Black Women for Wellness on ICE Protests and National Guard Deployment in Los Angeles

For 28 years, Black Women for Wellness has proudly called Los Angeles home. Today, we stand in solidarity with the beautiful, rich, and diverse community that Los Angeles truly is.

We are a city of immigrants from South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and more.

Angelenos include people from the 12 countries recently named in the current administration’s travel ban, and we all contribute to the vibrant, thriving place we call home.

• We are a community of small business owners.
  
• We are a community of parents and teachers.
  
• We are a community of local pastors and rabbis.
  
• We are a community that sometimes goes to Home Depot to find extra work to support our families.
  
• We are a community that does not want to see military forces and vehicles raiding our neighborhoods.
  
• We are a community of everyday people who are willing to stand up and protect one another.

We are also a community that recognizes a distraction.

This is an intentional distraction from upcoming Supreme Court decisions, from Trump and Elon’s public breakup, and from the current administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill” that includes harmful cuts to programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and many others that will disrupt life as we know it.

They created this crisis. They disrupted our lives at grocery stores, work, and school. No child deserves to have their graduation raided as their parents are taken into custody. Angelenos were simply going about their lives until militarized raids terrorized our neighborhoods with purpose and intent. 

Let’s be clear: the protests currently unfolding across Los Angeles did not turn violent — they began as a response to the violence of ICE itself. Federal agents escalated violence against our neighbors, taking many people into custody without warrants and due process. 

Black Women for Wellness stands in solidarity with the people of Los Angeles who are calling for care over chaos.

We stand with those rising up against violent ICE raids and all people existing outside of systems that were never meant to include them.

Here’s what we’re doing—along with We Are California, a movement of organizations and people across the state—and what we ask you to do with us:

• Help us keep the story focused on Trump’s illegal and inhumane actions. Lift up the voices of those directly targeted by immigration action. 
• Let’s make sure our neighbors, community, and the media remember the real story: Angelenos were simply going about our daily lives—attending graduations, shopping for groceries—when we were invaded by masked, heavily armed soldiers.
• If you can’t join a protest, support someone who can. Whether it’s childcare, food prep, legal support, or documenting the action, every contribution counts.
• Demand the immediate release and safe return of all Angelenos detained this past weekend.
• Help us grow our movement. Invite 5 friends to sign up to join We Are California today.

Our city is strongest when we show up for one another.

In solidarity,
Black Women for Wellness