Maxine Waters Joins ICE Protest As LAPD Arrests Violent Agitators

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., joined an anti-ICE protest in downtown Los Angeles on Friday, chanting “ICE out of L.A.” just hours before the demonstration devolved into violence and prompted multiple arrests by police.

Waters appeared outside a federal detention center, positioning herself in front of officers wearing riot gear while accusing law enforcement of suppressing demonstrators.

“What I see here at the detention center are people exercising their constitutional rights,” Waters said, according to Fox News. “And, of course, they’re now trying to tear gas everybody. It’s in the air, but people are not moving.”

Later that day, Los Angeles police arrested several violent agitators after issuing repeated dispersal orders as unrest erupted near the facility. Authorities said the situation escalated after protesters marched from City Hall to the detention center and began obstructing access to the building.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, a group of agitators pushed a large construction dumpster into the entrance of the detention center’s loading dock, blocking federal operations. LAPD released video footage of the chaos on social media and confirmed officers deployed pepper balls and tear gas in response to escalating violence.

“We had hoped that demonstrations today would be peaceful, however, as you can see in this video, the violent agitators invited LAPD due to their actions,” the department said.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirmed during an evening press conference that at least five individuals were arrested for failing to disperse, though police did not immediately release a final arrest count. LAPD also reported that one suspect was taken into custody after allegedly using a slingshot to fire hard metal objects at officers.

The Los Angeles unrest occurred as cities nationwide saw coordinated demonstrations under the banner “ICE Out Everywhere,” following the shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good during encounters with federal agents in Minneapolis. Both incidents remain under investigation.

Bass urged demonstrators protesting the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies to avoid violence, arguing that destructive behavior only weakens their cause.

“I think the protests are extremely important, but it is equally important for these protests to be peaceful, for vandalism not to take place,” Bass said. “That does not impact the administration in any kind of way that is going to bring about any type of change.”

She went further, claiming the violence played into the administration’s hands.

“Violent unrest is exactly what I believe this administration wants to see happen,” Bass said, warning, “Don’t be surprised if the military reenters our city.”

LAPD issued a formal dispersal order at approximately 5:45 p.m. local time, directing all protesters in the area of Alameda Street between Union Station and First Street to leave or face arrest. The department also placed the city on tactical alert due to violent activity between Temple and Aliso streets.

While some demonstrators complied, police said others remained and continued hurling bottles and rocks at officers. Federal authorities at the detention center were also struck by “debris, bottles and other objects,” prompting officials to declare an unlawful assembly.

“Protestors are actively fighting with Officers after multiple dispersal orders were issued,” LAPD wrote on X. “Metropolitan Division is now on scene. Less-than-lethal has been authorized due to the violence against officers.”

During her remarks, Bass also referenced the recent arrest of former CNN host Don Lemon in Los Angeles. Lemon was charged with conspiracy to deprive rights and violating the FACE Act for his alleged role in an anti-ICE protest that disrupted church services in Minnesota.

“Here you have a world renowned reporter, Don Lemon,” Bass said. “No one questions that he is a reporter, and for him to be arrested for doing his job and for them to attempt to restrict his ability to do his job was just an egregious misuse of our justice system.”

Bass framed the arrest as part of a broader concern about the state of the country.

“I think about this every day, that this is the 250th year of our democracy, and I just wonder how much more our democracy will be eroded with this administration,” she said.