On Sunday, February 2nd, thousands of people gathered in a protest against ICE raids and mass deportations, resulting in the temporary closure of the 101 Freeway.
Latin Americans and Hispanic immigrants gathered in protest beginning in the afternoon. This protest hoped to stop the immigration process, showing how many people in the US are composed of diverse groups. People gathered on Olvera Street, and at 4:00 pm, LA police officers reported that the protesters were seen approaching City Hall, where they worked on controlling the crowd and traffic around the area. Blocking Main Street Bridge from cars and pedestrians, the police had to remove the protesters. City Hall. From there, the protest progressed closer to the street, and people started marching on the freeway. Dressed in traditional clothing, holding flags from their countries, and playing traditional music, more and more people started marching onto the streets of the 101 Freeway. With so many people blocking traffic, it didn’t take long for the California Highway Patrol’s Transportation Management Center to lose Temple and Spring streets and the 101 freeway from every entrance. People sang and danced; according to CBS News, “Some protesters sat down in lanes, while many others held Mexican flags and signs with phrases such as, ‘Nobody is illegal,’ and ‘Viva Mexico.’”
According to the New York Times, an 18-year-old woman named Naliah Esparza stated that the LA protest on the 101 Freeway was her first one and that the reason she came was because of a series of TikTok videos she saw a week prior, which showed the importance of showing up and speaking out. Naliah held a sign: “No more I.C.E. raids, no more fear, we want justice and a better world.”
It wasn’t until 7:00 pm that LA police officials were sent to the 101 freeway to control the protest. The police were geared for riots, carrying suits with helmets and weapons. CBS News states, “Videos purportedly from the scene showed demonstrators spray painting along the freeway walls, and SkyCal was overhead when a Metro bus was tagged with profanity directed toward ICE.” At 8:00 pm, the police began approaching the protesters who were participating in a declared “unlawful assembly.” The police told the protesters to leave, and shortly after, the streets and 101 freeway opened back up. 
Although the protesters were ordered to go and even the freeway lanes opened back up, some people attempted to keep protesting by trying to get back onto the freeway. The revolt of the protestors ended promptly, as LA offices prevented them from doing so. On Sunday, February 2nd, there were no reported arrests or harm done to the protesters from the LA police department.
The protest on Sunday, February 2nd, was important and meant a lot to those who participated, as well as those who couldn’t and decided to watch from the sidelines. Since this protest, several more have arisen in different areas, all in hopes that immigrants will be able to stay in the US and that President Trump will end the ICE raids and mass deportations.
