A curfew instituted Tuesday night appears to have had an effect following days of anti-ICE protests that have led to vandalism, fires and looting in Downtown Los Angeles.
“Let’s start with some encouraging news,” KTLA reporter Carlos Herrera said from the streets of Downtown Los Angeles Wednesday morning. “L.A. may have just experienced its quietest day this week.”
There were no major acts of vandalism or reports of looting during the overnight hours after a fifth day of protests challenging the Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown on illegal immigrants.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announced on Tuesday that the curfew would be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday, promising swift action would be taken against those who violated it.
“Law enforcement will arrest individuals who break the curfew, and you will be prosecuted. Hundreds of officers from police and sheriff departments from across the region and state are working alongside the LAPD through a unified command structure,” Bass said.
Police started citing and arresting protesters who refused to leave immediately after the curfew went into effect for a roughly one-square-mile portion of Downtown Los Angeles.
About two dozen people were arrested overnight on suspicion of violating the curfew, police said.
Shortly before the curfew took effect, local faith leaders and demonstrators gathered for a prayer vigil at Grand Park before marching toward the Federal Building.
“We need to be peaceful, because otherwise the message is lost,” said Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles Rev. Canon Patricia O’Reilly. “The message becomes one of violence. No, we don’t want that. This is a peaceful demonstration today … We are saying that we are behind and with the immigrants in our city.”
While most of the crowd honored the 8 p.m. curfew by dispersing, a crowd of about 150 people remained, prompting officers at one point to fire rubber bullets.
More demonstrations are expected to take place on Wednesday.
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