We know readers often come to Cup of Jo for a pick-me-up. But we are following what’s happening in L.A., and spreading across the country — and we imagine you may be, too — and it feels important to talk about. Here’s what’s going on and how to help…
What’s happening in L.A. right now?
Since Friday, crowds in L.A. have been protesting the Trump administration’s new large-scale raids of workplaces, like Home Depot, where federal agents search for undocumented people.
Why are some immigrants undocumented?
Most immigrants are in the U.S. legally. But some are undocumented.
There are 2.1 million people currently awaiting a decision on their asylum claims. Some people were allowed into the U.S. for humanitarian or national security reasons or because it would be unsafe for them to return home. Some people were legally admitted to the country on temporary tourist, student or work visas but then overstayed the allowed time period.
Specifically, many people crossing the border are seeking asylum from gang violence in Central America. “Boys as young as eight years old are forced into the gangs. If they or their parents refuse, they are murdered. Young girls are forced to become the property of gang members and treated as sex slaves. If they or their families refuse, they are murdered. The police are unable to help… Parents are fleeing and bringing their children here to rescue them from rape and murder,” says Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, an immigration lawyer in Austin.
Why are people so upset about these new workplace raids in L.A. and across the country?
Trump has vowed to crack down hard on immigration, including with mass deportations. ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has tripled their daily arrest targets and is now detaining people in workplaces, at day-labor gathering spots, on the streets, and even at their court hearings. In the last few months, ICE has deported people without due process and held people in detention centers, often with reported abuse and inhumane conditions. ICE has grabbed people off the street without showing badges and smashed car windows without showing warrants. Last month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection also repealed several rules granting protections to pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants within the migrant detention system.
What has the L.A. mayor said?
“When you raid Home Depots and workplaces, when you tear parents and children apart, and when you run armored caravans through our streets, you’re not trying to keep anyone safe — you’re trying to cause fear and panic,” said mayor Karen Bass.
Is it okay to protest these raids or other things the government does?
Absolutely. An essential part of living in a democracy — versus an authoritarian country — is that citizens are allowed to protest and speak out. “Very often, protest is the only way minority voices can be heard,” writes Stephen Jones, Ph.D., a Harvard professor. “Protest is at the core of democratic consciousness, which is why authoritarian governments contain them, condemn them, or repress them.”
How is Trump responding to the protests in L.A.?
Although people have the right to protest, Trump quickly deployed 4,700 National Guard troops and Marines to the L.A. area — without the authorization of the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, who normally has command of the California National Guard. Officers, wearing masks and bulletproof vests, are armed with pepper spray, rubber bullets, batons, tear gas, and flash-bang grenades.
A video of an officer shooting a journalist with a rubber bullet.
What has California’s governor said?
Gavin Newsom called President Trump’s deployment of the military in Los Angeles a “brazen abuse of power,” saying that “democracy is under assault right before our eyes…the moment we’ve feared has arrived.”
Are the L.A. protests peaceful?
The protests have been largely peaceful, but some protestors have thrown eggs, rocks, or other objects at police officers and set cars on fire, including several self-driving Waymo cars. Mayor Karen Bass placed a curfew on one square mile of downtown L.A. on Tuesday night to prevent vandalism and looting. She also points out that most of the city is calm: “Some of the imagery of the protests and the violence gives the appearance as though this is a citywide crisis, and it is not.”
What about all the videos on social media?
As always, it’s important to get your news from trusted publications. A flood of fake images is being strategically circulated online by Trump supporters, in order to stoke anger toward immigrants and confuse people about what’s actually happening, reports the NYTimes. Darren L. Linvill, a researcher at Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub, said conservatives online were “building up the riots in a performative way” to make it seem like L.A. was taken over by “violent, insurrectionist mobs.”
How about other U.S. cities?
Trump has threatened that protesters elsewhere would be met with “equal or greater force” than those in Los Angeles.
What can we do?
1. Know your rights, and share this info with others. Here are some helpful primers:
* Know Your Rights: Immigrants’ Rights (versions in many languages are available)
* Know Your Rights: Protestors’ Rights
* Know Your Rights: Stopped by Police
* “Know Your Rights With ICE” for people in NYC
2. Protest. This Saturday, June 14th, “No Kings” protests will be happening all around the country. You can find one near you on this map. Again, here is a list of protestors’ rights.
3. Donate, if you’re able to.
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights provides essential legal services, advocates for immigrant rights, and promotes policies to improve the lives of immigrants in L.A.
Central American Resource Center L.A. offers legal services, community education, and advocacy for Central American immigrants and other underserved communities in Los Angeles.
Immigrant Defenders Law Center gives free legal services to immigrants. They are also representing detained people and fighting for their release.
Thank you so much for reading and for being such a smart and compassionate community. Please share if you have other ideas for how to help. Sending all our love, as always, and stay safe.
P.S. More news posts, and five pick-me-ups, if you need them.
(Photos by Mark Abramson, Philip Cheung, and Alex Welsh for The New York Times.)
