Resistance….
Sometimes it’s quiet. Even silent. Sometimes it’s sustained over long years…
And sometimes, it explodes like a corked bottle, and continues for days, or weeks, or much, much longer…
Pushing back against injustice. Pushing back in defense of people’s lives, and their families, their friends, and their loved ones…
That is what we’re seeing right now in Los Angeles and across California as Donald Trump’s ICE officers have unleashed a crackdown on immigrant communities, and people have taken to the streets to say, “No.”
Despite what you’ve likely heard, most of the protests have been peaceful. Thousands have marched. They’ve chanted. They’ve sang. People have waved the Mexican flag. A sign of resistance. A sign in defense of those who are being ripped from their homes…
ICE has detained and arrested more than 100,000 people since Trump’s inauguration in January. Trump claims to be arresting criminals. In reality, he is detaining hard working family members. In reality, he is destroying families.
Many people who have been detained are in the country legally. Some are being arrested after appearing for scheduled asylum hearings. Parents pulled from their children. Babies taken from their mother’s arms.
In recent days, the Trump administration has ramped up arrests to 2,000 people a day. ICE agents in armor and military-style camo gear ambush city streets like military operatives in foreign countries, or military police from supposedly bygone days of authoritarian governments who pick people from off the street, throw them into the back of a car, and disappear them…
But people are fighting back.
After ICE officers detained more than 100 undocumented immigrants in raids across Los Angeles on Friday, protesters took to the streets. They’ve stayed there for days. They’ve shut down highways. They’ve shouted “No.”
Trump has responded, calling in the national guard. 2,000 troops. It’s the first time a president has unilaterally called in the national guard, despite objections from local state officials, in 60 years.
California Governor Gavin Newsom says he’s suing Trump for illegally deploying federal troops and “flaming the fires.”
“You’re creating the conditions that you say you’re solving and you’re putting real people’s lives at risk.”
Police have arrested dozens in protests in Los Angeles and San Francisco. They’ve hit unarmed protesters in the head with rubber bullets. They’ve shot at journalists at point blank range. And still people have promised to resist. More protests are planned for today…
And there is clearly more on the horizon for Los Angeles and elsewhere, in defense of families, in defense of loved ones. In defense of immigrants across the United States.
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Hi folks, thanks for listening. I’m your host Michael Fox.
I don’t always get to do reporting for this series on issues that are happening right now. But this is one of those moments. And it is really important.
This is Stories of Resistance, a podcast series co-produced by The Real News and Global Exchange. Each week, I bring you stories of resistance and hope like this. Inspiration for dark times. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, like, share, comment or leave a review.
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Thanks for listening. See you next time.
Protester Shot in the Head by LA Riot Police: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TxTfdRe7oGQ
Australian journalist hit by ‘rubber bullet’ while reporting from LA: https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c98p008kxn1o
This content originally appeared on The Real News Network and was authored by Michael Fox.