Curfew Lifted In Downtown LA As Protests Quiet, Businesses Struggle

LOS ANGELES, CA — Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday ended the nightly curfew one week after it was first imposed on Downtown Los Angeles amid protests and civil unrest.

The curfew was put in place last week amid unrest over immigration raids in the city. While anti-ICE protests were largely peaceful during the day, violence sometimes erupted at nighttime, which included people looting businesses and clashing with police. Amid that activity and the curfew, downtown establishments reported struggling with a lack of nighttime business.

“The curfew, coupled with ongoing crime prevention efforts, have been largely successful in protecting stores, restaurants, businesses and residential communities from bad actors who do not care about the immigrant community,” Bass said in a statement. “I am lifting the curfew effective today, and as we continue quickly adapting to chaos coming from Washington, and I will be prepared to reissue a curfew if needed. My priority will continue to be ensuring safety, stability and support in the Downtown neighborhoods.”

Beginning on June 10, the curfew prohibited many people from being on downtown streets between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. On Tuesday, Bass scaled back the curfew so it started at 10 p.m., which officials said came amid a decline in arrests.

“The curfew has been an effective tool in helping us maintain public safety in the downtown Los Angeles area and deter those looking to exploit peaceful protests for criminal activity. The LAPD will maintain a strong presence in the area and continue to monitor conditions closely to protect lives, uphold the right to lawful assembly, and safeguard property,” LAPD Chief of Police Jim McDonnell said Tuesday.

As of Tuesday, the LAPD had arrested 575 people since protests began on June 7, including 14 people for looting, the department said in a press release.

The first day the curfew was enacted, 203 people were arrested for failure to disperse and 17 were arrested for violating the curfew. On Saturday — the day of the 'No Kings' protests — 35 were arrested for violating curfew, while just one person was arrested for failure to disperse, the Los Angeles Times reported.

On Tuesday, Nella McOsker, who heads the Central City Association neighborhood group, urged city officials to ensure downtown businesses can thrive and remain safe.

"The city must act now with long-term plans that balance public safety and economic vitality by also establishing clear protocols to proactively manage unrest, ensuring Downtown stays open, stable, and thriving for the people who depend on it," McOsker said.

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to approve a resolution allowing the mayor to declare a local emergency in the downtown area. The vote affirms Bass' ability to issue future curfews if she deems it necessary.