LA protest 2025: Who’s fueling the unrest, what they want, and why it matters right now

Protests in Los Angeles have been growing since the National Guard was sent in and immigration raids were carried out.

What began as peaceful demonstrations advocating for the rights of undocumented migrants has, in some instances, led to violent confrontations, raising urgent questions about the forces driving this unrest and its implications for the city.

Who is involved in the LA protests?

Estrellazul Corral participated in daily demonstrations outside the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center this weekend to call for justice for the dozens of migrants who were arrested by armed ICE officers in armored cars who targeted workplaces in the largely Latino neighborhoods of the city, as per a report by CNN.

"The National Guard started to push back after hours of peaceful demonstrations," said Corral, a social worker who works with the city's homeless and undocumented population. The LAPD reported that at least 21 people were taken into custody on Sunday.

These raids align with the Trump administration's tough stance on illegal immigration. However, the decision by President Trump to federalize and use the National Guard against American citizens sparked a quick backlash that eventually turned violent, as per a report by CNN.

The protests were apparently split into two factions: those who were determined to plunge the city into violent chaos and those who were progressive and felt compelled to protect the rights of those without documentation.

What do the protesters hope to achieve?

The efforts to retaliate against ICE and other agencies were commended by Unión del Barrio, an organization whose members are committed to protecting the rights of "la raza", Mexican and indigenous people, in the United States.

In a social media statement, the group's spokesperson claimed that the people of Los Angeles possess "the moral authority and universal right to defend our people from kidnappings and family separation."

The spokesperson claimed that the recent events were acts of resistance against a government that was abducting our fathers, mothers, wives, husbands, and children rather than crimes or vandalism.

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What sparked the protests in Los Angeles?

Many of the demonstrators, according to intelligence analysts, are driven by anger over the federal government's use of National Guard troops in Los Angeles and the recent immigration raids. However, some demonstrators match the police profiles of so-called "professional rioters," who actively seek out conflicts with the authorities.

Why does it matter?

Protests have called for the protection of vulnerable communities in Los Angeles, where violence has been a major problem. The violence that broke out in the city in reaction to the raids, according to Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, is tainting their cause.

According to him, the most vulnerable communities always bear the brunt of violence, and low-income communities' businesses are always destroyed during riots.

Concern over the violence against marginalized communities is growing, and it is critical to address the problems brought on by the continuous riots and violence in Los Angeles.

However, US Attorney General Pam Bondi denounced the clashes between demonstrators and police and pledged that the Justice Department would crack down.

FAQs

Why are people protesting in Los Angeles?
People are protesting the federal government's use of the National Guard against citizens, as well as recent ICE raids targeting migrants in Latino neighborhoods.

What are the protesters' main demands?
Protesters are primarily demanding justice for arrested migrants, protection of undocumented individuals' rights, and the release of those detained by ICE.