Anti-ICE Cybertruck Makes Wild Look at L.A. Protests

All eyes are on Los Angeles this week, as activists begin a fourth day of protests towards ICE and President Donald Trump’s promise to deport tens of millions of individuals. The protests have introduced collectively a broad coalition of working class people, however there’s one sort of one that confirmed as much as the protests on Sunday and raised fairly a couple of eyebrows: a Tesla Cybertruck driver.

Video from Los Angeles posted to TikTok on Sunday reveals a black Cybertruck that seems to have been spray-painted with “Fuck ICE” and ACAB, which stands for “All Cops Are Bastards.” A Mexican flag is mounted on the rear of the automobile because it does donuts in an intersection close to protesters.

The opposite facet of the automobile additionally has the phrases “el la ciudad de los trabajadores,” which interprets to “the town of employees.”

Launched in late 2023, the Tesla Cybertruck shortly turned an emblem of Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s extremist views. And the typical American nowadays will in all probability assume any Cybertruck driver helps the billionaire’s vehemently anti-immigrant opinions. However L.A. might be an odd place in relation to the collision of politics, leisure, and shopper tradition. And it seems just like the protest stunt might have been staged by people who find themselves attempting to promote one thing.

A video posted to Instagram with extra close-up views of the automobile says the Cybertruck was lined in a vinyl wrap that may be eliminated. The Instagram account is run by Stars within the Ceiling, which is an auto-customization store in L.A. The store didn’t instantly reply to questions on Tuesday.

“This automobile was used for a peaceable protest and nonviolence act! 2025 has been a curler coaster of a 12 months!” the store defined on Instagram. “Time to rewrap this cybertruck into a brand new coloration! Do you suppose the ice protectors or no[?]”

Regardless of the motives of the Cybertruck stunt, the truth on the bottom in L.A. will get extra furry with every passing day. ICE brokers are grabbing anybody they’ll discover who might appear to be an unlawful immigrant and breaking apart households simply attempting to reside their lives. And the police are heightening the strain of the state of affairs every night time with their aggressive techniques and liberal use of “much less deadly” munitions.

President Trump has vowed to crush the protests in L.A. and has known as in a minimum of 4,000 Nationwide Guard troops, federalizing them towards the desires of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Trump claimed Tuesday that he spoke to Newsom “yesterday,” however the governor informed the New York Times that wasn’t true they usually final spoke on Friday.

Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth has additionally reportedly deployed about 700 Marines from the close by metropolis of Twentynine Palms. Simply 34% of Individuals approve of the Trump regime sending within the Nationwide Guard and Marines, in line with a YouGov ballot launched Tuesday. The navy deployments will value about $134 million, in line with the Pentagon.

Trump and his goons clearly intend to make an instance of protesters in L.A. through the use of essentially the most fascist techniques attainable. David Huerta, the president of the California division of the Service Workers Worldwide Union (SEIU), was arrested final Friday throughout ICE raids and has been charged with felony conspiracy to impede an officer, in line with CBS News.

When requested within the Oval Workplace on Tuesday whether or not related crackdowns had been coming to different cities, Trump replied they were. Trump additionally mentioned protesters who might present up in Washington, D.C. on Saturday to reveal towards his navy parade/celebration might be met with “very heavy force.” The protests, dubbed No Kings Day, are happening all throughout the nation on Saturday, June 14, although it’s not clear how massive the anti-Trump crowd could be in Washington. Officers mentioned they anticipate lots of of hundreds of Trump supporters to be there.

Los Angeles journal has reported that ICE brokers are even aggressively questioning the employees that make their meals and clear their rooms on the resort the place they’re staying in Pasadena. And new reporting from the Wall Road Journal means that’s in all probability as a result of one in all Trump’s most vitriolic aids, Stephen Miller, has been telling immigration enforcement officers to only begin grabbing anybody, even when they dedicated no crime.

From the Journal:

The administration’s immigration enforcement is a pointy break with previous authorities practices, in line with attorneys, immigration advocates and officers from earlier administrations.

Federal brokers make warrantless arrests. Masked brokers take individuals into custody with out figuring out themselves. Plainclothes brokers in a minimum of a dozen cities have arrested migrants who confirmed as much as their courtroom hearings. And throughout the U.S., individuals suspected of being within the nation illegally are disappearing into the federal detention system with out discover to households or attorneys, in line with attorneys, witnesses and officers.

It’s going to be a really tough summer time if Trump continues to ratchet up the strain, bringing within the navy to only make issues worse.