According to Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin, the LAPD was ordered to stand down in the face of protesters blocking a section of the 101 Freeway on Sunday.
Thousands gathered to protest President Trump’s ICE crackdown.
The L.A. protest continued into the evening until police in riot gear dispersed the crowd around 7:00 p.m. The 101 Freeway was cleared and reopened by 8:00 p.m. Authorities reported no arrests.
“Hearing that LAPD rank and file who were down there are not happy about this apparent stand down order. ‘Same old crap.’ ‘Chasing these guys around all day for nothing,'” Melugin posted on X.
Hearing that LAPD rank and file who were down there are not happy about this apparent stand down order.
"Same old crap."
"Chasing these guys around all day for nothing." https://t.co/gzsHPrMP2P— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) February 3, 2025
UPDATE: The view from the 101 Freeway overpass on Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles. The freeway is closed once again as demonstrators poured back into the lanes, after being briefly reopened at about 1:20 p.m.
Read more: https://t.co/K60ImdzmDi pic.twitter.com/1MWoMdMY4g
— KTLA (@KTLA) February 2, 2025
From The Daily Mail:
Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department assisted by California Highway Patrol were eventually able to clear the freeway after five hours as protesters moved to downtown surface streets, but they soon returned on the major downtown artery.
At one stage, the LAPD announced they would be carrying out mass arrests of the protestors blocking roads and came armed with zip ties. But just as they were about to make arrests, all of the police officers left having been told to stand down.
The CHP and the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that no arrests were made.
Just as earlier in the day, protestors set about disrupting traffic and managed to block the crucial freeway.
The protestors could be seen lining up across the width of the road as the headlights of frustrated motorists began to pile up behind them.
What began as a peaceful march near Placita Olvera, a historic hub of Latino culture, quickly grew into an unstoppable movement.
They called for immigration reform and carried banners with slogans like ‘Nobody is illegal.’
Riot police have arrived in LA, and explosions are heard. 🔥🔥🔥
The protestors are smashing into the cars attempting to get through the freeway. Total chaos! pic.twitter.com/Jm2xt4sKKn
— 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) February 3, 2025
This story is developing…