Lynwood protesters mark Fourth of July with anti-ICE march

LYNWOOD, CA — Dozens of protesters gathered Friday morning in Lynwood, on the Fourth of July, to denounce recent immigration raids across Southeast Los Angeles County (SELA) and call for federal agents to leave the area.

Chanting “ICE out of Lynwood” and waving U.S. and Latin American flags, the crowd marched from Yvonne Burke–John D. Ham Park down Atlantic Avenue to Imperial Highway in Lynwood. The demonstration was organized by Unidos en Lynwood, a newly formed grassroots group.

The protest came amid a wider crackdown across the region. According to the Los Angeles Times, federal agents have arrested more than 1,600 immigrants in Southern California in recent weeks as part of ongoing deportation raids. While the protest was underway, several longtime workers were detained by federal agents at a West Hollywood car wash, NBC 4-LA reported.

Some protesters held signs that read “Abolish ICE” and “Immigrant Rights Are Human Rights,” while passing cars honked in support. Several Los Angeles County sheriff’s patrol units monitored the protest but did not intervene.

The protest took place just hours after the city hosted its official fireworks show at Lynwood Park. Other cities in SELA—including Bell Gardens, Cudahy, South Gate and Huntington Park—chose to cancel or postpone their July Fourth events, citing safety concerns.

Councilmember Juan Muñoz-Guevara, who attended the protest, said he chose not to participate in the city’s event because it didn’t feel appropriate while many residents were avoiding public gatherings out of fear of raids.

“It's an inflection point in our country, and it just did not seem appropriate. It felt hollow to celebrate on such a grand scale, when so many people in our community would not have the privilege to attend the event,” Muñoz-Guevara said.

“They're in fear,” he said. “They're not leaving their homes, they're not going to work.”

He said he regularly receives calls and text messages about suspected ICE vehicle sightings and recalled a recent attempted detainment of a resident that went viral online.

“It’s people in masks. You can’t identify them. They’re carrying weapons. They refuse to say their name, and it’s just immoral,” he said.

Lynwood is home to roughly 64,000 people, more than a third of whom are foreign-born, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Muñoz-Guevara said that, unlike nearby cities such as Los Angeles and Long Beach, Lynwood does not currently have a legal defense fund for residents facing immigration proceedings, but he hopes to change that.

“These are practical steps we can take,” he said. “Having legal representation can save lives and families.”

Protesters said the raids have cast a shadow over everyday life in Lynwood and nearby communities.

Andrew Galloway, who grew up in Lynwood and now lives in Cerritos, said he attended the protest in response to President Trump’s recently passed domestic policy bill, which will increase funding for ICE and cut social programs. 

Galloway said he’s witnessed immigration enforcement outside Cerritos College and a nearby Home Depot.

“A lot of people are scared,” he said. “You see a lot of fear and despair just to go to everyday places, schools, stores, supermarkets.”

Unidos en Lynwood organizer Lucy Ramirez said the group formed only weeks earlier in response to the first wave of raids.

“I'm a nursing student, I've never been political,” she said. “It's about just being kind to humans.”

Ramirez described helping neighbors with food and said fear has made everyday life harder for many in her community.

“I have a friend, she’s on DACA,” she said. “Her mother is undocumented (and) can't go to work anymore, so she's taking (on) a lot of the financial responsibility. And we've had to help her get groceries, because she's taking (care of) a household of like eight people.”

Ramirez hopes more people will join her group, which is currently working to establish a hotline for residents to report ICE activity and be referred to legal resources.

“I want people to take action,” Ramirez said. “A lot of people can do more than post on Instagram and doom scroll. Like, come out. You know? Don't be afraid.”