed their support for undocumented individuals here in the community.  

A signature gatherer for CD-11 council hopeful Faizah Malik was also on hand.  

Many of the demonstrations here in Los Angeles were part of a coordinated nationwide day of action called “ICE Out” or a “National Shutdown.” Protesters across multiple cities—including LA—are urging people to strike from work, school, and shopping to pressure the federal government over immigration enforcement practices.

The backlash is from recent federal immigration enforcement action, and the movement was sparked largely from the controversial and aggressive immigration tactics, including the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents in Minneapolis, which drew widespread condemnation and calls for real accountability from ICE agents. 

Demonstrators today were highlighting those deaths and demanding justice. More protests are expected as long as the immigration crackdown continues. 

A civil rights probe by the Justice Department was announced in Washington Friday regarding the actions of ICE. 

(Nick Antonicello is a thirty-three-year resident of the neighborhood and covers all things, Venice. Have a take or a tip? Contact him via e-mail at [email protected])