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Protesters Interrupt Mayor Garcetti's Victory Speech Chanting 'ICE Out Of L.A.'
Mayor Eric Garcetti and First Lady Amy Wakeland just before the protesters began chanting. (Photo by Julia Wick/LAist)
On Tuesday night, protesters interrupted—and briefly paused—Mayor Eric Garcetti's victory speech with chants of "ICE out of L.A."
About a hundred protesters had gathered outside of the mayor's election night party in Pico-Union, demanding that the mayor end cooperation with immigration officials and officially declare Los Angeles a sanctuary city. The protesters, which was organized by the Democratic Socialists of America, did not make themselves known inside the party until the mayor began his victory speech at around 9:40 p.m. Although only 4.23% of precincts had reported as of 9:50 p.m., the mayor already had 80.72% of the vote, essentially guaranteeing him another five-and-a-half year term (he only needed 50% to avoid a runoff election).
Competing chants of "Eric" rose from the crowd during the commotion, until the protesters were removed by security. After the bulk of the protesters left several smaller chants of "ICE out of L.A." broke out as the mayor continued his speech.
"We understand and hear you and we are aligned with those values," the mayor said several minutes into his speech in response to the protesters, adding that no child should see their parent detained while they are on their way to school.
Inside supporters wait for Eric Garcetti at victory event... outside protestors demand mayor declare L.A. a sanctuary city. pic.twitter.com/w4szzBtNeA
— Carlos Granda (@abc7carlos) March 8, 2017
"I actually love that we have folks exercising their first amendment rights here tonight. It's a cornerstone of our democracy," the mayor added later in his speech.
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