On Monday afternoon, a bit after 3 p.m., I went for a walk through Chinatown. It was the fourth day of the protests against ICE raids in the city and helicopters had been hanging over the neighborhood like gnats all day. The first thing I noticed while walking down Broadway was that I’m not the only person annoyed by the incessant buzz of the helicopters. An older man stopped in his tracks and looked towards one of them. I almost walked into him. Another neighborhood senior sat on a bench, tilted his head upwards and shook a cigarette-wielding fist in the air. I almost busted up laughing while thinking of the “Old Man Yells at Cloud” headline from The Simpsons.
It was business as usual in Chinatown. The Broadway shops remained open with racks of merchandise set up outside the storefronts. The local produce vendors tried to coerce me into buying more avocados and peaches than I could eat in a couple days.
Near the corner of Broadway and Cesar Chavez, there was an uptick in graffiti of the “Fuck Trump” and “Fuck I.C.E.” variety, which has been a popular genre of graffiti out here long before the protests. I turned onto Cesar Chavez, walking towards Olvera Street. I was pretty close to where the Sunday night protests were. The graffiti grew heavier. There was a discarded protest sign on the sidewalk, but that might be from earlier Monday as protestors walked in and out of this area, which is only a couple blocks away from the Federal Building.
Outside La Placita, the old Catholic Church on Main across from Olvera St., there’s a mural of the Virgin Mary that doubles as a shrine. People often leave flowers and light candles here. On Monday afternoon, I saw five, all of whom appear to be there separately, praying.
Olvera St. was closed and the plaza outside the shopping hub wasn’t as lively as it typically is on weekday afternoons. Often, there’s a DJ playing cumbias and a group of seniors dancing. There was no music on this afternoon, but there were a handful of people sitting down and chatting.
This is an adaptation of an Instagram story that a friend of mine suggested I post. Figured that would be a good idea since I have received concerned messages from family and friends. I sometimes think that people expect me to have some crazy story about living downtown right now, but the reality is pretty boring. Life is more or less normal, save for the helicopters, but even those stopped buzzing after sunset.
I do want to add, though, that I support the protests. I’m sickened by the powers in D.C. that are targeting immigrant communities everywhere, but particularly in my hometown. L.A. doesn’t need to be liberated from anyone, except for maybe that power-hungry asshole in the Oval Office.
Also, what’s happening in L.A. right now is about more than immigration. Not only do we have a right to criticize the government and hold public officials accountable, that’s our obligation. But, now, we have a President who is sending out the Marines to deal with a city that doesn’t fall in line with him. That is what should concern people everywhere and, sadly, I’m not convinced that it will. If there’s been any lesson from the first 25 years of the 21st century, it’s that people will give away all sorts of rights for the illusions of safety and convenience. I’m hoping Americans will prove me wrong.
Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs or listen to the latest Beatique Mix. Follow on Instagram or Bluesky for more updates. Subscribe to the weekly Beatique newsletter.
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