Economic Blackout & Protests Across LA for ICE Out
Southern California will join a nationwide “National Shutdown” Friday as activists call for an economic blackout and street demonstrations to protest recent fatal shootings by federal immigration agents and the Trump administration’s expanded enforcement operations.
The Los Angeles area will host at least two major events on Friday, January 30, as part of the “ICE Out” day of action, which organizers describe as a response to what they call “ICE’s reign of terror.”
Afternoon Rally at City Hall
The primary Los Angeles demonstration is scheduled for 1:00 PM at Los Angeles City Hall (200 N Spring St). Organized by the women’s peace group CodePink and local solidarity coalitions, the “LA Stands with Minnesota! ICE Out!” rally is expected to run until 4:00 PM. Participants are encouraged to bring signs, with organizers suggesting the color pink to show solidarity.
Evening Gathering in Echo Park
A second event is planned for 7:00 PM at 1650 W Temple St, located in the Echo Park area. Details circulating on social media indicate this will be an additional opportunity for residents to gather in solidarity with the national movement.
Context
Plans for Friday’s coordinated day of action coalesced following two fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis—the January 7 killing of Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother, during an enforcement operation, and the January 24 shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by Border Patrol agents during a downtown protest. These Minneapolis incidents prompted the nationwide “ICE Out” mobilization set for Friday.
The issue, however, carries particular resonance in Los Angeles, where the New Year’s Eve shooting death of Keith Porter Jr., a 43-year-old father, by an off-duty ICE officer preceded the Minneapolis killings and had already sparked local protests against federal enforcement tactics. Organizers are now linking these incidents across time and geography to demand the withdrawal of immigration agents from communities and criminal prosecution of the officers involved in each shooting.
Economic Blackout
Beyond street protests, organizers are urging Angelenos to participate in an economic blackout on Friday by withholding labor, keeping children home from school, and abstaining from shopping. The strategy, successfully employed in Minnesota last week when hundreds of businesses closed in solidarity, aims to disrupt daily commerce to pressure federal officials.
Erin McKenna’s Bakery in Larchmont Village is closing on Friday in observance of the shutdown.
Other businesses pausing operations for the day:
- Proof Bakery
- United Bread Pastry
- Max & Helen’s Diner
- Yeems Coffee
- Damo Tea House
- Mandarin Coffee Stand (both locations)
- Highly Likely (all three locations)
Local Support
The Los Angeles actions have drawn support from local elected officials. Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) and State Senator Sasha Renee Perez (D-Pasadena) have publicly endorsed the shutdown, citing the need to challenge federal enforcement tactics.
“We’ve seen that people power is moving the needle,” Bryan said in a statement earlier this week. “It’s not just moving public opinion, which it certainly is. It led to the demotion of a leading lieutenant in the Trump Administration.”
Celebrities including Pedro Pascal, Hannah Einbinder, and Edward Norton have also used social media platforms to amplify calls for the national strike.
Additional Actions
The National Shutdown campaign lists hundreds of endorsing organizations nationwide, including the LA Tenants Union, General Strike Los Angeles, and various student groups at UCLA and other local universities. While Friday focuses on the economic blackout, organizers are planning additional street demonstrations for Saturday, January 31.
Traffic advisories are expected in downtown Los Angeles near City Hall during the afternoon rally. Metro is advising passengers to expect delays on lines serving the Civic Center station.
