Finneas says he was tear-gassed at “peaceful” LA protest: “Fuck ICE”

Finneas has claimed that he was tear-gassed at a “very peaceful” protest by the National Guard in Los Angeles.

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The singer-songwriter and Billie Eilish‘s brother took to social media to detail his experience, sharing his message to over 4million followers on Instagram. The musician had attended a protest against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) department’s operations in Los Angeles over the weekend.

The protests – which began on Friday and carried on through Sunday – saw numerous people stage a peaceful demonstration, campaigning against ICE’s raids of several workplaces in Los Angeles for alleged immigration violations. President Donald Trump authorised the deployment of the National Guard in response, with the National Guard being allowed to carry out anti-protest operations over the next 60 days.

On Sunday (June 8), Finneas wrote on an Instagram Story: “Fuck ICE.” His next post saw him repost a message to National Guard and military personnel who do not wish to partake in Trump’s order: “If you are National Guard or Active Duty military and you are being ordered to violate the Constitutional rights of US citizens then this is the number to the GI Rights Hotline. There is support, you don’t have to go through with it.”

Later on, he posted the following on his story: “Tear gassed almost immediately at the very peaceful protest downtown – they’re inciting this.” He also shared a post from Tim Heidecker that reads: “If you are into this fascist shit you are small and weak and will lose.”

NME has reached out to Finneas’ team for comment on being tear-gassed, and any additional statements.

Finneas’ posts come just days after he announced that he has joined forces with Ashe to form a new band called The Favors. The Favors have also shared the single ‘The Little Mess You Made’, which will feature as part of an upcoming album called ‘The Dream’. Set for release on September 19 via Darkroom Records, the album has been described as containing “era-agnostic songs that are equally appropriate for the last dance in a smoky bar circa 1977 or a sunset slot at Coachella in 2027.”

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