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DEMONSTRATION - The honks and chorus of cheers could be heard nearly half a mile away. Walking closer to the pedestrian bridge over the 2 Freeway in Eagle Rock on Wednesday afternoon, one could feel welcomed into a conversation of peaceful protest involving humans and vehicles familiar to many Angelenos.
This particular dialogue involved 30 local residents of all ages, 20 feet above the roadway, and hundreds upon hundreds of rush-hour drivers, either northbound or southbound on one of Northeast L.A.’s busiest traffic arteries.
But in reality, the conversation about Trump’s thuggish ICE raids to meet arbitrary arrest quotas, launched last Friday, and his unlawful, inflammatory federalization of state National Guard troops, announced on Sunday, was already engulfing the entire city.
At least fifteen kids held signs, some reading “Love Thy Neighbor” and “No Hate” and waved at motorists passing beneath them while fifteen observant parents joined them and waved American flags.
Replete with a few religious messages and Dodger gear, it was a heartening demonstration of homespun solidarity with vulnerable immigrant friends and families. It also showed growing resistance to escalating cruelty and violent, even lawless tactics by an unpopular President of the United States who is losing the support of the American people.
Punctuating the downward spiral of goon-squad tactics by Pres. Trump was the manhandling of L.A. resident and senior California U.S. Senator Alex Padilla on Friday after he dared to ask an unscripted question at a press conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Ferocious outcry rippled fast across the city, state, and nation after images of Sen. Padilla lying face down while being handcuffed and detained were viewed by millions.
The week of growing grassroots resistance to Trump’s belligerent conduct and unlawful orders will culminate Saturday, June 14, with rallies throughout L.A. County aligned with more than 1,000 similar peaceful protests nationwide.
Clergy hold a peaceful vigil on the steps of the federal building Downtown L.A., urging the removal from L.A. of National Guard troops whose presence may actually escalate the potential for violence, on June 10.
The wave of participation in No Kings rallies is likely to approach or surpass 10 million Americans. The Web site for Indivisible.org, which is organizing the groundswell of nationwide events, appeared to groan under the enormous demand of signups on Friday morning before rebounding within minutes. Such resilience, amid resistance, marked a week in the history of L.A. County that might be long remembered as a turning point.
Peaceful, patriotic protest: Residents of Eagle Rock, of all ages, opposing ICE raids and supporting immigrant neighbors elicit hundreds of honks from passing motorists on the 2 Freeway, on June 11.
To join in the large, peaceful No Kings Glendale / Northeast LA. rally opposing Trump tactics and supporting democracy, to be held Saturday, June 14, at noon to pm hosted by East Area Progressive Democrats (EAPD) at Glendale City Hall’s Veterans Memorial, click here.
(Hans Johnson is a longtime leader for LGBTQ+ human rights, environmental justice, and public education. His columns appear in national news outlets including USA Today and in top daily news outlets of more than 20 states. A resident of Eagle Rock, he is also president of East Area Progressive Democrats (EAPD), the largest grassroots Democratic club in California, with more than 1,100 members.)
