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Thousands of people march for Labor Day, against Trump in Los Angeles

Xinhua, May 2, 2017 Adjust font size:

Thousands of people gathered in downtown Los Angeles Monday for the May Day march and rally against President Donald Trump's rhetoric on immigration and deportation policies.

The protest dubbed "Resist Los Angeles" was organized by a coalition of labor, immigrant-rights and faith-based groups. Huge crowd moved through the streets of downtown Los Angeles, holding banners and signs with slogans such as "Immigrant rights are worker's rights," "If Trump builds a wall, we'll tear it down," "Don't trust those who seek to divide you, workers of the world unite" and so on.

"The reason I come here is to support the immigrants, because I am an immigrant also, and to stop this hate message this administration with Trump is sending to the community," said Laura Padilla, a middle-aged Mexican-American woman.

"I protest that man, I protest his character and I protest his abuse of Capitalism," said Lori Hinkston, a white woman holding an anti-Trump placard.

"We want to safeguard our rights to work. Although today is a working day, but we come here to gather for our rights. My boss agreed to give me a day off for the event," said Rangel Rafael, an immigrant working in a local sewage company.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti addressed the crowd from a large stage that was erected in front of City Hall. Grandson of an immigrant from Mexico, he vowed to push back on President Trump. People cheered as he promised that Los Angeles Police Department will never be a deportation force as long as he is the major of the city.

"We don't just resist, we persist," he said.

Organizers predicted that more than 100,000 people would participate in the massive march in recognition of May Day, also known as the International Workers Day, but the crowd obviously fell short of that goal.

Los Angeles police did not give an official crowd estimate. Authorities told reporters they were estimating around 15,000 participants while one of the organizers believed it is definitely 30,000 to 40,000, according to City News Service.

Meanwhile, around 100 pro-Trump activists carrying signs reading "Trump make America great again" and U.S. national flags gathered just around 200 meters away. The small group stood near an intersection and faced off with demonstrators just across the street. Insults were shouted back and forth as a line of police stood in between the two groups.

"With him being in the office, it kinda kicked off the pride and dignity for the nation again," said David Toms, one of Trump's supporters. Endi