Pablo Alvarado on Peaceful Protests vs. Violent Escalation in LA

Calls for Peaceful Protest

• 💡 Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, called for peaceful protests to protect immigrant communities facing deportation.
• 🎯 The community responded by protesting the presence of ICE agents at a local hotel, demanding their departure due to family separations and detentions.
• ✅ The message from the community was clear: "We don't want to see your armored vehicles. Men in masks come into our communities to pick people up with families apart."

Understanding and Condemning Violence

• 🧠 Alvarado acknowledges that anger is understandable given the presence of armed ICE agents, but argues that violence is not the way to send a message.
• ⚠️ He emphasizes that vulnerable communities pay the price during riots, with businesses being burned down and people impacted.
• ⚖️ He condemns the violence of ICE agents separating families as more violent than street protests.

De-escalation and Future Actions

• 🤝 Alvarado is in communication with authorities to de-escalate the situation and allow peaceful protests.
• 🗣️ He urges people who believe immigrants are part of the social fabric to come out and protect vulnerable individuals peacefully.
• 🚩 Alvarado notes the presence of provocateurs who may not even be protesters, complicating the situation.

Law Enforcement Perspective on Protests

• 🚨 Steve Moore, CNN law enforcement contributor, expressed concern for officer safety amidst professional protesters and anarchists hijacking peaceful demonstrations.
• 👮 He believes law enforcement may declare the entire city an unlawful assembly to clear the streets and restore order.
• 🇺🇸 Moore commented on President Trump federalizing California's National Guard without the governor's request, calling it "absolutely unimpressive" that a governor wouldn't first request aid.
• ⚖️ He understands concerns about deadly force policies but stresses the need for sufficient personnel, noting that officers on the street are likely grateful for any help they can get.