Marchers took to the streets of downtown Los Angeles and Boyle Heights Sunday to rally for immigrant and worker rights as part of May Day. Activists nationwide use May 1 to call for better wages for worker, as well as to discourage deportations. According to local media reports, the protest was peaceful and consisted of about 2,000 demonstrators. Los Angeles Police reportedly made no arrests.
Many of the marchers denounced presidential candidate Donald Trump for his anti-immigrant rhetoric. The leading Republican presidential candidate has previously called for a wall to be built along the U.S.-Mexico border, saying he wants to stop illegal immigration. KPCC reports that the Los Angeles Police Department provided extra staffing for Sunday’s downtown march following a Trump rally last week in Costa Mesa that turned violent.
Activists also showed their support of President Obama’s presidential action that provides protection to thousands of immigrants. The action is currently being challenged by 26 states and the legality of that action will be decided by the Supreme Court. The LA Times writes that some demonstrators also called for civil rights protection among the LGBT community, Muslims, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
