The recent anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles involving high school students have raised concerns about the safety of law enforcement officers and the consequences of violent protests. According to Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell, the students used frozen water bottles as projectiles during the riots on Feb. 13, resulting in injuries to two Federal Protection Service Officers. One officer sustained a head injury, while the other had a laceration above the right eye.
McDonnell revealed these new details during a Police Commission meeting where he provided an overview of protest activity in the city since Feb. 9. He mentioned that approximately 200 students took part in the violent demonstration, which began as a school walkout and anti-ICE protest. The students, from Thomas Jefferson High School, Maya Angelou Community High School, and the Santee Education Complex, were directed on social media to gather at Santee Education Complex and then march to City Hall and the Federal Building.
At the Federal Building, the demonstrators started banging on windows and doors before moving to the federal detention center. There, they encountered Federal Protective Service agents and began throwing frozen water bottles at them, leading to the officers’ injuries. Shocking footage from the protest showed a chaotic scene with officers drawing Tasers and protestors engaging in physical altercations.
Despite the violence, no LAPD personnel were injured, and no arrests were made during the incident. However, reports were filed for assault with a deadly weapon in both cases involving the federal officers. McDonnell also mentioned a separate planned walkout and anti-ICE demonstration on Feb. 9, where students threw water bottles but no injuries were reported.
In response to the escalating protests, McDonnell urged students to stay in school and avoid participating in dangerous demonstrations. The LAPD also issued a warning about potential legal consequences for parents and students who allow youngsters to skip class for protests. Far-left activists have been encouraging students to rebel against federal agents, leading to a series of disruptive protests in downtown LA.
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has faced criticism for his remarks about ICE but has emphasized the importance of education amid the walkouts. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli has vowed to criminally prosecute individuals, including juveniles, involved in attacking ICE agents during the protests. The incidents highlight the need for peaceful activism and the importance of addressing grievances through lawful means.
