Tensions are on the rise in downtown Los Angeles this Friday evening as demonstrators rallying against ICE have clashed with law enforcement. The protestors are reportedly using whistles and hurling water bottles at officers. Video journalist Anthony Cabassa is providing live updates from the scene.

In response to the unrest, the Los Angeles Police Department has announced a tactical alert after protestors ignored orders to disperse.

While some media outlets and Democratic politicians might characterize the event as a “non-violent” protest, those on the receiving end of the water bottles might argue otherwise.

Earlier today, the situation seemed to be de-escalating, but tensions quickly flared up once more.

It appears that the protestors are not heeding the calls of LA Mayor Karen Bass to stand down.

Meanwhile, Democratic Representative Maxine Waters of California’s 23rd district, who once urged supporters to confront officials from the Trump administration in public back in 2018, seems to view the current events as unremarkable.

Due to violent agitators on Alameda between Temple and Aliso the City of Los Angeles has gone to TACTICAL ALERT.

Federal Authorities are taking debris, bottles and other objects. Federal Authorities have declared an Unlawful Assembly at the Detention…

— LAPD Central Division (@LAPDCentral) January 31, 2026

Federal Authorities are taking debris, bottles and other objects.  Federal Authorities have declared an Unlawful Assembly at the Detention Center and they have deployed pepper balls and tear gas.

CNN and Democrat politicians will likely describe this as a “non-violent” protest, but tell that to the people getting hit by water bottles:

Officials have shut down protests in downtown Los Angeles due to those the Los Angeles Police Department called “violent agitators.”

On social media, the LAPD said federal officials “declared an Unlawful Assembly” and used pepper balls and tear gas to disperse protesters who gathered for the “ICE Out” nationwide day of protest.

[…]

Aerial footage from Sky5 showed police have set up skirmish lines to push back the protesters.

Earlier this evening, things looked to be calming down — only to quickly heat back up again.

As of about 6:15 p.m., police “continue to gain compliance after the dispersal order was issued, however, protestors continue to remain and throw bottles and rocks at the officers,” they said.

A few minutes later, police clarified that “protestors are actively fighting with Officers after multiple dispersal orders were issued,” and less-than-lethal weaponry is being used “due to the violence against officers.”

It doesn’t seem as if they’re paying attention to LA Mayor Karen Bass:

Peaceful protest is a constitutional right. I urge Angelenos to exercise that right safely and not give this administration an excuse to escalate.

Los Angeles stands together.

— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) January 31, 2026

For Dem Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-23), meanwhile —who in 2018 encouraged supporters to publicly confront and harass Trump administration officials — there’s nothing to see here:

Los Ángeles, CA – I asked Rep. Maxine Waters and her thoughts on the protest turning violent, with multiple protestors and federal agents injured, she said she hasn’t seen any violence.

She just left the protest. pic.twitter.com/LridH0e6YH

— Anthony (@anthonycabassa) January 31, 2026

Although the LAPD says things are calming down at this hour, video is still being posted showing that there are plenty of angry protesters still creating mayhem:

BREAKING 🚨: Chaos, as LAPD are firing less than lethal into the crowd, multiple members of the media have been hit, including me. Police shot my legs as I was walking away from police line, and when I turned around they shot me twice in the stomach with less than lethal. pic.twitter.com/2fqLzKNXom

— Anthony (@anthonycabassa) January 31, 2026

This is an evolving situation, and RedState will keep you apprised of any further developments.