Bleak Week

And Glimmers of Hope

Author

Gillian Rose
June 16, 2025

Much like my second-ever newsletter, this wasn’t what I initially planned to write about. Real life issues have taken over my brain, and as much as I would like to not think about them, they are on a constant loop.

The past week or so has felt truly dystopian in LA. There are ICE raids happening all over the country, detaining people who are legal residents and citizens as well as undocumented people. And the residents of LA are fed up. On June 6th, this came to a head, leading to our president (ugh) ordering the National Guard to LA to protect the ICE agents, not the people.

More protests occurred, and a narrative spun out that LA was under siege and unsafe for everyone. Our president declared LA was “obliterated”. None of this is true.

On June 7th, when the National Guard was deployed and protests were occurring in one specific area downtown, I was doing my normal activities. Went for a run, went to the dentist, got groceries, did laundry, got a free burger and fries for a Poker Face FYC, and topped off my night seeing Never Let Me Go for American Cinematheque’s Bleak Week series. (Yes, that’s where I got the title from)

It was so weird knowing what was happening in one part of my city, people fighting for each other, and me going about my normal life with it always on my mind. I couldn’t look away, but I also knew I couldn’t participate for various reasons. Instead, I boosted reports that the violence wasn’t coming from the protestors but rather the cops and National Guard. I am not close to the area at all. At first I was grateful that no one was “checking in” on me because it’s all bullshit. The media is lying to you.

Even though it does feel like we’re living in the Ghorman episodes of Andor, I am also so heartened by the fact that we are fighting for our neighbors. No one is illegal on stolen land. And Trump has now rolled back some of the places for ICE to raid. Still not great, ICE shouldn’t exist! But at least it’s something. It’s unpopular, like Trump.

And then yesterday’s large turnout across the country for No Kings Day. What a way to end a truly wild week in LA. But again, it shows that our strength is community. There are more of us.

I’m going to end this newsletter with some resources if you want to donate to these causes:

Hope you’re all staying safe and that you keep speaking out for what’s right!