The Brief

In recent weeks, students at colleges and universities across the United States have taken part in protests against the Israel-Hamas war. The United States has had a long and storied history of student activism, the earliest accounts of which can be traced to the American Revolution.

“We have complaints about harsh grading, we have complaints about dining hall food, we have complaints about living conditions on the campus, which lead to not just protests, not just occupations, but actual rioting in the period around the American Revolution,” explained Professor Angus Johnston, a historian of student activism at Hostos Community College in New York.

Johnston joined LAist's daily news program AirTalk, which airs on 89.3 FM, to explain how student protests of the past can inform our understanding of the ones going on across the U.S. today.

How Vietnam War protests shaped student activism

As the concept of the modern university developed in the 20th century, so did student activism.

By the 1960s, students adopted more radical approaches to protests. A consequence of this was that colleges responded with harsher crackdowns that often involved law enforcement. Clashes between students and law enforcement came to a head during the Vietnam War protests.

On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed anti-war student protesters at Kent State University. The Kent State Shootings garnered national attention and would be one of four incidents that resulted in student deaths between 1968 and 1970, Johnston said.

Police arrest student during riots against closure of "People's Park" on June 3, 1969 in Berkeley.

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The others were the Orangeburg Massacre at South Carolina State College in 1968, the People’s Park Protest at Berkeley in 1969, and the Jackson State Killings at Jackson State College in 1970.

Evolution of campus response

The violence of the Vietnam War protests forced college and university administrators and government officials to reconsider how they responded to student activism. In 1970, President Richard Nixon commissioned The President’s Commission on Campus Unrest.

“One of their conclusions was that a nation that is driven to use the weapons of war against its children, as the United States was doing on American campuses at that time, is a nation on the brink of chaos,” said Johnston.

Following the release of this report, college administrators began to negotiate with students, agree to concessions and became hesitant to send in law enforcement.

Johnston says the ratification of the 26th Amendment in 1971, which changed the voting age from 21 to 18, also impacted the dynamics of student activism as they related to state politics.

“Suddenly, students have for the first time the ability to organize and lobby within the electoral system around their own interests, particularly at public colleges and universities, which are governed in large part by the governor and the state legislature.”

In turn, he said, students had more power on campus in the 1970s and 1980s. This meant fewer arrests and more productive protests.

Johnston said he believes what is happening now is a result of backsliding from the policies that had been implemented in the last third of the 20th century.

The trouble with comparing protests then and now

On social media and in the press, people have been quick to draw comparisons between student activism during various points of history and today, especially as it relates to the anti-apartheid movement.

Johnston said protests today generally have demands that can be divided in three categories: Divestment, disentanglement from contractual relationships, and transparency. The demands of protesters, he added, are similar to demands during the anti-apartheid movement. But at the same time, that public memory of the anti-apartheid movement does not paint the full picture.

American students at the University of Maryland protest against US President Richard Nixon's decision to send US troops to Cambodia, in Riverdale, May 5, 1970. The Vietnam war opposed from 1955 to 1975, North Vietnam, supported by both China and USSR, and the South Vietnam, supported by the U.S. and greatly impacted Laos and Cambodia. Opposition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war began with demonstrations on college campuses in 1965 and grew into a broad social movement over the ensuing several years, as US casualties grew bigger every day while army's abuses were widely reported in the media.

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“There is a level of unanimity that we tend to ascribe to the past that isn’t always there.”

The public memory that anti-apartheid movement on campus arose during Nelson Mandela’s imprisonment, alongside a "wave of international opposition” in the 1980s, is an oversimplification, according to Johnston. He said students were protesting against apartheid in South Africa on campus as early as the 1950s with the divestment movement emerging in 1976.

Johnston said a lot of people have been asking him if he thinks this wave of protests will be successful, and whether protesters' demands will be met.

“I would say that there are some issues that may be won on a few campuses in the short term. I suspect that a lot of these students understand that they're in for the long haul.”

Listen to the conversation

LOS ANGELES — Best friends Fernando Delgado and Josh Lee are still riding the high of seeing both their homelands — Mexico and South Korea — win their opening matches at the 2026 World Cup.

That was the easy part.

Now, their teams are going head-to-head and Delgado is hoping for a miracle, but not in the way you might think.

" A draw would be the ideal case," he says. "Because I think other than that, it's gonna be like, 'Oh man.'"

For all of the rivalries and bad blood that sports can foster, something different is in the air ahead of the Mexico vs. South Korea match on Thursday.

Earlier this month, when South Korea's squad arrived at their hotel in Guadalajara, Mexico, they were welcomed by hundreds of Mexican supporters. On social media, countless videos show fun-loving South Korean tourists partying and enjoying World Cup festivities with locals in Mexico — often with the caption, "Coreano, hermano ya eres Mexicano," meaning "Korean, brother, you are Mexican now."

Fans of South Korean and Mexico celebrate together in Guadalajara, Mexico, after the 2026 World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic on June 11.

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The chant is a callback to the 2018 World Cup, the last time the two nations squared off on the global stage. Eight years later, as El Tri and the Taegeuk Warriors face off once again, fans from both sides are rekindling that brotherly love, adding that it's a reflection of a much deeper affinity between the two communities.

"Since then, this idea of Coreano Hermano has really persisted," Lee says, and "led to this greater appreciation for both national teams and both peoples."

How "Coreano, hermano" began

The camaraderie blossomed after the final matches of the group stage at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. After a shocking loss to Sweden, Mexico's chances of advancing to the next round hinged on South Korea beating the defending champions, Germany. Against all odds, the Asian squad pulled off the upset.

The win wasn't enough for South Korea to move forward in the World Cup. But the team was hailed as champions by grateful Mexican fans. Most famously, in Mexico City, supporters marched to the South Korean Embassy, where they hoisted the consul general, Han Byoung-jin, onto their shoulders.

Ray An, a Korean American from Fresno, Calif., was in Russia for the tournament. He recalls being showered with hugs, cheers and shots of tequila. Although he was initially disappointed by South Korea's early exit, those encounters gave him a new perspective.

"This is so much more than football. This is just so much more than winning and losing," he says. "This is what it's really about, right? Creating core memories with strangers in a foreign land."

Years later, An says the 2018 World Cup continues to be a point of connection whenever he meets someone from Mexico.

" Looking back, I mean maybe in the long run, this is actually a better thing for us to have happened," he says, referring to South Korea's failure to advance.

A picture of Mexico and South Korea's flags.

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Geopolitically, Mexico and South Korea are growing closer

When diplomatic relations between South Korea and Mexico formally began in 1962, the friendship was a slow burn, according to José Luis León-Manríquez, who teaches East Asian studies at the Metropolitan Autonomous University in Mexico City.

At the time, there was a strong nationalist sentiment in Mexico, León-Manríquez says, which made the country cautious of building ties with U.S. allies such as South Korea. It wasn't until the late 1980s that the two nations made headway, largely through trade and the arrival of Korean factories in Mexico. This also led to a wave of Korean migration to the country, León-Manríquez says.

" After that, links between both countries have increased a lot. Both in political, but especially in cultural and economic terms," he says.

Today, South Korea is one of Mexico's top trading partners. There's also a sizable Koreatown in Mexico City. Further north, the city of Pesquería — home to a Kia Motors manufacturing plant— is nicknamed "Pescorea" to reflect its large Korean community.

Culturally, Mexico has been swept up in the K-wave — which refers to the global craze for South Korean pop culture. In 2025, Mexico ranked fifth among countries that play the most K-pop, according to Spotify.

Jung Kook (center) and Suga (right) from South Korean K-pop band BTS acknowledge fans next to Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum from the balcony of the National Palace at Zocalo square in Mexico City on May 6.

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A friendship on and off the field

Korean and Mexican soccer fans have a number of theories for the warm ties.

Jean Lim Flores, a Korean American from Los Angeles, attributes it to both teams' underdog status. Despite their rich talent, neither have made it past the round of 16 in over 20 years. Most stubbornly, Mexico hasn't played in the quarterfinals since 1986. South Korea's deepest run was in 2002, when it reached the semifinals and placed fourth.

"Neither of our countries have won the World Cup," she says. "It would be exciting to see either Korea or Mexico win."

Her husband, Shon Flores, who is Mexican American, believes both teams have more heated rivals to focus on, like Japan for South Korea or Brazil and the U.S. for Mexico.

Consul General of Mexico Carlos González Gutiérrez (center) and Consul General of South Korea Youngwan Kim attend a match between Mexican clubs Chivas de Guadalajara and Atlas in Los Angeles on March 29.

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The Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles

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"I can see a lot of this coming together and closeness between some of the other teams, but I don't know about U.S. vs. Mexico," he says.

Others say the kinship over soccer is simply a reflection of the growing connections that already exist, like in Los Angeles, which is home to the largest Korean and Mexican population in the U.S.

Carlos González Gutiérrez and Youngwan Kim are not only consul generals of Mexico and South Korea based in L.A., but they're good friends, partly through their shared love for soccer. Months ago, the pair made a friendly bet over Thursday's match, which kicks off at 9 p.m. ET. If Mexico loses, González Gutiérrez will gift Kim a bottle of tequila. If the opposite happens, Kim will send over some soju. It's not (entirely) about bragging rights.

" This is a sign of friendship between our two countries," González Gutiérrez told NPR recently, adding that it's a "reflection of what already happens in this city on a daily basis."

Over the past year, in L.A.'s Koreatown, where Latino and Asian Americans make up the majority of the neighborhood, many residents have come together against immigration raids.

Paul "PK" Kim is hoping the World Cup will be a chance to unite over some much needed fun and reprieve. Kim is the marketing director at the Los Angeles Korean Festival Foundation, which is organizing a watch party in the heart of Koreatown on Thursday.

"There's always some awkward tension because everybody's competitive," he says. " The more important thing is being together."

Josh Lee and members of the Los Angeles Football Club's Tigers Supporters Group watch the World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic on June 11.

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"En las buenas y en las malas"

Best friends Lee and Delgado met at a watch party for a Los Angeles Football Club game in 2018. Now, the two help lead one of the MLS club's supporters groups, Tigers.

Lee says the group often sings a song that goes, "En las buenas y en las malas." That's how he's approaching Thursday's match — although he says he would like to see South Korea beat Mexico once on the global stage.

"In the good and the bad, we're celebrating together," he says.

Bonyub Koo and Mirella Vargas, a Korean American and Mexican American married couple in L.A., will be rooting for opposing teams come Thursday. But in a way, that makes it more fun.

" Once we found out that they were going to play against each other, we were super happy," she says, calling it "a friendly competition."

Mirella Vargas and her husband, Bonyub Koo, watch a soccer match with their dog in Los Angeles on June 11.

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When the two started dating in 2019, soccer was among the first things they bonded over. Now married, Koo says he's more excited to watch Mexico vs. South Korea than the World Cup final. Given his love for both teams, he can't imagine a scenario where he will come away feeling disappointed.

" Whoever wins, that's my team," he says.

What does the past tell us about the possible outcome on Thursday? Well, the two squads faced off most recently last year at an international friendly in Nashville, Tenn. The final score? 2-2.

Emanuel Hahn, a Korean American photographer based in New York, says he wouldn't be mad if history repeats itself. Hahn, Lee and An are the creators behind the docuseries Korea, Away about the Korean diaspora and their fandom for South Korea's soccer team.

"If we drew with Mexico, I think it would be the ultimate sort of handshake moment," he says. "It's crazy because I don't know if I would say that about any other country."

Copyright 2026 NPR

Our first taste of summer arrives as it officially begins this weekend. Some parts of SoCal could see triple-digit temperatures, according to the National Weather Service.

The agency said temperatures could reach 103 degrees in Woodland Hills and 97 degrees in Van Nuys. Temperatures in the high 80s are forecasted for Long Beach and Los Angeles.

The heat moves in on Monday and could last through the week. Forecasters said the heat will peak mid-week, with Thursday set to be the hottest day. Widespread heat advisories are also possible.

Temperature “warm-ups” are typical heading into July, according to Ryan Kittell, a senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

Mike Wofford, a lead forecaster at the agency, added that they’re also seeing warmer ocean temperatures as part of the El Niño weather pattern. He said El Niño’s effects will kick in fully later in the summer.

The beaches are still dealing with dangerous conditions. Heavy surf, high tides and rip currents are expected to last at least until Thursday. Wofford said these particular conditions may ease, but the agency is anticipating a “long-period swell” later this week.

As for the many World Cup events taking place across Los Angeles, Wofford said the agency has briefed city and county officials on the heat conditions for next week. He said heat effects at gatherings might be “significant” because of the high volume of people, some of whom may not be used to SoCal weather.

Anyone planning to spend the day outside should drink plenty of water, even if they’re not thirsty. Try to wear loose clothing and hats, and stay in air conditioning or shade as much as you can. If you begin to feel dizzy, look for medical assistance, move to a cooler area, and drink water. Extreme heat is dangerous — here’s what else you should know about the signs.

The Los Angeles Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission on Monday sued the Sheriff’s Department for allegedly failing to comply with three subpoenas seeking information involving a deputy shooting and two deputy beatings.

The legal action seeks to force the department to comply with the subpoenas.

The panel first issued the subpoenas in February 2025. Sheriff Robert Luna responded with extensively redacted documents, arguing much of the information was confidential.

But a new state law that took effect this year grants civilian law enforcement oversight boards access to previously restricted confidential peace officer records during misconduct investigations.

The chair of the commission said access to such records is essential to civilian oversight.

“Independent review must occur,” said Hans Johnson. “Internal review is not sufficient. Internal review does not build public confidence.”

After the state law was enacted Jan. 1, Luna and the county lawyers who advise him offered a different argument for not fully complying with the subpoenas. They said the sheriff must meet and confer with the union that represents rank and file deputies before releasing confidential information.

Robert Bonner, a former chair of the civilian panel who is now representing the commission on a pro bono basis, called the argument “ridiculous.”

“This is state law that says we can do this,” he said. “There’s no legal requirement to meet and confer with the unions so they can modify or delay in any way the enforcement of these subpoenas.”

A statement from the Sheriff’s Department said the agency “embraces oversight, transparency and accountability; however, we must follow the law.”

The department also said recent court cases have warned against bypassing the meet and confer process, and that the county was "obligated to work with labor on the impact the implementation of laws has on our employees.”

“As a result, the better course is to complete the meet and confer process and ensure that all concerns are addressed and that the voices of our employees are heard in this important process,” the department added.

The subpoenas involve three incidents.

One of them seeks all investigative materials relating to Andres Guardado, an 18-year-old who was fatally shot in the back after a brief foot chase in West Rancho Dominguez in 2020. The two deputies involved in the shooting were later sentenced to federal prison for an unrelated incident. The two admitted to kidnapping and abusing a skateboarder.

The information provided to the civilian commission on this incident was heavily redacted, according to the lawsuit.

“Particularly troubling is the complete redaction of a 60-page ‘Supplemental Report’ from the Homicide Bureau investigation as it appears to relate to the investigation of allegations that the deputy sheriff who shot and killed Andres Guardado may have aspired to become a member of a Deputy Gang called the Executioners,” the lawsuit states.

A second subpoena requests information related to Emmet Brock, a 23-year-old transgender man who was violently taken down by a deputy outside a 7-Eleven in 2023 after Brock had given the deputy the middle finger. The deputy later pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights violation.

At least eight other deputies were relieved of duty for allegedly helping the deputy cover up his misconduct.

The third subpoena involves the case of Joseph Perez, who was beaten by deputies from the Industry Sheriff’s Station in East Valinda in 2020. The department deemed the actions by deputies were within policy. Perez has filed a civil rights lawsuit.

Bonner warned that if the Sheriff’s Department is successful in blocking access to confidential records in these and other cases, oversight of the agency will be very difficult.

“It will never be an effective oversight commission,” Bonner said. “It will just be window dressing.”

He added that county lawyers clearly have a conflict of interest in the matter, representing both the sheriff and the oversight panel.

County counsel did not respond to a request for comment.

This story appeared first on LA Local.

World Cup fever has arrived in Los Angeles, and fans everywhere are showing off their team pride with jerseys, hats, ponchos and other soccer-themed gear. Some are even dressing their pets in their favorite team’s colors.

Whether you’re looking for merch for your next watch party, family carne asada, or just want to be part of the World Cup energy, we’ve got you covered with Boyle Heights spots selling World Cup gear. 

Deportes Prieto Inc.

Jerseys hang at Deportes Prieto.

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This family-owned sporting goods store has supplied sporting equipment and game-day uniforms to local schools for decades. Here, you can find a selection of World Cup merchandise, including authentic jerseys from multiple teams, character key chains, soccer-themed collared shirts, T-shirts and even World Cup beer mugs and Stanley cups. Tip: If the door appears closed, ring the doorbell for assistance. 

Boyle Heights Sports

A vendor sorts through soccer jerseys in Boyle Heights.

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Boyle Heights Beat

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Located under the bold red Giromex sign on Cesar Chavez Avenue packs a wide selection of World Cup merchandise into a small retail space. Find jerseys representing teams like Germany, USA, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, and Korea. The shop also offers ponchos, hats, giant flags of multiple countries, and jerseys for young children. Accessories include World Cup-themed keychains, tumblers, car flags and plush eagle head pieces.

Espacio 1839

Espacio 1839 is popular for its jerseys, but the shop also carries a variety of other soccer memorabilia.

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For more than a decade, this shop has been a go-to for neighborhood goods, books and politically minded gifts. Co-owner Nico Aviña sells vintage soccer jerseys with custom touches, including phrases like “No one is illegal on stolen land” or “El fútbol es del pueblo.” Beyond jerseys, Espacio also offers soccer cleat keychains from various international clubs, vintage team patches, and even VHS tapes and DVDs featuring World Cup legends and match-ups from the late 1950s to the early 1990s.

El Mercadito 

World Cup merchandise at El Mercadito.

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Carol Martinez

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Boyle Heights Beat

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El Mercado de Los Angeles, better known as El Mercadito, is a one-stop shop for everything from shampoo and spices to snacks and sandals. Vendors are also capitalizing on World Cup fever, stocked with soccer jerseys ranging from traditional team kits to split-design jerseys featuring two teams, and colorful jerseys with images of the Virgen de Guadalupe. Merchandise stalls also offer soccer-themed children’s onesies, miniature flags, noisemakers and even soccer gear for your pets.