Los Angeles’ Pivotal Protests: From East LA Walkouts to LA Anti-immigration Demonstrations

Before the violent protests that erupted following immigration raids, Los Angeles has been the backdrop for some of America’s most influential demonstrations, beginning with the 1968 East LA Walkouts, where 15,000 Mexican-American students walked out to demand bilingual education reforms and an end to discriminatory tracking.

In 1992, the city erupted in riots after the acquittal of four LAPD officers in the Rodney King beating, leaving over 50 dead, 2,000 injured, and prompting deployment of the National Guard and US troops.

In 2020, LA emerged as a major hub of the George Floyd–inspired Black Lives Matter protests, marked by curfews, clashes over police use of force, and calls for systemic policing reform.

In 2025, ICE raids in Los Angeles sparked mass protests beginning June 6, as demonstrators blocked freeways and federal sites, clashed with police using tear gas and rubber bullets, and prompted Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops without state approval, drawing sharp criticism.