Public figures are once again stepping into the political arena — this time to join protests in Los Angeles against mass deportation. Their response echoes moments from the past, like the Southern California wildfires and President Donald Trump’s election win.
Thousands protest immigration raids in LA
Crowds filled the streets after a series of immigration raids hit California. Some demonstrations turned into clashes between law enforcement and some protesters, leading to the Los Angeles Police Department declaring several “unlawful assemblies” over the weekend.
In response, Trump on Saturday evening, June 7, federalized the National Guard to aid in suppressing protests — a move that local law enforcement and Gov. Gavin Newsom said escalated tensions further. Trump later ordered U.S. Marines to protect federal properties in the state.
Celebrities take to the streets and online
As news of the raids and military deployment spread, many public figures voiced their anger on social media.
In an X Spaces event hosted by Complex on Tuesday, June 10, rapper Cardi B criticized the “dictatorship vibes” from the Trump administration regarding their deportations.
She says Trump “tried to warn people that this was going to happen.”
Some celebrities even joined the protests in person.
Tom Morello, guitarist for the rock group Rage Against the Machine, marched alongside demonstrators in downtown Los Angeles on Monday.
Outspoken in his activism, Morello has a history of showing up. In 2008, his band staged a protest concert during the Republican National Convention. Their 1999 album, “Battle of Los Angeles,” featured a music video of the band playing an unauthorized appearance on Wall Street with a theme of corporate greed.
Finneas — the brother of Billie Eilish — posted to Instagram on Sunday, June 8, that he had attended a protest and was tear-gassed by law enforcement.
“Tear gassed almost immediately at the very peaceful protest downtown — they’re inciting this,” he said in an Instagram post captured by The Independent.
Doechii calls out Trump at BET Awards
Some celebrities spoke out from center stage.
Rapper Doechii used her acceptance speech at the BET Awards to call out Trump, blocks away from where immigration protests were happening. She had just won the award for Best Female Hip Hop Artist.
“Trump is using military forces to stop a protest. I want y’all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us,” the artist said.
At the same event, filmmaker Tyler Perry called out Hollywood on today’s political climate.
“I wanna talk to you about this thing that is happening in this country, and I want you to pay attention to it. Don’t miss this,” he said. “They are removing our books from libraries, they are removing our stories and our history, they are removing our names from government buildings. It’s as if someone wants to erase our footprints.”
Instagram becomes a protest platform
Others voiced their support for the protests on social media.
Eva Longoria posted protest-related content to her Instagram story.
Mark Ruffalo, a longtime Trump critic, shared a seven-slide Instagram post. In it, he acknowledged the protests, called Trump a “grifter” and voiced support for Palestine.
Halle Berry commented with a red heart emoji. Director Ava DuVernay followed with a fist.
Billie Joe Armstrong reacts
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong took a more visual approach.
He reposted a video of one of several Waymo cars set on fire, captioning it with only a middle finger emoji and an ice cube.
The company’s vehicles were found in the middle of protests and targeted by some protesters. The Wall Street Journal reports it could be a way to obstruct traffic.
Some celebrities criticize Los Angeles protests
Many celebrities also voiced their opposition to the Los Angeles protests on social media.
Actor James Woods shared multiple videos on his X feed of people damaging property in Los Angeles, sarcastically referring to them as “peaceful protests.”
“General Hospital” actor Antonio Sabàto Jr. called out Democrats and Hollywood actors for not “talking about stopping these people from destroying Los Angeles,” referring to them as a “bunch of losers” and “weak garbage.”
Additionally, actor Kevin Sorbo posted on X, “So the people who are here illegally are going to convince Trump to let them stay by burning down cities and attacking the police?”
Wyatt Russell confusion goes viral
A viral TikTok caused some confusion after viewers mistook a protester for actor Wyatt Russell.
The bearded, long-haired man is not the actor. Still, Occupy Democrats reposted the video on Threads, claiming it was Russell.
Silence from some A-listers draws criticism
While some celebrities are being praised for speaking out, others are being pressured for staying silent.
Many fans expect stars to use their platforms during times of crisis. Critics say the lack of engagement from some A-listers is disappointing.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to The Washington Post that 2,267 people illegally in the country were arrested nationwide on June 3.
That number rose slightly the next day to 2,368.
Targeted ICE raids lead to detentions
On Friday, June 6, agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided several locations in prominent Hispanic neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
Protesters clashed with agents at many of those sites. In total, 44 people were detained, and one individual was arrested for obstruction, per the Los Angeles Times.
California sues Trump administration
On Monday, the state of California filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for federalizing the National Guard to stop the protests. Officials called the move “unlawful and unprecedented.”
The New York Times reports that arrests continued overnight. While most protests remained small and peaceful, some people became violent, resulting in injuries and property damage.
