Besides putting on a $7-billion sports extravaganza in the summer of 2028, Olympic organizers in Los Angeles have pledged to protect human rights. That means assuring that homelessness and human trafficking don’t get worse as a tsunami of athletes and fans from around the globe flood Southern California.
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LA28 organizers outlined how they intend to protect civil rights and the most vulnerable in a 35-page report released by the city of Los Angeles last month. The organization pledges to work with a network of local, state and federal agencies to “provide a solid foundation for the Games that uphold the highest standards and leave a positive legacy.”
Although LA28 says it worked with a wide variety of organizations to craft the “human rights strategy,” overseen by a former U.S. foreign service officer, some progressive groups say the plan falls short.
What activists want done to protect human rights
The activists told a Los Angeles City Council committee that LA28 plans to rely too much on police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, organizations that provoke fear and discord among many Angelenos, especially after a wave of violent immigration raids. They also said the Olympic organizing group needs a much more detailed plan and to set aside money (one group suggested up to $3.6 million) to bolster organizations that protect human rights.
“The city has a critical opportunity to ensure that human rights protections are funded just as seriously as traffic management employees, but the newly released LA28 human rights [strategy] committed $0 to prevent trafficking,” said Stephanie Richard, a clinical professor who leads the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative at Loyola Law School.
Several of Richard’s students joined her in demanding more. “The plan repackages existing systems which are not properly equipped or resourced to meet the scale of the Olympics and relies mainly on law enforcement efforts,” said Lesly Ayala, of the Loyola group. “The plan highlights federal and state programs as well as services provided by nonprofits, but does not offer to invest in any of these programs or services.”
A cricket venue under construction at Fairplex in Pomona.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The role of Homeland Security in the Olympics
Martin Barrera of the Fair Games Coalition, which represents more than 60 local groups, expressed dismay that LA28 consulted with the federal Homeland Security agency in creating the plan, after its role in raids that arrested scores of migrant workers. “This plan fails to protect those most at risk,” Barrera said.
In addition, several left-leaning political groups have been applying increasing pressure on LA28, the private nonprofit group formed to produce the Olympics and Paralympics. They previously called for the resignation of LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman, faulting him for bringing several allies of President Trump onto the organization’s board.
The Fair Games Coalition, which includes the restaurant workers union Unite Here Local 11, has argued that soccer’s upcoming World Cup and the 2028 Games need to do more to support the workers who will serve thousands of visitors.
Research has shown that during past major sports events, workers are sometimes transported in (or “trafficked”) and then required to work for substandard wages and under poor conditions, the Loyola Law School group said. It suggested that LA28 should pay for an awareness campaign, independent audits of vendors to assure labor code compliance and a fund to aid those who are mistreated, among other programs.
The Fair Games organization pledged to continue pressuring for better labor deals for workers, saying that, otherwise, LA28 would “face the possibility of massive protests and strikes on the opening day of the 2028 Olympics.”
Can the Olympics make money and protect human rights?
LA28 Chief Executive Reynold Hoover has said his group will do everything it can to protect worker rights. When city lawmakers and others have previously argued the organization must do more to aid L.A. citizens and companies, Hoover has responded that his first responsibility is to deliver a safe and moneymaking event.
If LA28 overspends on supporting other initiatives tied to the Games, it could end up losing money, Olympic organizers have said. The city of L.A. and the state of California previously agreed to cover any cost overruns, with no limit on the city’s potential liability. Still, Hoover has pledged that the event can make money, taking taxpayers off the hook, while also being a responsible community partner.
Jacie Prieto, spokesperson for LA28, said in a statement: “In the lead up to and during the Games, LA28 will continue our efforts to implement the strategy and create a safe and secure event that protects the human rights and dignity of the fans, partners, athletes, and all those experiencing the Games, and local residents.”
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And finally … your photo of the day 
Beyonce attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
(Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum)
Today’s great photo is from photographer Dimitrios Kambouris at the 2026 Met Gala. This year’s theme, “Costume Art,” honored the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition on the role of the dressed body in the history of art.
Have a great day, from the Essential California team
Jim Rainey, staff reporter
Hugo Martín, assistant editor, fast break desk
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Andrew Campa, weekend writer
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters
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