On Monday afternoon, a large crowd gathered outside Los Angeles City Hall to protest the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States, setting the tone for a conflicting year of public demonstrations.
Luna Hernandez, a community leader for Revolutionary Communist Party or, REVCOM LA revcom.us attended the demonstration, highlighting members of the Latino community who, she said, have suffered under capitalist America.
From immigration, LGBTQ+ rights and labor issues, REVCOM LA brought a unique perspective to the 2025 presidential inauguration. The protest coincided with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, drawing additional attention to social justice. “Yeah, we’re revolutionary communists,” Hernandez said.
This organization has supporters in Los Angeles, New York City, the Bay Area, Chicago, and Texas, who collectively took to the streets on Monday. In the morning, participants were reportedly instructed to destroy Confederate, MAGA, and American flags in protest.
Some demonstrators even set fire to these flags.
“ICE is a new game invented by the fascists in charge of this nation,” an immigration activist from Bakersfield shouted.
According to the activist, immigrants from Mexico are being rounded up and deported, which she likened to the historic enslavement and exploitation of Africans. “They were brought here to be raped, tortured, and enslaved for the benefit of those in power,” she said.
An estimated 500 people gathered in front of city hall, holding anti-Trump signs. Some protesters wore Palestinian attire and carried Palestinian flags, commemorating recent developments in their struggle for freedom. Many chanted, “F### Trump” and “F### Fascism.”
The majority of attendees appeared to be college and high school students standing up for their families and friends, who they fear will be affected by Trump’s executive orders on mass deportation.
This situation has brought fear and uncertainty to L.A. residents. On his first day in office, Trump reportedly signed multiple executive orders, including measures that could lead to the separation of families. According to CBS News, Trump begins immigration crackdown with moves to end birthright citizenship, deploy the military to the border and more – CBS News, the Trump administration has already deployed U.S. military forces to the southern border, bypassing diplomatic efforts with Mexico.
Many speakers at the protest addressed the issue of human rights. “We must understand that fascism plays on the fears of people,” Reverend Buoy said. “We saw it in Germany during World War II.”
“I’m here personally protesting mainly against Trump,” said Erick Jackson, a protester from Santa Clarita Valley.
REVCOM was established in 1975 and founded by Bob Avakian. The group aims to incite a revolution in the U.S. and free people from what it sees as the chains of capitalism. Avakian has published a six-point constitution that, he claims, would fundamentally improve the lives of the working class. Bob Avakian | revcom.us
To learn more, follow @bobavakianofficial on social media or visit the REVCOM website at revcom.us.