The Southland stands up to ICE terror
Throughout Greater LA, people take to the streets to protest federal abductions in immigrant communities.
LA,
There has been no time to process. An Orwellian fire hose has been blasting us in the brain for almost a week — and counting.
Right now Los Angeles is under federal military occupation. The Trump administration would have us believe we’ve been “liberated.” While masked federal goons snatch up our loved ones and neighbors, we’re told that somehow we’re safer; that we should be “thanking ICE officers every single day.” Meanwhile, city leaders promise that “LAPD has learned deescalation.” Yet local cops are brutalizing the public and press in apparent violation of their own policies, oath, and the law.
That last part is important to note because it is getting lost in the coverage about property damage and rhetoric (rightfully) condemning President Trump’s authoritarian incursion. Over the weekend, Los Angeles police were caught on live TV trampling a protester with their horses (surreally broadcast on a split-screen while the LAPD chief talked about “safeguarding Constitutional rights”). Cops also shot a non-threatening woman who said she was attempting to get to her apartment at dangerously close range with a “less-lethal” munition. Police were recorded targeting journalists and a civil rights attorney — who dared to ask a cop to identify himself. One of our reporters had to seek medical care after being hit by two such “less-lethal” munitions. These actions, too, are authoritarian in nature. We’ve reached out to the LAPD to ask if they are investigating some of these incidents, but have not heard back.
“My elbow is just in excruciating pain. And it felt like I was just going to be run down because at that moment everybody started running away. And so, I couldn't even take a moment to try and collect myself.”
— Co-founder and photojournalist Ben Camacho on KPFA radio’s “Letters and Politics”
On Sunday, as a dazed protester sat on a curb, head bleeding from some combination of horse kicks, baton bashes, and what on video appeared to be a “less-lethal” munition, a cop told bystanders pleading for an ambulance: “You guys created this. This is what happens.”
Up is down.
Let’s be clear about one thing: The unrest and violence that’s happened in the past five days in and around LA was incited by the Trump administration. Some of you know this already, but it should be kept in mind as TV news, podcasts, and right-wing media personalities talk endlessly about flaming Waymos, damaged police cars, and vandalized buildings.
It was the Trump administration that decided to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into our communities and start snatching our people right off the streets: Mothers trying to pick up kids from school, day laborers working to feed their families, immigrants attending legal hearings — residents going about their daily lives.
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Our team at The Southlander has been closely watching and documenting the chaos, cruelty, contradictions, and resilience of the past week. While we are not yet a fully funded newsroom, our journalistic instincts kicked in as the crisis unfolded. First in Paramount and Compton and then in Downtown Los Angeles; our reporters have been on the streets covering the uprisings. Others are investigating the violence from police and the feds.
Ben Camacho and Abraham Márquez were in both the Compton/Paramount area and in Downtown Los Angeles this weekend. They were among the many reporters hit by projectiles fired at the crowds by police and have been interviewed by major news outlets and indy media.
On Monday morning, Ben was a guest on KPFA radio’s “Letters and Politics” and the Novara Media podcast.
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Abraham was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday and was on Al Jazeera’s “The Take” this morning.
Libor Jany
ICE violence spreads through our neighborhoods
By Ben Camacho and Abraham Márquez
The anger of the people did not just suddenly appear. For weeks before the protests, ICE agents had been seizing people from inside immigration courthouses immediately after their legally mandated hearings and check-in appointments. These initial arrests signaled the inflection point that would later evolve into this moment of violent repression that we find ourselves in now. The catalyst to this moment came when federal agents targeted workplaces in the LA Fashion District and outside of the Home Depot in Westlake Friday, a directive reportedly from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller to ICE. Word quickly spread that ICE agents had raided the area, and the community showed up to try to stop the detainments. People surrounded the area where agents were holding their fellow Angelenos.
Friday, at the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles two press conferences were held in response to the ICE raids that occurred earlier in the day. Afterwards the two crowds from the press conferences converged and marched around the building, police began firing at people. Abraham was struck by a paintball gun fired by cops while documenting the march.
Meanwhile, ICE agents handcuffed people getting ready to make their exit. Chemical and stun weapons were used by law enforcement to disperse the crowd.
The ICE abduction efforts continued the following day.
On Saturday, federal agents were spotted in various parts of LA. Community ICE alerts seemed to come all at once, and people showed up to an area adjacent to the Paramount Home Depot that we captured in the images below.
That day, Alondra Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue in Compton were completely shut down by LA residents who demanded to be seen and heard. A charred car marked the middle of the intersection where people could look out towards the LA County Sheriff's deputies holding a line about a quarter mile east on the boulevard. People wore keffiyehs and Dodger hats while others wrapped the Mexican flag around themselves. All of it was one big gesture that said they were here to stay. As cars did donuts, and people filmed each other throwing up gang signs or saying “Fuck ICE,” the sheriff's deputies shot pepper balls, flash bangs, and rubber bullets at them.
Agents used chemical and kinetic weapons to push protesters away, with tear gas reaching inside nearby homes. People fell over from the pain. After an immense amount of weaponry was used by sheriff's deputies against the protesters, they took over the scene and pushed people into Compton, just over the freeway bridge.
During this time, sheriff's deputies fired indiscriminately into the crowd, causing Abraham to run for safety. As he fled the area, he was hit by a paintball bullet on his right buttock. Later, when the sheriffs occupied the intersection at Alondra and Atlantic, they fired again at members of the press, this time hitting the KTLA News van parked on that corner.
Tensions rose as sheriff's deputies continued to agitate by shooting various projectiles near or into the crowd. Around 9 p.m., another photojournalist, Nick Stern, was shot by a projectile, which buried itself into his leg and required him to get stitches. Minutes after that, Ben was shot twice by projectiles that hit his knee and elbow. He currently has no skin on his elbow, but is thankfully recovering.
Here are some of the visuals we captured from that night:
(1) A protester looks to the sky during the standoff with the LA County sheriff deputies. June 7, 2025. Credit: Ben Camacho (2) Protesters launch a firework towards the LA County sheriff deputies who shoot back with chemical, stun, and kinetic weapons. June 7, 2025. Credit: Ben Camacho (3) Protesters in Compton shut down the intersection down the street from the Paramount Home Depot where federal agents and people faced off earlier that day. June 7, 2025. Credit: Ben Camacho
➡️ More photos from Ben Camacho
➡️ Video from Abraham Márquez
The Southlander in the South Bay
Organizations you can support
Please support these organizations that are doing work on the ground during this time of violent repression from the federal government.
🔺Orange County Rapid Response Network (OCRRN)
- OCRRN is a network of ICE watchers who can also provide legal support. They operate a hotline where community members can report ICE sightings.
🔺Organizing Rooted in Abolition, Liberation, and Empowerment (ÓRALE)
- ÓRALE is an immigrant rights organization based in Long Beach. U.S. citizens living in Long Beach that want to volunteer to help with their Rapid Response team can register using this form.
- Leaders in community patrols of ICE.
➡️ 6/16 - The National Lawyers Guild of Los Angeles is holding a Legal Observer Training.
➡️ If you've been injured by police, federal agents, or the military while protesting, ACLU SoCal has an intake form you can fill out.
And finally... an update on The Southlander
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