Illuminated portraits of Los Angeles residents are being projected onto downtown buildings nightly, accompanied by the question “Am I Next?” as part of a protest art project responding to increased federal immigration raids.
Response to Immigration Raids
Three Los Angeles institutions – the California Community Foundation, LA Plaza Cultura y Artes, and the Japanese American National Museum – have partnered to launch “Am I Next?”, a campaign highlighting the experiences of those impacted by immigration enforcement. The project began on November 6 and features images of everyday Angelenos, alongside stories of individuals detained by federal agents.
The campaign spotlights cases like those of Mauricio, waiting for a bus; Rosalina, at home with her children; and Juan, on a lunch break from his construction job – all “Taken” by federal agents, according to the project’s displays.
The initiative addresses the fear and trauma experienced by many since the Trump administration’s increased immigration enforcement began in June, impacting daily life in a city where nearly half the residents are Latino. More than 65,000 immigrants are currently held in federal detention across the US, a two-thirds increase since January, with 74% of those detained having no criminal convictions.
Faces of the Campaign
The project features portraits of well-known figures such as actors Edward James Olmos and George Takei, as well as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, alongside images of other Los Angeles residents photographed by Barbara Davidson. Some potential participants declined to participate due to concerns about jeopardizing their citizenship applications.
A website has been established where individuals can submit their own photos in solidarity with the campaign. Miguel Santana, president and CEO of the California Community Foundation, stated he now carries his passport with him, something he never previously considered as a native Angeleno, and noted that some people are afraid to leave their homes.
The Japanese American National Museum, recalling the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, also experienced a raid by federal agents in August during a public event with Governor Gavin Newsom, sparking widespread outrage. The museum’s evening projections incorporate images of formerly incarcerated individuals alongside those protesting ICE raids.
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is displaying over 30 large-scale digital images and neon works by local artists, reflecting the immigrant experience and calling for justice. Similar projections are planned for institutions in Long Beach, San Francisco, and New York.
Santana stated the project will continue indefinitely until constitutional rights are protected for all Americans, emphasizing the need to expose and normalize the current approach to immigration enforcement.
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