LOS ANGELES – Amid protests and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids taking place across the city, Los Angeles Football Club’s supporter group, The 3252, made a decision during Sunday’s match that created a shift in the entire stadium. They stayed silent.
At BMO Stadium, in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, lives a community centered around love, celebration and, most of all, soccer. LAFC played its first season in 2018 and since then, The 3252 has developed a reputation for their loud, proud and raucous support of the club.
On Sunday, during a Major League Soccer match against Sporting Kansas City, the drums, chants and songs were nowhere to be seen in a display that created a unique environment.
After ICE conducted raids Friday in Los Angeles, protests spread across the second largest city in the U.S. and were amplified Sunday when President Donald Trump mobilized the National Guard. As protests continued around Los Angeles, The 3252 decided to take a stand and make a statement.
A silent supporters section with signs reading “Abolish ICE” and “Immigrants are the heartbeat of Los Angeles” played the backdrop to LAFC’s 3-1 win over Sporting KC.
While the community was at BMO Stadium for a soccer game, the events in Los Angeles were hard to ignore, even for players like Jeremy Ebobisse, who joined LAFC in January.
“We stand by each other,” said Ebobisse, who made his sixth start of the season Sunday. “We’ve been alongside each other much longer than anything that’s going on today. And it’s important that in these difficult moments, we reaffirm that.”
At LAFC games, The 3252 typically starts their chants and drumming after the playing of the national anthem. The volume and passion carries through until the final whistle blows.
With the supporters staying silent, Sunday’s match felt eerie. Every kick of the ball, every time the ball hit the post, even the mumblings from conversations a few rows over were audible throughout BMO Stadium.
Despite the absence of usual support, the game would still go on.
LAFC responded to Kansas City’s 39th minute opener with a goal in stoppage time in the first half to send the teams into halftime tied 1-1.
Two goals in the second half from LAFC secured the victory for the black and gold and extended its unbeaten run to 10, but the noise (or lack of) from the crowd still dominated the atmosphere.
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The 3252 typically erupt in cheers when LAFC scores a goal. On Sunday night, the supporter group celebrated, but not audibly. Fans jumped, high-fived, and set off flares, but they would not make any noise. The rest of the fans in the stadium cheered to make up for the silence from The 3252, but the energy still felt off.
However, in the 78th minute, the energy returned.
After over 85% of the game was finished, The 3252 spoke up. The drums came alive and so did the voices.
The 3252 typically cheers for the team, focusing on the game. Outside the stadium, as peaceful protestors descended on portions of Los Angeles and a few clashed with law enforcement, their chants were about more than soccer.
“What do we want? ICE out. When do we want it? Now!” was heard from the supporters section.
The chants continued into the 80th minute, when The 3252 switched to chants of “No ICE.”
The crowd stopped chanting for 10 minutes until the fans returned with chants heard every week. For the duration of stoppage time, The 3252 resumed its typical soccer-related chants.
As the final whistle blew, the supporters’ section stayed loud, as if it was the middle of the game in any other match.
LAFC defender Eddie Segura found himself on the scorer’s sheet for the first time since 2020 on Sunday. For Segura, the win meant even more given the occasion.
“I think it’s a show of strength and a show of unity,” said Segura, who is LAFC’s longest tenured currently active player. “I think as far as the victory tonight, we dedicate that as a gift to our fans, the 3252, just for the appreciation and support that they always show us.”
The identity of The 3252 is “Shoulder to Shoulder.” LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo recognizes the fans’ importance to the club’s community.
“The reaction and response from our fans, who are part of our community, is a lot,” said Cherundolo, who announced in April that 2025 would be his final season at LAFC. “I think the only way for professional athletes, in this case, LAFC, to get through that is to control what you control, and that’s our performance on the field. I was very proud of the guys for doing that.”
LAFC striker Ebobisse recognizes the importance of moments like Sunday, when silence told the story.
“Obviously, there’s a lot going on on the players’ side too,” Ebobisse said. “But there’s some things that are bigger than this game.”
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