Christian Perspectives on the LA Riots: Calls for Peace and Justice Amidst Unrest

Beto Gudino
1 day ago
6 min read

Faith in the Fire: Christian and Latino Christian Voices Rise Amid LA Riots

June 11, 2025

The Los Angeles protests, ongoing as of June 11, 2025, began on June 6 following ICE raids targeting alleged illegal immigrants, sparking unrest in a city where nearly half of its 3.8 million residents are Latino. Protests, largely Latino-led, have been concentrated in downtown LA, with some violence, vandalism, and looting reported. President Donald Trump deployed 2,100 National Guard troops and 700 Marines, a move criticized as "authoritarian" by Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass . Clashes have involved tear gas, rubber bullets, and arrests, with protests spreading to other US cities.

General Christian Response

Christian leaders have called for prayer and peace amid the unrest. Archbishop Jose Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles expressed concern over enforcement actions provoking fear among immigrants and urged Congress to fix the immigration system Catholics for Catholics: Archdiocese Statement. However, some, like John Yep of Catholics for Catholics, criticized the Church's stance as insincere, suggesting complicity in the crisis. Other Christian organizations, such as the National Association of Evangelicals and World Relief, emphasize compassion, highlighting that over 10 million Christian immigrants are vulnerable to deportation National Association of Evangelicals Report.

Latino Christian Community Perspective

While specific statements from Latino Christian leaders are scarce, their response likely includes supporting their community, given their ties to immigrants affected by the raids. Historically, Latino Christians have advocated for immigrant rights and community empowerment, suggesting they may be organizing prayer vigils or providing aid, focusing on justice and peace. Leaders like Bishop Abner Adorno cite Deuteronomy 10:19, emphasizing love for foreigners PBS News: Latino Evangelical Leaders, and Pastor Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference has reassured churches are safe from raids, reflecting a focus on protecting congregations.

Christian and Latino Christian Responses to the LA Riots

The Los Angeles protests, erupting on June 6, 2025, following Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting alleged illegal immigrants, have significantly impacted the city, particularly its nearly 50% Latino population of 3.8 million. These protests, largely Latino-led, have been concentrated within a five-block stretch of Downtown LA, with some incidents involving violence, vandalism, and looting, prompting the deployment of 2,100 National Guard troops and 700 Marines by President Donald Trump, a move criticized as "authoritarian" by Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass . As of June 11, 2025, at 3:49 PM PDT, protests continue, with more demonstrations expected later in the day, and the situation remains fluid, with arrests surpassing 380 and curfews imposed .

Context of the Protests

The protests began after ICE raids in heavily Latino areas like Paramount and Compton, causing fear and disrupting community safety. Clashes with law enforcement, including tear gas and rubber bullets, have occurred, with some protesters engaging in violence, such as setting vehicles on fire Fox Business: Shark Tank's O'Leary on LA Riots. The federal response, including military deployment without state consent, has escalated tensions, with curfews imposed in downtown LA and arrests surpassing 380 since the protests started NYPost: Lefty Nonprofits Fueling LA Riots.

General Christian Response

The Christian community's response, as observed through statements and inferred from historical patterns, emphasizes prayer, peace, and condemnation of violence. Key insights include:

Archbishop Jose Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles expressed concern about enforcement actions provoking fear among immigrants and urged Congress to fix the immigration system, though John Yep, president of Catholics for Catholics, criticized this as insincere, claiming the Archdiocese is complicit Catholics for Catholics: Archdiocese Statement. Yep highlighted the Church's receipt of millions in grants from the Biden administration to facilitate immigration, as detailed in "Charity for Sale" by Christopher Manion.
Other Christian organizations, such as the National Association of Evangelicals and World Relief, have emphasized compassion, highlighting that over 10 million Christian immigrants are vulnerable to deportation, with 7 million U.S. citizens living in affected households National Association of Evangelicals Report. This aligns with broader Christian calls for protecting refugees and immigrants, as seen in a January 2025 statement petitioning Trump to maintain the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program NAE: Christian Statement on Refugee Resettlement.
Historical context, such as John MacArthur's 1992 call for churches to be "salt and light" during the LA riots, suggests a focus on spiritual renewal over political solutions, which likely resonates today with calls for prayer and peace amid the unrest.

Latino Christian Community Perspective

While specific statements from Latino Christian leaders or organizations like the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) are not found in recent sources, their response can be inferred from cultural ties, historical roles, and community needs:

Empathy and Advocacy: Latino Christians, with deep ties to immigrant communities, are likely empathetic to the fears caused by ICE raids. Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez noted "terror" in Latino communities like Pacoima due to rumored raids, suggesting a need for advocacy (NHCLC Website for context on their mission). Historically, NHCLC leaders like Rev. Samuel Rodriguez have emphasized seeing and acting on community needs, as seen in their stewardship model for church leadership (Outreach Magazine: America's Changing Latino Context, published June 6, 2025).
Community Engagement: Latino churches, with 69% of Hispanic Protestant pastors conducting Spanish-language services, are likely providing spiritual and practical support. City-to-City Southern California is launching new church plants, aiming to bridge generational divides and respond to community fears, such as those triggered by ICE's presence at a Costco in Pacoima, which sparked panic despite being a non-raid event (NHCLC Website for context).
Historical Context and Unity: Reflecting on the 1992 riots, where one-third of those killed and half arrested were Latino, Latino Christians like Gloria Alvarez noted increased understanding between Latinos and Black communities. This history suggests they may be promoting healing and reconciliation now, viewing the protests as a "levantamiento" (uprising) against systemic issues like economic hardship and biased policing (NBC News: Editorial: Faith Leaders Reflections on Race, 25 Years After The LA Riots, published 2017, for historical context).
Concerns About Policy: Proposals like Project 2025, which could harm Latino immigrants by reviving harsh anti-immigrant policies, may galvanize Latino churches to advocate for their communities. LatinoJustice PRLDEF warns these policies target Latinos as "enemies within," a worldview at odds with Christian values of compassion, suggesting a focus on rights education and protection (NHCLC Website for context on their advocacy).
Specific Statements: While direct 2025 statements are limited, Bishop Abner Adorno cites Deuteronomy 10:19, emphasizing love for foreigners, and Pastor Samuel Rodriguez has reassured churches are safe from raids, reflecting a balance of concern and preparation PBS News: Latino Evangelical Leaders.

Comparative Analysis

A table comparing general Christian and Latino Christian responses highlights their similarities and differences:

Aspect	General Christian Response	Latino Christian Response
Focus	Prayer, peace, condemnation of violence	Community support, justice, advocacy for immigrants
Actions	Prayer vigils, spiritual guidance, public condemnation	Likely prayer events, aid to affected families, protests
Cultural Context	Broad, emphasizing biblical principles	Deep ties to immigrant experiences, historical activism
Leadership Statements	Archbishop Gomez, NAE reports, calls for compassion	Adorno, Rodriguez, focus on church protection, biblical love

This comparison shows a shared emphasis on biblical principles but differing focuses based on community ties and historical roles.

Broader Implications

The protests, while mostly peaceful, have seen violent clashes, with federal responses escalating tensions. Latino Christians, rooted in affected areas, likely view these events with fear and resolve, encouraging peaceful resistance and prayer. Their historical role in crises suggests active engagement in spiritual and practical responses, aligning with broader Christian calls for peace but with a focus on their community's needs.

Bible Citations on Treating Immigrants

The Bible offers clear guidance on treating immigrants, relevant to the LA riots context:

Deuteronomy 10:19: “So you, too, must show love to foreigners for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.”
Leviticus 19:33-34: “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”
Matthew 25:35: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”
Hebrews 13:2: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

These passages emphasize compassion, hospitality, and love for the stranger, reflecting a biblical mandate to care for those who are vulnerable, including immigrants.

Key Citations