Los Angeles FC striker Jeremy Ebobisse has voiced his support for a instrumentality protestation against US president Donald Trump's deportation policies.
The 28-year-old American said nan business successful Los Angeles is "not normal and we can't dainty it arsenic normal".
Protests began successful Los Angeles connected Friday aft it emerged that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were carrying retired migration raids successful nan metropolis arsenic portion of Trump's purpose to enact nan "biggest deportation operation" successful US history.
On Saturday, 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed to nan city to uphold "very beardown rule and order" successful consequence to nan protests.
More than 100 immigrants person been arrested successful operations crossed nan metropolis complete nan past week.
In his post-match interview, Ebobisse, who has 1 US cap, said: "This has been a difficult infinitesimal for nan metropolis of LA. I unrecorded downtown and I've been seeing and proceeding everything that's going on. It breaks nan bosom to spot nan callous movements that we're seeing successful our streets."
At Sunday's Major League Soccer match, LAFC independent supporters national 'the 3252' unfurled an "Abolish ICE" banner successful nan stands anterior to kick-off and sat successful soundlessness passim their side's 3-1 triumph complete Sporting Kansas City.
Elsewhere successful nan BMO Stadium, fans held handmade signs pinch slogans including "When injustice becomes law, guidance becomes duty" and "Immigrants make America".
"We're a community, we guidelines by each other," Ebobisse added. "It's important that successful these difficult moments, we reaffirm that and don't backmost into our corners and beryllium frightened because solidarity is nan only measurement done this.
"It's not normal and we can't dainty it arsenic normal. I fearfulness it's only going to proceed to escalate. I'm pinch nan 3252 and anyone who's affected."
Pasadena, a metropolis located astir 10 miles from downtown Los Angeles, is scheduled to big six matches astatine its Rose Bowl stadium during nan upcoming Club World Cup, opening pinch Paris St-Germain against Atletico Madrid connected Sunday.
Los Angeles will besides big matches during nan 2026 World Cup, which is being held crossed nan US, Canada and Mexico, earlier staging nan 2028 Olympic Games.
LAFC defender Eddie Segura called for unity successful nan city, saying: "We are agreed and we are giving this triumph to those who are abruptly having a difficult clip because of this situation."
A pre-match connection from LAFC, released connected societal media successful English and Spanish, hailed nan city's diversity: "LAFC believes that nan existent spot of our organization comes from nan group and cultures that dress up nan tapestry of this beautiful and divers city.
"Today, erstwhile truthful galore successful our metropolis are emotion fearfulness and uncertainty, LAFC stands enarthrosis to enarthrosis pinch each members of our community. We are pinch you Los Angeles."