Charges have been dropped against an East Los Angeles activist who was arrested for holding out face shields during a protest against federal immigration raids, and he’s now speaking out.
Alejandro Orellana says the day federal agents burst into his home last month and took him into custody is a day he will never forget.
“Federal agents broke down my door, smashed my window and detonated flash grenades in my home,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
AIR7 was overhead as Orellana and his family were led out of the home in handcuffs.
Orellana says he was targeted because he’s an immigrant rights activist.
“The political theater and feeble bravado was an attempt to send a message. The message: Chicanos are not allowed to defend themselves,” he added.
Orellana was arrested by the FBI for allegedly handing out protective face shields during a June 9 protest against federal immigration enforcement operations.
In a post on X, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said agents arrested those involved in organizing and/or supporting civil disorder in Los Angeles.
Orellana and his supporters say he did nothing wrong, adding that he was simply trying to protect those exercising their First Amendment rights when police took aim. .
“I consider what he did heroic – distributing face shields to protesters (who) are being shot at by LAPD 40 millimeter launchers,” said Henry Cordero, Orellana’s friend.
“Protesting is not a crime. Protecting yourself and your community from police violence and draconian deportation policies is not a crime. That is why… (the) case fell apart – because they had nothing.”
The U.S. Department of Justice moved to dismiss the two criminal counts against Orellana. The charges carried a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, he had been convicted.
Orellana says he believes most of the charges filed against protesters and activists are simply a move to try to get them to stop speaking out.
“They really have nothing and these are all fabricated cases used to persecute political opponents of the Trump administration and people who are standing up against these injustices,” he added.
Orellana may be cleared, but he says the fight isn’t over. He is demanding that charges against all other protesters that have been taken into custody be dropped as well.
