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Trump-backing counterprotesters make their voices heard among the Families Belong Together marchers

by in News

Waving Trump flags and donning Make America Great Again hats, about 15 counterprotesters met the streams of  Families Belong Together marchers face to face – with megaphones hand – in front of Downtown Los Angeles’ Metropolitan Detention Center on Saturday.

As Families Belong Together marchers made their way down Alameda Street, voicing concern over the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy toward undocumented immigrants, the counterprotesters responded.

President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order that ended the policy of separating children from their parents when they are detained illegally crossing the U.S. border. But the order does not end the “zero-tolerance” policy that criminally prosecutes all adults caught crossing the border illegally. And many families already divided have not been reunited. A nationwide network of protests condemned the current policies Saturday.

  • Families Belong Together marchers and counter protesters clash on Alameda Street in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 30. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

    Families Belong Together marchers and counter protesters clash on Alameda Street in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 30. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

  • Ben Bergquam, of Fresno, talks to Families Belong Together marchers through a Los Angeles Police Department barricade. Photo: Emily Rasmussen.

    Ben Bergquam, of Fresno, talks to Families Belong Together marchers through a Los Angeles Police Department barricade. Photo: Emily Rasmussen.

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  • “We’re here standing for our president, against the false racist narrative and the lies of the media that families are being separated,” counter-protester Jarim Uzziel, of Los Angeles, said. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

    “We’re here standing for our president, against the false racist narrative and the lies of the media that families are being separated,” counter-protester Jarim Uzziel, of Los Angeles, said. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

  • Counter protester Mark, of Covina, asked to not use his last name, says he doesn’t think families should be separated, but should be kept together during immigration process, whether end result is legal citizenship or deportation. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

    Counter protester Mark, of Covina, asked to not use his last name, says he doesn’t think families should be separated, but should be kept together during immigration process, whether end result is legal citizenship or deportation. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

  • Eric, of Fresno, wears a helmet out of fear for his safety. Eric says he often gets things thrown at him while showing his support for Trump and the administration’s policies. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

    Eric, of Fresno, wears a helmet out of fear for his safety. Eric says he often gets things thrown at him while showing his support for Trump and the administration’s policies. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

  • Mark, of Covina, wears a Trump flag around his shoulders as Families Belong Together marchers confront the approximately 15 counter protesters. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

    Mark, of Covina, wears a Trump flag around his shoulders as Families Belong Together marchers confront the approximately 15 counter protesters. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

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Among the counterprotesters who rallied Saturday, many felt that the issue is complex and their stance is routinely misinterpreted.

“We’re here standing for our president, we’re here standing against the false racist narrative, we’re here standing against the lies of the media that parents are being inhumanely separated (from their children),” counterprotester Jarim Uzziel, of Los Angeles, said.

Uzziel, whose mother is a Mexican immigrant who became a citizen, said he feels compassion for the children caught up in the immigration process and puts the blame of this situation on their parents. Uzziel emphasized that he supports legal immigration, as many of his friends and family are immigrants, but he feels the need to support the “rule of law.”

“(My mother) loves this country, she wanted to become a citizen, so she went through the process and became legal,” Uzziel said. “Then I was born and this is all I know.”

Other counterprotesters shared similar sentiments. Mark, who asked that his last name not be used, said that he believes immigrant families should not be separated, whether the end result is citizenship or deportation.

Ultimately, each counterprotester shared that he or she is a strong supporter of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but many also shared that they are in favor of Trump’s executive order to stop the separation of families.

At the counterprotest, there were no violent altercations reported, but heated verbal confrontations spurred police to keep a strong barrier between the counterprotesters from the masses in the march.

Many of the counterprotesters felt that the “other side” has unfairly portrayed the pro-Trump supporters as monsters, which has sometimes led to violence.

Eric, who asked that his last name be omitted for his safety, wore a helmet to the event because he said he often gets items thrown at him.

“I’ve been attacked, sucker-punched … and it’s very sad,” the Kern County resident said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.