U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' trip to Los Angeles Tuesday was met with protest as immigration activists blasted the Justice Department leader and the Trump administration for its family separation policy.
Demonstrators gathered at the Federal Courthouse on Spring Street downtown, where Sessions was set to appear before giving a speech to the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation at the nearby Millennium Biltmore Hotel.
Protesters carried signs with phrases including "Let our children go," as well as infant clothing with Bible verses written on them.
After the protest spilled into the streets and demonstrators formed a human wall, L.A. police called the protest an unlawful assembly and gave people five minutes to clear the scene -- or face arrest. Officers then made good on their promise and placed 25 people in plastic handcuffs.
Most of them were members of the clergy.
One by one, LA clergy leaders protesting treatment of migrant children arrested outside federal courthouse as human wall is broken up pic.twitter.com/MDOBeGHhLw
— Josie Huang (@josie_huang) June 26, 2018
LAPD van almost filled as clergy sit and wait for last of them to be arrested pic.twitter.com/vsmClTzpyA
— Josie Huang (@josie_huang) June 26, 2018
After the action at the courthouse, protesters walked to the Biltmore, several blocks away on 5th Street and Grand Avenue, ahead of the A.G.'s scheduled speech.
Protests continue at Millennium Biltmore Hotel where Attorney General Jeff Sessions is scheduled to give a speech in an hour. They’re chanting, “No ICE, no KKK no fascist USA.” @KPCC @LAist pic.twitter.com/bG1uClyVlG
— Caleigh Wells (@cgrey307) June 26, 2018
Sessions has been a prominent defender of the White House's immigration policy, which sparked national outrage and protests. He's gone so far as to cite the Bible to argue the morality of the policy, which led to pushback from faith leaders.
Demonstrators were also speaking out about Trump's controversial travel ban, which was just upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. Protesters include members of local immigrant advocacy groups, labor unions and religious groups.
Reporter Josie Huang and Caleigh Wells are reporting for LAist from downtown Los Angeles.
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