Protesters demand end to anti-immigrant repression

Hundreds of protesters of many nationalities and ages came together on Sept. 26 for a spirited march and rally in the West Hollywood area of Los Angeles. Led by primarily Latino/a youth and students, they marched from a busy shopping mall to as close as cops would let them get to the Fig & Olive restaurant, where President Barack Obama was speaking at a fundraising dinner for wealthy supporters.

Protesters demanded an end to so-called “secure communities” and the raids, detentions and deportations of immigrants without papers. Marchers also demanded an end to U.S. wars and called for jobs and education, not incarceration. The protesters were not intimidated by the huge presence of police from the Los Angeles Police Department, the LA County Sheriff’s office and other units, including truckloads of riot-control cops in full gear. Some of the participating groups included Unión del Barrio, the Southern California Immigration Coalition, the International Action Center and the Coalition to Stop FBI Repression. Dozens of Workers World newspapers were distributed.

— Report and photo by Kris Hamel