Jenna Ortega Calls For Action Amid Anti-ICE Protests And LA Riots: 'Be Angry Too'

Jenna Ortega is using her platform to amplify voices and raise awareness as unrest spreads both at home and abroad.

The 22-year-old "Wednesday" actress took to social media to speak out about the growing anti-ICE protests happening across the U.S. and the broader humanitarian crises unfolding in the Middle East.

Jenna Ortega's latest post comes in the wake of renewed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Dozens of arrests have been made across Los Angeles, particularly targeting immigrant-heavy neighborhoods, sparking widespread demonstrations.

“The world is crying all over,” Ortega wrote in an emotional post shared Tuesday. “People in LA are being torn away from their everyday lives & love... The ones they’ve built so tirelessly over the years, just like you. Innocent civilians in Iran are caught in the middle of warfare… Palestinian cries are still being buried in everyday media.”

Unlike the violent 1992 LA riots, current protests began largely peacefully and confined to a small stretch of downtown Los Angeles. However, there have been isolated incidents of vandalism, including cars being set on fire and attacks on federal officers in recent days.

The protests have since expanded to cities including New York, Seattle, Chicago, Austin, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C., with Spokane, Washington, even declaring a state of emergency after demonstrators blocked major roads in protest of ICE activity.

Addressing the confusion and despair many are feeling, the "You" actress urged followers not to disconnect from the pain of others.

“My thoughts are heavy, my heart follows. It is normal to feel confused and hopeless during this time, but I strongly advise you never stop paying attention," she said. "How can we care about anything else as human freedoms spanning across seas are being violated with such violence?”

Her words echo a growing sentiment among young activists and public figures who are using their platforms to call for accountability, solidarity, and awareness.

Ortega ended her statement with a powerful reminder, “Listen to one another and love. But be angry too. Educate yourself as best you can. To say this doesn’t concern you, or that it isn’t your problem, is a privilege under abuse.”

This isn’t the first time Ortega has spoken out in defense of human rights and social justice. Back in 2019, the "Scream" star publicly criticized Alabama’s abortion law, calling attention to its harmful implications.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, she wrote, "I am truly saddened by the Alabama Abortion Law that was just passed, which is clearly an attack on Women’s Fundamental Rights. This is sickening, disappointing, and unconstitutional. Why are we moving backwards as a country?"

She described the law as "clearly an attack on Women’s Fundamental Rights" and didn't hold back, labeling it "sickening, disappointing, and unconstitutional." Ortega questioned the nation’s direction, asking, "Why are we moving backwards?"

Plus, in 2022, Ortega joined a coalition of young artists and influencers including Olivia Rodrigo and 158 other artists, in signing a full-page ad in The New York Times denouncing the Supreme Court’s plan to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The ad was part of Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s “Bans Off Our Bodies” campaign, an initiative created to rally support and raise awareness for abortion rights nationwide.

Unrest broke out in Los Angeles on the evening of Friday, June 6, following a wave of federal immigration raids conducted in the city.

The operation prompted swift backlash from local and state officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who issued public statements condemning the raids and voicing support for undocumented immigrants residing in the state.

What began as protests against the enforcement actions quickly escalated. Demonstrators were seen clashing with federal officers, with some throwing rocks and other objects. Videos circulating online captured scenes of looting, cars set ablaze, and protesters blocking traffic on a major freeway.

As the world continues to fight, Ortega continues to be a rising voice for Gen Z’s activism movement.