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East Las Vegas protest against Trump’s immigration policies ends with 5 arrests

Updated February 5, 2025 - 2:10 pm

A protest of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies Monday evening in east Las Vegas erupted into chaos, ending with five arrests and two damaged police cruisers, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

The gathering coincided with “A Day Without Immigrants” movement, a social-media driven, national campaign opposing Trump’s promises of widespread deportations of migrants without documentation.

Those arrested Monday included a minor accused of pointing a gun at a police helicopter and another person who allegedly tried to hit an officer with a vehicle, according to police.

Metro said Tuesday that no officers were injured, but the head of the police union said Wednesday that at least five officers had reported being struck by “projectiles” in the protest line.

The officers hadn’t yet formally filed worker’s compensation reports with Metro, said Las Vegas Police Protective Association President Steve Grammas. He told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that it wasn’t uncommon for officers to disclose being hurt, at least through his personal past experience of not doing so.

Metro said it learned about the planned demonstration about 4 p.m. near Charleston and Lamb boulevards, and sent officers to “ensure a peaceful event.”

Initially peaceful and on a sidewalk, the gathering “grew to approximately 500 people, and large groups ran into the intersection shutting down traffic,” police said. “At this point, the protest was deemed unlawful and additional officers were requested.”

Dispersal orders initially were ignored, police said.

“Several disruptive individuals were identified and arrested,” police said. “This led to protesters throwing rocks and bottles at officers.”

Grammas said that officers could’ve probably been instructed to put on their safety helmets earlier.

Officers then set up a “skirmish line,” giving protesters bilingual instructions how to leave, police said.

Most of the protesters left the area once the skirmish line started approaching the crowd,” police said. “By approximately 11:30 p.m., everyone had dispersed.”

Metro learned lessons in the aftermath of rowdy demonstrations across the U.S. — including here — after George Floyd was murdered by a Minnesota police officer in 2020, Grammas said.

“We learned that we as a police department cannot sit down and wait for something to happen” and stop instigators who “find their way into groups” to stir chaos, he said.

He said he hopes the department is ready to use the tools available to them when needed.

‘They don’t represent us’

Martin Rodriguez filmed a video he uploaded to social media that shows officers taking two people into custody amid commotion. Mexican flags and flying water bottles could be seen in the distance.

He told the Review-Journal Tuesday that he attended the gathering to support but wasn’t actively protesting, instead choosing to keep a safe distance.

Rodriguez, a documented migrant, said the gathering was peaceful for a while and included cultural references, dancing and attendees of all ages.

It wasn’t until disruptors drove through — purposely skidding their tires and smoking the atmosphere — that the disorder began, he said.

He blamed younger persons for flaming the chaos, persons he said didn’t respect the spirit of a meaningful demonstration against Trump’s promises of mass deportations.

Rodriguez said that while his video is only a snapshot of the overall demonstration, he uploaded it so people learn about the consequences of not respecting Las Vegas laws.”

“Those people don’t represent us,” Rodriguez said in Spanish about the disruptors. “Let’s manifest peacefully.”

Metro said that protests against government entities are protected under the First Amendment.

On Tuesday it publicized its policies related to prohibited items, traffic laws and when a protest is deemed illegal.

Metro on Wednesday released a video in Spanish in which spokesperson officer Laura Villicana outlined the guidelines.

“We recognize that persons have a constitutional right to gather, express themselves and ask for changes in government,” she said.

But they must do so legally, she explained.

Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com.

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