Thousands gather statewide in anti-ICE protests, including hundreds in Huntington Beach

There were more than 60 largely peaceful protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions this weekend, many in Southern California.

But while many protests were peaceful, there were moments of anger and tension. Organizers meetings “ICE Out for Good” weekend action In response to the fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis.

Ron Duplantis, 72, of Huntington Beach, was carrying a diagram representing three shots fired at Good; One of them appeared to have entered through his windshield and the other two appeared to have entered through his side window.

“The last two shots,” he said, “made it clear to me that this was murder.”

There have been clashes between Trump supporters and anti-racism activists in Huntington Beach in the past, but as of the afternoon, Sunday’s protest, though tense at times, was non-violent. Protesters were holding anti-icing signs, ringing cowbells and chanting “OC from ICE” as about 300 people and two dozen counter-protesters stood in front of City Hall.

As cars sped by on Main Street, many drivers honked their horns in a sign of solidarity, while others rolled down their windows to shout their support for ICE, MAGA, and President Trump.

Mary Artesani, 69, who lives in Costa Mesa, said, “The reason I am here is democracy,” carrying a banner that read “RESISTANCE”. “They need to remember that he won’t stay in office forever.”

Participants in the “ICE Out” protest in Huntington Beach hold signs like a car with a MAGA hat at their windshield pass.

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

While the Trump administration has largely stood behind the ICE agent identified as Jonathan Ross, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said he acted in self-defense. Democratic officials and many members of the public said videos of the shooting circulating on social media contradicted at least some of the administration’s claims.

“I’m angry that a woman was killed by our government and that our government lied to our faces about it,” said protester Tony Zarkades, 60, who has lived in the Huntington Beach area for nearly 30 years. Zarkades, a former officer in the Marine Corps, said he was considering moving to Orange to escape the presence of so many Trump supporters in Huntington Beach.

Large protests against ICE took place over the weekend in the Bay Area, as well as in Sacramento and other California cities. Hundreds of people demonstrated peacefully in Oakland on Sunday, but the night before, protesters gathered at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and left graffiti. According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.

In Los Angeles on Saturday night, protesters marched from downtown to City Hall.
Edward Roybal Federal Building, Los Angeles Police Department issuing a dispersal order around 6:30 p.m., according to City News Service.

While much of the protest focused on what happened to Good in Minnesota, he also recognized Keith Porter Jr., who was killed by an off-duty ICE agent in Northridge on New Year’s Eve.

The coastal community in Huntington Beach has long been known as a Southern California stronghold for Republicans, although its politics have begun to shift recently. Orange County has a painful legacy of political extremism, including neo-Nazism. In 2021, a “White Lives Matter” rally in the area resulted in 12 arrests.

On Sunday, a small group of about 30 counterprotesters waved Trump and MAGA flags on the corner opposite the anti-ICE rally.

Counter-protester Victoria Cooper, 72, holds signs and shouts at those participating in the “ICE Out” protest in Huntington Beach.

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

Stating that she is “old enough to be your sugar daddy,” Kelly Johnson said, “We are here to support our country and our president and to support ICE.”

Kelly, wearing an “ICE Immigration: Making America Safe Again” T-shirt, said the protesters were “paid agitators” who were lied to by the media.

“Look at other angles [shooting] videos,” he said. “He ran over the police officer.”

With him was Jesse Huizar, 66, who said he described himself as “Trump’s Latino” and was here to “support blue.”

The Chino resident said he came to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 5, but wasn’t afraid of ICE because he “came here legally.”

Huizar said Good’s death was sad, but “if he had obeyed, gotten out of his car and followed orders, he would be alive right now.”

But their voices were largely drowned out by the voices of anti-ICE protesters. Denise G., a 52-year-old Huntington Beach resident who was one of the event organizers and declined to give her last name, said they have been gathering in front of City Hall every Sunday since March, but this was one of the largest turnouts they’ve ever seen.

He said he felt “devastated, angry and more determined than ever” when he saw the video of Good being shot.

Counter-protester Kelly Johnson stands opposite the “ICE Out” demonstration.

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

“It could be any of us,” he said. “People who are not here today need to understand that this could be their family members, their spouses, their children. The time has come. Everyone is on duty.”

Nearby, 27-year-old Yvonne Gonzales was gathered with about 10 friends. They said they were motivated to come because they were angry about the attack.

“I wish I was surprised by this,” Gonzales said, “but we’ve seen so much violence from ICE.”

He suspected race was a factor in the surge in support, noting that Good was a white woman while many others injured or killed by immigration enforcement were people of color, but it was still “great to see this turnout and visibility.”

A few feet away, Christie Martinez, 41, stood with her children Elliott, 9, and Kane, 6. She broke down in tears as she reflected on the shootings and recent ICE actions in California, including Porter’s killing.

“This is sad and sickening,” said Martinez, who lives in Westminster. “It really saddens me that people are targeted because of the color of their skin.”