Protests Take Place in Los Angeles
Alright, folks, let’s talk about what just went down in Los Angeles over the weekend because wow, this one’s got a lot to unpack. If you were anywhere near Downtown L.A. on Sunday, you might have found yourself stuck in a nightmare of gridlocked traffic, all thanks to a massive protest that took over the 101 Freeway. And what was the reason for this impromptu roadblock? Opposition to ongoing ICE raids—raids that, by the way, are completely legal and aimed at enforcing U.S. immigration law.
NOW: Anti-ICE protesters are blocking both sides of the 101 Freeway near the Alameda Street exit in DTLA. The CHP has since closed that portion of the freeway. Read more: https://t.co/K60ImdzmDi pic.twitter.com/iO5ARSTyTL
— KTLA (@KTLA) February 2, 2025
Now, protests are nothing new, especially in L.A., but what made this one particularly eye-catching was the sheer number of foreign flags being waved—specifically, Mexican flags. That’s right, the protests that reportedly started on Olvera Street and swelled into a crowd of a few thousand people featured a heavy display of national pride… for countries south of the U.S. border. Sure, there were some American flags in the mix, but by and large, the symbolism here was unmistakable: people protesting U.S. immigration enforcement were proudly waving the flags of other nations.
This is the 101 Freeway in LA today.
I find it incredibly odd people are carrying and waving flags of countries they both refuse and don’t want to go back to.
— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) February 2, 2025
Video footage from the scene quickly started circulating online, and as expected, reactions were divided, to put it mildly. According to reports from CBS News, the California Department of Transportation District 7 took to X (formerly Twitter) to warn that the “101 Freeway was closed in both directions between the 110 Freeway and Mission Road” and urged drivers to stay away from the area. LAPD later chimed in, confirming “major gridlock” not just on the freeway, but all throughout Downtown L.A., with streets like Spring, Main, Los Angeles, and Arcadia completely jammed.
TRAFFIC ALERT ‼ Avoid travel in Downtown Los Angeles at this time. The 101 is closed in both directions between the 110 Freeway and Mission Road due to a protest and police activity. Avoid the area. Use other routes. See updates at https://t.co/O37QesJHpw #DTLA pic.twitter.com/qUPTJHjyMf
— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) February 2, 2025
Now, let’s take a step back here and ask the obvious question: how do most Americans actually feel about deportations? Well, according to a recent Axios/Ipsos poll, the answer might surprise some folks. The poll found that a majority of Americans support deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally. That’s right—the idea of enforcing immigration laws isn’t some fringe belief; it’s a mainstream position. Now, does that support waver when you start introducing specifics on how deportations happen? Sure, the numbers drop a bit, but the core sentiment remains: most Americans believe that if someone is in the country illegally, there should be legal consequences.
New: There is a current standoff in downtown Los Angeles between police and protestors.
Situations like this can end badly. Please be safe. Avoid this area if you can, America.
pic.twitter.com/MjMjIczNrw— Tom Homan - Border Czar Commentary News & Analysis (@TomHoman_) February 3, 2025
So, back to the protest. Here’s the reality—blocking a freeway, waving a foreign flag, and disrupting the lives of ordinary Americans isn’t exactly the best way to win over public opinion. In fact, it might just do the opposite. Because while the folks on the 101 were making their voices heard, a whole lot of other people sitting in that traffic jam were likely thinking, Wait a minute, why am I being inconvenienced by people protesting the enforcement of laws? And that’s a fair question!