City of Angels

...And Resilience.

Hi.

I got home a couple of hours ago from the Downtown Los Angeles protests against the ICE raids, the President and, the more obvious by the day, our fascist state we are heading toward. I won’t be able to make well rounded, well researched and unemotional political post and frankly, this isn’t the place for that. What I will do is share (briefly) my experience, how it made me feel and how it made me proud to be an Angeleno!

What has been happening with ICE here in the last 48 hours is nothing less than heartbreaking and frustrating. The way the Federal government has been making decisions above our local officials so insouciantly and defiantly has made many, including myself, pretty pissed off and it’s disturbing. Moreover, the trauma being inflicted not on just the people being detained, but the people around them and the people in LA living in fear that they too may detained for, well we all know why, can’t be denied or ignored. Something had to give.

It was clear today when I got to City Hall a little after 2pm to see some friends, (unfortunately, I didn’t get to see them though, so I was solo) that I wasn’t alone in thinking, rather, FEELING this way when I saw thousands that were taking over Temple Street just north of City Hall, heading to the Federal building in which the detained were being held.

It was also clear pretty immediately the riot squad were not taking this lightly. Almost immediately, the crowd on Alameda were being forced to back away from the federal building with brute force by way of rubber bullets and pepper bullets and lots of screaming. Yes, some protesters were throwing water bottles and small rocks at the riot team with shields and helmets, but those were clearly no match for the rubber bullets, in which I saw many bleeding, bruised and hurt for just being in PROXIMITY of them. I was close enough to have to dodge them a couple of times, but I wasn’t scared. I felt safe because the protesters made me feel safe. There was a sense of support, care and love in the thick of it that I guarantee is something the news will NEVER show. People came prepared with cases of water, masks to keep the nasty gas out of our lungs (my eyes are still itching to be honest) and more importantly, first aid kits ready to help someone who may be hit by one of those “non lethals.” Heroes.

The resilience on display and the show of love I saw today, and with every ensuing protest I attend, was incredible. In my lifetime, I have seen Los Angeles go through A LOT and without the comparison game, I can say with confidence that Los Angeles is one of the most resilient cities and every time I go to a protest or march or something of that ilk, I am always impressed by the love on display, especially considering how vastly different we are told it is. When I got home, I put on the news and as to be expected, it was all violence and doom and gloom and NOT ONE report, that I saw, about the connectedness or the dancing or the fact that people of all kinds, shapes, sizes, colors, shirt prints and mask choices were there for one reason, and that was to show that this is a city of immigrants, diversity, creativity and love. Thank you, Los Angeles for helping make me who I am.

I love you.

PS: Fuck ICE