The U.S. Attorney for the Central District, Bill Ezeiri, issued a stark warning to those involved in violent protests that targeted federal agents and property in downtown Los Angeles. The warning came after demonstrators vandalized the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building during an anti-ICE rally.
“The violence and destruction aimed at federal property last night is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Ezeiri stated on Saturday. He noted that additional protests were anticipated and called for more federal agents to be deployed in Los Angeles “to protect our property.”
“I’ve given federal agents the authority to arrest anyone committing acts of violence on the spot,” he added, reinforcing his commitment to safety and order.
This response was prompted by the rioters carrying upside-down American flags, wearing gas masks and keffiyehs, while tagging the building with slogans like “THIS IS WW3” and “FK ICE.” At one point, they even moved a large red trash can in front of the entrance to obstruct federal officers.
To disrupt the crowd, police resorted to using tear gas. Eventually, the chaos began to settle down as the Los Angeles Police Department took control of the situation.
Mayor Karen Bass, who was in court for a different matter, urged the protesters to maintain peace. “Protests are crucial, but they need to be peaceful. We must remember that while we have the right to protest, we also don’t have the right to destroy our streets or cities,” she remarked, echoing a sentiment of responsible activism.
