Los Angeles: Protest Supporter Indicted for Conspiracy

Alejandro Orellana, 29, has been indicted on charges of conspiracy to aid and abet civil disorders after allegedly providing face shields to protesters during demonstrations and riots in Los Angeles. According to federal prosecutors, Orellana loaded his Ford F-150 pickup truck with Uvex brand Bionic Face Shields, masks, water bottles, and other items, which he then distributed to protesters. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli stated that identifying and arresting those involved in organizing, supporting, funding, or facilitating these riots is a “huge priority” for the authorities.

The indictment is part of a larger effort to address violent riots against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts. More than 40 people have been charged with offenses stemming from these riots, which erupted in response to the Trump administration’s mass deportation operations targeting criminal illegal immigrants. Essayli noted that the riots appear to be “well-orchestrated and coordinated and well-funded,” and authorities are working to understand the organizations behind them.

Orellana’s case has sparked a strong reaction from his supporters, who are raising funds for his legal defense and planning a protest to demand the charges against him be dropped. CENTRO CSO, the group associated with Orellana, claims that he did nothing wrong and that protesting is not a crime. The outcome of this case will likely have implications for the broader debate around protest rights and the limits of free speech in the United States.