Alejandro Orellana, a 29-year-old community activist, faces federal charges of conspiracy and aiding civil disorder for distributing protective face shields during a protest in downtown Los Angeles. Federal prosecutors allege that he was assisting violent demonstrators amid police deployment of less-lethal munitions after an unlawful assembly was declared. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli has vowed to prosecute individuals interfering with immigration enforcement and has linked Orellana's actions to aiding rioters. Orellana is scheduled for a court appearance as prosecutors pursue additional charges against demonstrators.
Orellana and at least two others drove around downtown L.A. in a pickup truck distributing Uvex Bionic face shields and other items to a crowd engaged in a protest near the federal building on Los Angeles Street on June 9.
Prosecutors allege Orellana was helping protesters withstand less-lethal munitions being deployed by Los Angeles police officers and Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies after an unlawful assembly had been declared.
U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli, a former California Assemblyman appointed by President Trump, has promised to aggressively prosecute anyone who interferes with immigration enforcement operations or harms police during protests.
Essayli insisted Orellana was specifically handing out supplies to violent demonstrators, stating "They weren't holding up signs, with a political message. They came to do violence."
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