LAPD on May Day march: Strike now, ask later

Until Tuesday, the immigrant-rights movement had been defined by its bouyant, almost jubilant nature. Immigrants and their supporters had marched peacefully by the millions for more than a year in cities and towns across America. All that changed on May Day in L.A.'s MacArthur Park. In one evening of baton-swinging, camera-crushing good old-fashioned police work, the LAPD trampled upon the rosy optimism of countless L.A. families asserting their rights and dignity in the heart of the city's Central American community. And the department immediately drew rebuke for its brutish, seemingly injudicious show of force. Again.

Here's how it went down. As the planned rally winded down on the park's north soccer field, a ruckus drew attention at the southeastern edge of the park, where a small number of more rowdy protesters, looking mostly like youth or students, were blocking Alvarado and Seventh. LAPD cleared the street, then formed a riot line against the crowd.

The sight of cops standing shoulder-to-shoulder menacingly holding batons drew more onlookers, which drew more cops, which drew more onlookers. The pointless showdown kept escalating. What happened next is under dispute. In a hurried press conference later in the evening, LAPD Chief Willliam Bratton told an indignant gathering of local media that preliminary information suggested officers suffered "missile" attacks -- bottles and food -- which forced them to respond. Witnesses and reporters said the police began pressing forward at one point, firing foam bullets upon the crowd indiscriminately. Video footage online and on local TV stations shows officers clubbing and violently shoving teens, seniors, adults holding small children, and even reporters. One piece of footage shows officers senselessly beating a FOX 11 cameraman who had been knocked to the ground, and then striking FOX 11 reporter Christina Gonzalez who had stepped in to protest. (See YouTube clip embedded below.)

At the edges, behind the outer police lines, marchers were in shock, fuming, and frightened as they watched small squads of police in riot helmets running around the park with no apparent direction or orders, shooting at or striking people along the way. Little children wept out of fear and confusion while helicopters roared overhead. One woman was nearly hysterical as she explained how she was separated from her 7-year-old daughter. Another woman, Sarah Araiza, said officers pushed her 13-year-old. "They were pushing children! See that police officer, laughing like a jack-ass? That officer pushed my daughter. He pushed her for no reason," Araiza said.

By 7 p.m. most of Alvarado had been cleared but police activity was still going on on Sixth Street above the park. Sheriff's deputies holding what looked like high-powered rifles blocked off access to the Westlake/MacArthur Park Metro station, causing many in the crowd who would have otherwise just taken a train home to mingle and watch. Rally organizers, who had staged a peaceful, permitted event at the park, retreated to the CHIRLA headquarters on Third Street and held a impromptu press conference. On television they appeared stunned, defeated, and angry. "I feel police instead of controlling the situation made it worse," said CHIRLA executive director Angelica Salas.

Bratton had been on his way to meet up with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in San Salvador, but stayed behind at the mayor's request. The chief, dressed casually in a windbreaker, showed up to address reporters at the western edge of the park at 9 p.m. He was hit with a barrage of questions and accusations from journalists who said some of their colleagues were taken to hospital after being beaten or hit with the PD's non-lethal bullets. "Do you think this will affect your reappointment?" someone asked. "All of our equipment was destroyed. Why?" asked another. Bratton said there would be an investigation, yadda yadda, these things take time. Well, how does he explain this?

That's right: "Double-time, it's tussle time." Nice. By the time most reporters had left, the rally organizers showed up, still looking rightly pissed. Maria Elena Durazo, Angela Sanbrano, and Angelica Salas, backed by staff and other organizers, approached Bratton directly, but he was talking on a cell phone near his unmarked car. The leaders instead spoke in hushed tones to Asst. Chief Earl Paysinger, who was overheard telling them that "I was at the DNC."

The Spanish-language media did not hold back. On Univision's 11 p.m. newscast, one anchor said he felt "rage" when he saw the footage of police beating other journalists. On Channel 22, anchors drew comparisons to the 1970 Chicano Moratorium and the killing of reporter Ruben Salazar via a sheriff's tear gas projectile. Commentator Carlos Rajo speculated that immigrants will now fear police even more than ever.

On Tuesday morning, Bratton suggested to KNX radio that he disapproved of the LAPD's actions at MacArthur Park. The Radio and Television News Association called for a investigation, CNS said. "There is evidence that officers knocked reporters to the ground, used batons on photographers and damaged cameras, possibly motivated by anger over journalists photographing efforts by officers to control the movements of the marchers," the RTNA said in a statement.

Could all this have been avoided if the MacArthur Park event had been allowed to march on the streets like the march downtown earlier in the day? You gotta wonder who was making the decisions here, and how. Meantime, for the most part, May Day was a success. Not even an army of strike-now-ask-later cops could stand down a brigade of mothers with strollers.

* Photo above by L.A. Times staff photographer Luis Sinco. All other photos by Times photographer Rick Loomis.

Comments

[EL CHAVO!]

Thanks for the roundup of info Daniel.I was listening to KPCC this morning and one npr reporter said the police were also pulling stunned people out of the McDonalds, that shit is crazy.

[Andrew C. Morales-Miramontes]

I have busy yesterday and today completing scholarship applications for my last tri-mester completing my MBA. I just saw the youtube.com video of Christina Gonzales' news crew at MacArthur Park. I am so embarrased for Chief Bratton. If this is the kind of leadership he will provide us his second term and strom trooper police force he oversees, well I don't want him to have another 5 years. YA BASTA!! OUR PEOPLE DEMAND RESPECT AND TO TREATED LIKE HUMAN BEINGS!!

[United States Citizen]

It only takes one bad apple to ruin a bunch. Unfortunately it sounds like there were quite a few bad apples there harrassing the police. The police were probably told to clear the problem before it bacame a severe riot. Anyone who is stupid enough not to listen to police no matter who you are (reporters) takes your chances. No police officer is going to stop, look at your lanyard and read it, ask you politely to move away, then wait for you to take your time. We all know a mob metality could have caused harm to law enforcement, they were probably worried they were going to get hurt too. I know that if law enforcement was yelling, holding a baton or rifle, I would do what they say immediately and ask questions later. Maybe the people who got knocked down have good excuse like they don't understand English, most illegal immigrants don't. They should demand interpreters the next time someone is caring a rifle and yelling at them. I'm sure they're government will provide one.

[Janet]

Let's put the facts out there. Officers were in a volatile situation. They were being assaulted for a long time before they moved in. The crowd was told to disperse and they didn't. When you see that many cops why in the hell would to stick around? Channel 4 showed all the anarchists lined up confronting police in wearing scarfs like a bunch of cowards. Remember last year these same idiots vandalized many businesses along that area. IF these losers would have taken control as it seemed was beginning to happen there would have been a riot. Daniel, they didn't get a permit to walk in the streets because of resources and the other march downtown. Instead of obeying the law they took matters into their own hands and marched on the sidewalks. All you need is a couple of knuckleheads radicals and this is what you get. Don't leave out all the officers that were also injured.

[Daniel H.]

Dear Janet, Chief Bratton just said at the City Hall press conference that 15 officers were hit with flying objects, not injured. It's hard to get injured when you're wearing helmets and heavy gear. The people running away from the police in terror were mostly in white T-shirts, the color immigrant rights demonstrators are asked to wear to signify peace and respect.

[KIKO]

We were there, we saw the initial event that started everything on the east side of the park. We were right there when it happened. A group of azteca dancers were performing a ceremonial dance in the middle of Alvarado St. Up to here everything was pretty peaceful. Suddenly a swarm of motorcycle cops plowed into the dancers with sirens blaring. There was no warning, no call to disperse. For a few moments the air was filled with the sounds of drums and sirens mingling, then the drums stopped, as the motorcycles pushed into the dancers, one of the dancers started hitting the drum again and people grew outraged at the cops' show of force, but most withdrew. A small group refused to leave the street, outraged at the inappropriate use of force by the motorcycle cops, who had cleared the way for a line of riot cops. The riot cops then rushed in fully armed and geared up and confronted the group and started pushing everyone. In the confrontation line that resulted, I saw cops heavily armed and geared up, and I saw one empty water bottle fly into the air towards the cops. I can't confirm if the bottle even bounced off any cops' armor.

It was clear from before this incident, though, from the moment we got to the park, that the cops were already agitating and on edge. Later, on the west side of the park, we saw a riot line swarm into place, another group of marching cops move around in formation, a bunch of cop cars, etc. One cop looked like a suicide bomber with canisters strapped all over his chest. They occupied the intersection of Wilshire and 6th and intimidated people. We just wanted to cross the street and get into the park for the rally, as they kept ordering us to do, but everything was completely contradictory, as the street was blocked with armed cops. I heard one mom pushing her kid in a stroller complain in Spanish, as she and her family walked the opposite way from the park rally, "Well, we're TRYING to get in the park but you won't let us..." When we did try to move into the street to go into the park, as they were asking everyone to, they stopped us, as we had been afraid they would, but then waved us through.

In other words, weapons and cops everywhere on edge, all agitated, mixed signals, creating this fake, heightened sense of crisis, terrorizing people. And like all terrorists, after the fact, the LAPD cites some ludicrous justification like, you know, an empty water bottle that may have bounced off heavy armor (if it met its target at all) without acknowledging how they themselves created a tense, violent situation in the first place. Same old story.

I believe all of this was intended. Just like the incessant ICE raids that have gone on since last May Day. The power got spooked last year and put out the order to put a chill on things. The LAPD's response was consistent with the state's ongoing response of terrorism over the past year towards immigrants, their families, and immigrant rights groups.

Oh yeah, also, amazing that our media-hungry spectacle mayor who seems to be everywhere at once was somehow nowhere to be found for this. I guess we should have seen this whole thing coming earlier in the day when we heard that he was out of the country. I'm curious, where was Tony during the 1970 moratorium? Where is he now?

One thing I don't wonder is who is Tony's boss. We all know that, and it ain't the people--especially not the people of East LA.

[j latsko]

Here Here Here!!!
Thank you KIKO!
Why should the people of LA be forced to wait thirty days!
A conspiracy to keep us quiet? For at least thirty days?
And Garcetti and Huizar and Perry stand there supporting this garbage?!
Bratton should go and perhaps Villaraigosa too.
And there should be answers today.
To guarantee that our SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS are still preserved in this great city.

[chimatli]

The photos above really affected me emotionally. The pain and confusion in that family's face is heart breaking.
Janet's comments and others like hers are troubling as well. It's a sad day in our city.

[romulo]

The more things change, they stay the same.
i was at the early march downtown and was surprised at the heavy police presence. I didn't know lapd had so many motorcycle officers or so many foot and bicycle troops who were posted at every corner along the march route on broadway.
they were not the only law enforcement deployed. one block north of city hall, on spring street, a phalanx of homeland security guards in riot gear were lined up in front of the federal court building.
around the corner, between los angeles and alameda a contingent of chp troopers was deployed in dark blue uniforms and combat boots.
did the crime element in other parts of the city take advantage while the cat was away?
i digress.
lapd's aggressiveness was also evident when they charged at the crowd enjoying a cinco de mayo fest at lincoln park some years ago.
then, i saw mounted police charge at terrified women and children.
the officers's justification was along similar lines but the public strongly believed that lapd didn't like so many raza congregating at the park.
that was the last cinco de mayo fest at lincoln park.
unfortunately, this incident will soon fade from the journos' memory.
in case they don't lapd has many ways of nudging them to forget. this because most journos are so dependent on law enforcement for their stories and their management understands the real meaning of the to serve and protect (property) motto.

[Marcelino]

This is a clearly a show to demonstrate the power brokers are in charge not the workers. I mean come on a group of anarchist are going to organize a riot with latin american mothers and their little toddlers??? This is nonsense...the LAPD was sent in to send the message: "You want to question the power dynamic of this city? We'll show you who's boss here!".

People now must be more organize and valiant in the face of this outright slap in the face to the all the working families that make this city run.

I'm so damn disappointed in Villaraigosa for not outright saying that this was morally wrong if not just plain dumb. I mean come on he knows the whole history of the journalist Ruben Salazar and the Americans that were violently strucked in the park in Boyle Heights. What the hell happen to this Union organizer why is he acting (as we say in the Eastside) dumb?

It was people expressing their political views and a few water bottles thrown in the air isn't a reason to send in riot police on women and children!

I just hope this galvanizes the working families to become leaders in their communities and worksites. To truly organize their work places and take power from this crooked politicos of Los Angeles.

[Edward]

Janet,

This was clearly not a mass riot. Just as you said, it was clear who was causing trouble, 'the ones wearing the scarfs'!

DUH!

The cops could have just gone after that handful instead of attacking innocent first-amendment-exercising individuals. Come on, let's be honest, here, folks! The police overreacted and showed just how little self-control and how little respect police have for people voicing their opinions. That's just not what police are taught to respect ... until a few lawsuits teach 'em!

[David G.]

A wonderfully written piece, I thank you for you excellent journalism and research. This was a profound and poignant article. Thank you.

Daniel, I have borrowed some of your pictures for my blog, I had no other way of contacting you to request permission. So please contact me if you would like me to remove them and I would be happy to do so.

Again Thank you.

David G. (aka Mictlan, Mictlan89)

[Steven]

It is only a matter of time before one or more reporters are killed by the cops.

[Another reporter]

How much longer must we tolerate this heavy handed censorship of the press by the cops?
http://www.lulu.com/browse/preview.php?fCID=716535

[T]

this was ridiculous. it goes to show you how lapd thinks they run everything. if they didnt want the rally to happen something should have been said a long time ago. they knew that there was going to be poeple walking so why take things to extremes????? to all of those who were injured my heart goes out to you.

[Elsa Salazar Cade]

So now Lou Dobbs has bought NAHJ for 5,000 dollars!
Well, I guess I will turn in my membership because obviously they don't need me.

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/07/dobbs-journalist/

[allison]

if officers were being assaulted for a long time by so many "bad apples" as a few commenters have mentioned, why was no one arrested? probably because there was nothing to justify an arrest, much less the violent response that occured. i am disgusted by the police behavior.

[Jessika Russell]

I'm sure the police had plenty of reasons to justify numerous arrests. But because they are out numbered they cant just stop and arrest everyone, because then they are short 2 officers for every arrest. And here is a novel idea. If the cops tell you to get back,..Then "get the "F" back and you likely won’t get your ass beat down. I'm discussed with the last posting from "Allison". Open your eyes and take a look at reality.