Law and Disorder: L.A. Trump Rally Erupts in Violence
On Wednesday photographer Ted Soqui covered a clash between 500 pro-Trumpers and counterprotesters. The melee turned out to be a sideshow to the riot at the U.S. Capitol.
January 8, 2021
Ted Soqui is a Los Angeles-based photographer.
A pro-Trump Victory Caravan on January 6 from Pasadena City Hall to Los Angeles City Hall got out of hand and was shut down by LAPD officers after several clashes broke out between pro-Trumpers and counterprotesters.
The weapons of choice for this demonstration were pepper spray and bear-spray.
Counterprotesters who walked through the crowd of 500-plus pro-Trumpers were confronted and sprayed in the face with mace. Several street fights broke out as well. Police moved in and arrested five demonstrators in total from both sides.
As this protest was going on, I was getting alerts that the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., was being overrun by pro-Trumpers. I wondered how many other cities were going through this.
The LAPD decided to isolate and shut down the protest. Several Civic Center streets were closed to traffic and pedestrians, making the area eerily quiet, like an urban ghost town.
Pro-Trump protesters line up in front of Los Angeles City Hall. 1/6/2021
LAPD officers line up in front of the Police Administration Building. 1/6/2021
A counterprotester receiving treatment after being sprayed in the face with mace by pro-Trump supporters. 1/6/2021
Pro-Trump supporters taunt counterprotesters with insults. 1/6/2021
A pro-Trump supporter holding a “Stop the Steal” sign. 1/6/2021
A counterprotester films the scene with his cellphone, which had a “I Hate Every Cop in This City” decal. He was chased away by pro-Trump supporters. 1/6/2021
Pro-Trump supporters chase away counterprotesters. LAPD officers had to line up between them to stop the clashes. 1/6/2021
LAPD Metro officers watch and wait to move in as clashes between the pro-Trump supporters and counterprotesters take place. 1/6/2021
Pro-Trump protesters march around Los Angeles City Hall. 1/6/2021
LAPD mounted patrol watch the pro-Trump protest. 1/6/2021
Los Angeles Civic Center streets are empty and closed off to traffic and pedestrians due to illegal assembly, as called by the LAPD. 1/6/2021
Pro-Trump supporters and counterprotesters face off and prepare to fight. 1/6/2021
Pro-Trump supporters and counterprotesters face off and prepare to fight. 1/6/2021
Pro-Trump supporters and counterprotesters face off and prepare to fight. Someone lit a smoke device, drawing in news photographers. I decided to hang back, not knowing what kind of smoke it was. There were lots of batons and fists flying around. 1/6/2021
Pro-Trump supporters and counterprotesters face off and fight near the Police Administration Building. LAPD officers move in to break it up. 1/6/2021
Pro-Trump supporters and counterprotesters face off and fight. This was a clash between two women. 1/6/2021
LAPD officers arrest a pro-Trump supporter after he fought with counterprotesters. He was bleeding from his mouth and was sprayed with mace. 1/6/2021
LAPD officers arrest a counterprotester after he fought with a pro-Trump supporter. 1/6/2021
LAPD officers arrest a pro-Trump supporter after he fought with counterprotesters. He was bleeding from his mouth and was sprayed with mace. 1/6/2021
LAPD officers wait in front of Los Angeles City Hall to move in and break up the protest. 1/6/2021