Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

Groups and individuals from the community had an opportunity to confront Police Chief Bratton and the Police Commission at Parker Center today regarding May Day attacks by the LAPD on thousands of peaceful demonstrators in MacArthur Park. Some of the groups represented included a recently formed group of community activists called The People’s Network in Defense of Human Rights, CopWatch, The Bus Rider’s Union, Chirla, Caracen, Miwon, Los Angeles Federation of Labor, the ACLU, the L.A. Community Action Network, the International Action Network, and others.

People were very united in their opinions and demands today even though there had been some initial discord among some of the groups. Seen as a huge problem by many is a statement made by some of the organizers that the youth and anarchists had been responsible for inciting the police at the event. Many feel that statements like this that demonize and hang the youth out to dry are extremely unfortunate; especially since many youth had been involved with the organizing and were some of the first to reach out to protect others, suffering hits by rubber bullets for their trouble. And even more important, pointing fingers at people from inside the movement takes the spotlight away from the real culprit, the LAPD. “We cannot be blamed for what the cops did”, said a member of CopWatch.

The LAPD are to blame, and they are the only ones to blame; was the overwhelming consensus at today’s hearing. According to the speakers, the police were aggressive from the start, and there were reports that they had been rehearsing maneuvers and drills hours before the marchers even arrived at the park.

Full report: COMMUNITY GROUPS CONFRONT LAPD AND CHIEF BRATTON ABOUT MAY DAY POLICE RIOT by Anna

Also from the newswire: Our Voices Will Not Be Silenced: May 17 March and vigil at MacArthur Park by schock | MIWON still covering for LAPD mayday attack by jubilee shine | Class action lawsuit filed against LAPD by national lawyers guild

LOS ANGELES, May 1, 2007 – An otherwise peaceful day of demonstrations throughout the city ended violently when the LAPD attacked the May Day march and rally in MacArthur Park today. A large rally numbering in the tens of 1,000s was driven from the park and the streets around the park. Families with young children were forced to flee as the police fired hundreds of rounds of rubber bullets into the crowd. There are reports of many injuries, including journalists with a TV news crew. Some have been hospitalized from their injuries. Witnesses report beatings with batons and many injuries from rubber bullets. The first incident of police violence occurred at Wilshire & Parkview when police drove a row of motorcycles head on into the march. A brief scuffle broke out but the situation was diffused. It was the incident at 7th and Alvarado that sparked the police attack, which resulted in the complete clearing of the park and scattered street fights with police in the neighboring area. From the Newswire: LAPD attack thousands of peaceful protestors at Immigrant Rights Rally! | | Police Riot on Peaceful Protest | | LAPD ATTACK PEACEFUL MAY DAY CROWD WITH RUBBER BULLETS AND TEARGAS | | 5/1: NISN Statement on LAPD Attacks May Day Immigrant Marchers, TAKE ACTION! | | Media of Police Gearing up at MacArthur Park

Audio from Kill Radio: Audio: Police disrupt event at Mac Arthur park

Photos of a peaceful demonstration before the police attack: May Day 2007 by William John Cox | | Los Angeles, May 1, 2007,The Great American Boycott II by Marcus | | May Day 2007 Los Angeles & May Day 2007 Los Angeles by Kimberly King

UPDATE & CORRECTION: Early reports of tear gas have not been substantiated. The firing of over 200 rounds of rubber bullets has been confirmed. In addition nine arrests have been reported. LA-IMC has received no reports as to the status of those arrested.

On May 1st, 2007, hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, will stand up to the anti-migrant tide, against the raids and deportations, against punitive and terroristic "immigration reform." Migrants and those with recent migrant roots, will emerge from invisible communities and underground economies to demand dignity and justice from a government that is offering only a choice between which oppression it will unleash on them. And they have an answer: stop the raids and deportations, and legalization for all immigrants now.
Article: The Migrant Trap, and the Migrants' Way Out: May 1, 2007 by Leslie Radford
LA IMC Calendar: May 1 Immigrant Workers March-Rally In L.A.

Downtown and Mid-Town Los Angeles will be the focal points for two marches and rallies in support of the immigrant workers.

The first march will start at 12 noon. Immigration supporters will meet at Olympic and Broadway to march to Los Angeles City Hall.

The second march will start at Vermont and Third Street at 3 PM.

LOS ANGELES, April 29, 2007 - Hundreds of Mexican and "Central American" descent children marched through downtown Los Angeles Sunday afternoon to protest "racist immigration laws and racist deportations." The children and their families marched approximately four blocks, from Olvera Street to City Hall. The children -- the vast majority who are U.S. citizens due to the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution -- wore white t-shirts with the message "Legalize My Parents."

The marchers arrived at City Hall whereupon several speakers demanded that children not be torn apart from their families through racist deportation tactics. One speaker read aloud the United Nations Declaration of Children's Rights, emphasizing that all children have the right to be with their parents
From the Newswire: Children March Against Racist Deportations and Immigration Laws by Mexica Movement

PORT OF AZTLAN, April 27, 2007--The independent truckers of the Port of Aztlan, working with the Industrial Workers of the World, made good on their promise to shut down the Los Angeles port on May 1, in support of nationwide migrants' rights protests scheduled for that day and the truckers' struggle to organize. This morning the Los Angeles Port Authority declared the port would be closed for a May 1 "holiday," thereby avoiding potential litigation from shippers facing dockers' and demurrage fees for goods left on the dock during the truckers' strike.

Ernesto Nevarez, spokesperson for the truckers, explained, "[The Port Authority] knows the truckers are going to do it [strike] anyway. By calling it a legal holiday, they avoid liability for the shutdown. We forced them to recognize May Day." Full Story: Troqueros Declare Victory! by Leslie Radford

In the face of increasing repression against undocumented immigrants, specifically those of Latin American or Mexican descent who appear to be foreigners, FRENTE CONTRA LAS REDADAS/FRONT AGAINST THE RAIDS, a coalition of activists and organizations have formed to defend the people against increasing state police repression. They have put a call out for support from allies:

"So, we are proposing is that EVERY organization, party, collective, non-profit...etc. who is against theses raids send a rep to the next FCR meeting. It is VERY important that we keep up this momemtum so that we can build a real social movement to end these redadas. We are ready to take action, we just need the back up of as many people and organizations as possible!!! Please send a rep and try to recruit more orgs/people that are committed to the struggle to end the racist migra raids!!!"

Meeting is on Sunday the 15th. Click the title, or view the calendar for more information.

- Amnesty Now! Full Rights for All Immigrants, Now! With these resounding chants, more than 75,000 immigrants and immigrant rights advocates under the banner of the April 7 Coalition marched and rallied for full rights for all immigrants last Saturday, April 7, 2007, in Los Angeles. Unlike the disparate and fewer numbers of mobilized activities last March 25, 2007, the April 7 Coalition march for full rights for all immigrants became one of the largest to be held in Los Angeles after May 1, 2006. This brings a new momentum for the immigrant rights movement in California. The conservative L.A Times estimated the crowd as 10,000 while the Latino Channel 34 estimate of the crowd was 50,000.
Full reports: April 7 Coalition March Rally in Los Angeles Draws 75,000 by Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV | | Immigrants: 50,000 March for Immigration Reform by Stewart A. Alexander
Full report with photos: Masses of Immigrants Demand Amnesty by Cliff Olin
Photos: Pro-Immigration/Amnesty Protest on Broadway, Downtown Los Angeles 04.07 by True DeLuxe

LOS ANGELES, 25 March 2007--The signs and flags were first, bobbing at the bottom of the long Aliso Avenue block. Then the chant, first quietly: "¿Qué queremos?" "¡Legalización!" Then louder, as I approached the marchers and the government buildings bounced the echo: "¿Cuándo?" "¡Ahora!" It looked like a small group coming up the hill, finishing up the last stretch of their march around the Federal Building, commemorating the massive outpouring of last year's March 25 Gran Marcha. But they kept coming. And just when a gap in their ranks might have signaled the end, another group turned the corner from Alameda and made their way around to the Federal Building steps on Los Angeles Street.
Full report with photos: March 25 Begins, Again by Leslie Radford