Details Emerge from Los Angeles Protest
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell revealed on Tuesday that high schoolers involved in a February 13 anti-ICE protest injured two federal agents by hurling frozen water bottles.
This information came to light during a Police Commission meeting examining incidents of protests in the city starting from February 9.
McDonnell indicated that during the chaotic anti-ICE clash, some individuals threw these frozen projectiles at two Federal Protective Service agents who were assigned to secure the federal building downtown. This led to one officer obtaining a head injury and another receiving a cut above his right eye.
Additionally, an ICE officer suffered an injury to the head after being hit with a rock during the same protest, according to a Homeland Security official.
McDonnell noted that approximately 200 students took part in this demonstration, which became violent.
It was revealed that students from Thomas Jefferson High School, Maya Angelou Community High School, and the Santee Educational Complex were guided via social media to gather at the subway and convene at the Santee Educational Complex.
They initially marched to City Hall and then to the Federal Building on Los Angeles Avenue, where they began banging on windows and doors. They later moved toward the federal detention center, where tensions escalated with federal security officers.
During this confrontation, the chief explained, members of the group threw frozen water bottles, injuring two Federal Protective Service agents.
No injuries were reported among the demonstrators, and, interestingly, no arrests were made.
Some shocking footage from the protest showed large crowds surrounded by officers, while others depicted protesters swinging sticks dangerously, striking officers multiple times.
In a separate incident, McDonnell mentioned that during a planned walkout and anti-ICE demonstration on February 9, students also threw water bottles, but fortunately, no injuries or arrests occurred during that event.
Last week, the school chief urged students to remain in school and refrain from participating in risky protests after a series of anti-ICE demonstrations left both protesters and police injured.
The police chief’s concerns come in light of three consecutive Fridays marked by violent anti-ICE protests in downtown Los Angeles, with teens seen burning flags, vandalizing property, and throwing projectiles at police.
The Los Angeles Police Department had cautioned last week that parents and students might face “legal repercussions” for skipping class to join protests.
Activists on the far-left are encouraging Los Angeles students to take to the streets against ICE, with a group named “Dare To Struggle SoCal” advocating for students to be excused from classes to “revolt” against federal agents.
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has asked students to stay in school amidst the ongoing anti-ICE demonstrations. His previous remarks criticizing ICE have drawn some controversy.
In a related development, U.S. Attorney Bill Esseri released images of two teens accused of assaulting ICE officers during the February 13 protest and pledged, “criminal prosecution” for them.
Esseri added, “Violent instigators, including juveniles, will be subject to criminal prosecution.”
