Los Angeles, CA: Occupy ICE LA Returns to Detention Center

Report back from #OccupyICELA, which recently held a camp out at the local detention center for over a day.

Occupy ICE LA came back to the detention center for the second year in a row to demonstrate their outrage at the injustice immigrants are facing. A peaceful demonstration turned tense as a stand off with the police almost led to an arrest, alas using false accusations. The police were muscled off as their false accusations toward a peaceful protestor were spotlighted with numerous bystanders live-streaming. Even a major news outlet came in close for some footage.

The police found themselves looking foolish and had no choice but to release the peaceful protestor. The camp then continued on, we had live music provided by Earth Arrow who played for free and threw down an amazing-mind blowing set. Food donations were provided, and we camped out overnight. Members of DSA-LA and LSC comrades came out and joined the action in solidarity with Occupy Ice LA. It was a blast and full of positive contagious energy.

That night we were invited to announce our action during a night of music presented by The Ovas at La Conxa: an autonomous community space in Boyle Heights. Folx from the gig came through the camp to show their support and solidarity.

The next day we continued our action with a morning service dedicated to those who had fallen, before we were joined in solidarity by CHIRLA for the first of a series of rallies, ongoing throughout the week. Later in the day many of us went from our camp to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter LA, and were honored by their return presence at our candlelight Vigil later that evening, wrapping up our 89th day outside the MDC. It was a weekend filled some of the most spirited and courageous people, down for the cause and for each other.

ICE’s 287(g) agreements with local law enforcement agencies across the nation are due to expire on June 30th, and ICE wants to renew it with the Warrant Service Officer program which would allow agencies to arrest and detain anyone with warrants issued by ICE, and exempt law enforcement agencies from sanctuary policies. There has been a national call to action for the week preceding June 30th to shut down all local contracts with ICE.

Occupy ICE answered this call with a renewed blockade of the federal detention center in DTLA to show ICE and local law enforcement that LA does not tolerate the kidnapping and torture of our community and family members by the federal or local government. ICE needs to leave LA or suffer the consequences! From June 23-29th The FANG Collective is calling for a Week of Action to #End287g and Shut Down ICE.

We really wanted to mention and thank Cactus Collective who printed out a bunch of Know Your Rights flyers in Spanish and English, Don’t Talk To The Police info pamphlets, and beautiful 11×14 color Build a Wall of Resistance Don’t Talk to ICE posters. Also, we would like to express our gratitude for ABC-LA picking up and delivering all the goods from CC.