Between 8:30 and 9 p.m., the LAPD made good on the threat
that Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine relayed
to the crowd near the beginning of their free concert outside the Staples Center: they disrupted the alleged "illegal action" in the protest zone on the pretext that people were standing next to the security fence. Channels Seven, Nine, and Eleven are reporting that one or two bonfires among the hundreds-strong crowd prompted the police to sweep the area and begin firing projectiles at the crowd; their reporters on the ground, however, have noted that the fires began only after the police began to disperse the crowd. The LAPD on horseback, motorcycles and in armored formation drove the protesters up Olympic to the 101 underpass just as President Clinton finished his fanciful paean to the American dream and delegates began to file out of the Staples Center. So-called "bean bags," soft bags filled with hard pellets designed to knock people down, were fired at protesters, downing a prominent LA acitivist on behalf of the homeless. In addition, "stingers," or projectiles fired at the pavement that unleash a number of BB-style pellets at ankle level in order to inflict pain and perhaps to incapacitate subjects, were also fired according to a Channel Eleven expert in police tactics. Flash bangs and perhaps tear gas were also used against the mostly young and heavily Latino protesters.
The police action came not more than an hour after RATM concluded their defiant if low-decibel benefit concert on behalf of the anti-death penalty movement and the other causes brought to the fore by the many speeches and marches occurring throughout the day. Before and during the concert, the dismay of the elegantly dressed and cell phone-toting delegates at the presence of the unwashed masses crashing their party was palpable. Delegates wandered into the fenced-in protest area, apparently under the impression that they could walk directly to the Staples Center, only to mill about in confusion and yell out for their companions upon learning that they'd gone the wrong way.
It should be fairly obvious to anyone that was there that the kids on the fence weren't hurting anybody, and that their presence was using as a cynical excuse to clear the area for the comfort of the prople that really matter. Doubtless some high-rolling Democratic delegate complained to the Convention organizers, who in turn instructed the LAPD to cleanse the streets of the young, diverse and peaceful crowd that assembled to exercise their First Amendment rights of protest and free expression. No one should be surprised that the special interests and party loyalists who would turn up for such an event would not want to mingle with many of their victims just after Zack and United Farm Workers Representatives just finished expressing their dissent and calling for justice.

Note the timing. Even as it was, the LAPD had to keep delegates locked inside the convention center after the speeches. Someone with the DNC/LAPD didn't want to have any protestors outside when the delegates left the convention center.

We couldn't have any Democratic Delegates having to listen to any un-approved protest messages, now could we?

Really we shouldn't find it alarming, the alarm was sounded long ago and this is just another brushfire that precedes the firestorm. It's spreading, the kids are waking up, the cops are arming themselves, we have to do the same only not with their weapons of death and hate but with Knowledge of what is really going on. We will prevail.

Somehow the bottles, rocks, handicap signs, pieces of dirt, and other projectiles that were thrown at police from the fence were missing from your article. Totally peaceful? YEs, 95% of the people at the rally were peaceful. But I'm surprised that you would leave out such important details. Were you actually there? I say this because the fires started well before horses and ground "troops" started swooping in...

Don't make the same mistakes of corporate media by leaving out important facts which help to balance out the real story - when you do (like right now), you're only betraying your ideals of a media independent of corporate control.

I'm very disappointed with you IMC.

"Those who remain on the premisis just mentioned, will be in violation of Section 409." That Police Captain, whatever he was, can shove that Section 409 up his ASS!!!!! He stated very serenly that; "We understand you only have one exit to the North. We will give you ample time to leave. Please continue moving out of the area peacefully." Oh by the way, WE ARE GOING TO TRAMPLE YOU WITH HORSES, BEAT THOSE WHO TRY AND AID OTHERS ABOUT TO BE TRAMPLED BY THOSE HORSES, AND THEN SHOOT FUCKING RUBBER PELLETS AND BEAN BAGS AT YOU IF YOU DON'T MOVE FAST ENOUGH!!!!
Well, as a modification to a previous statement, ALL those Mother Fuckers can shove that Section 409 UP THEIR ASSES!!!! : ) Peace Out!

Living in Ohio and having only "day after" reports to read about the incidents occurring in LA last night; I don't find it difficult to believe that the proponents of the existing ruling class broke up the proceedings outside the DNC.

Things will not change until those protestors, peaceful though they may be, find a way to drive a unified stake through the heart of this "two party" political system.

Day in and day out, we are cheated, lied to, and blinded in a twisted effort to help all of us reach a dream that no longer exists.

If you're not for the system, you're against it, and therefore a threat.

Do not duck down and let the system run itself, agitation leads to activation.

This display of aggression on the part of the LAPD is just another example of our dwindling privileges--we have no rights--as members of this country.

Considering that you agree that 95% of the people there were Peaceful. It is somewhat confusing that you consider a few items tossed over a fence at a some cops with ample protection and distance, enough of an excuse to start beating and shooting that shit at the other 95% of the people who were trying to leave the area peacfully. This, after they did their damage by pulling the plug on our event and needing to do nothing more than allow people get out of the area.

It seems to me that you may have the same mentality as they do. Maybe you should go join them!!

Considering the millions and millions of people throughout history AND TODAY who are or have been exploited by the US money hungery system, experimented on like rats by this power hungery system, and who have been FUCKING KILLED by this American system, I just don't see the justification for that bullshit they pulled. Sure, it wasn't much of an attack by them considering what could have happened or what does happen if this were another country, but it was just another flex from the system to try and convince themselves that they still have the power. If there were to be a true mass up rising, those MotherFuckers woudn't stand a chance.

Thank you for your time.

This is in response to e.'s comments and to anyone else who believes what the major media tells you. I am an L.A. native. I was there in the middle of all this, enjoying the sounds of L.A. band Ozomatli when all of a sudden the plug was pulled with the excuse that people would not get off the "security" fence. People got angry and rightly so. I was unable to see very many people on the fence from where I was but I did see 2 small, very small, fire pits going on. Remember this is in a crowd that estimated at about 6-8,000 people according to Fox News. Out of this entire group that was there enjoying the music and message, maybe 20-30 people were throwing plastic bottles and other random objects over to police. The news showed one person on top of the fence waving a black flag. I guess the police found that flag "threatening"! Even if there were a few firepits and some harmless objects thrown at police, does that justify trampling down the thousands of people that were trying to exit the area? I was leaving the area down Figueroa when all of a sudden I heard shots and felt rubber bullets whizzing by my head. People panicked and of course got more riled up at the police. Even the Fox reporter who was on the field experienced the chaos instigated by the police first hand and questioned them about their tactics. The commander that was giving the press conference last night dismissed any concerns and said that the action was done "in the interest of the public safety" and because of protesters that became "violent"(i.e. climbing the fence and throwing plastic bottles). What a joke....apparently protesters aren't considered part of the public so they weren't concerned for our safety. I think the public to them was Clinton and the DNC delegates.

It's obvious that the LAPD is doing it's best to intimidate and silence protesters, instigate violence and then blame it on the protesters.

I say we have a mass demonstration at the police headquarters and call them out on their unnecessary tactics of brutality! Remember that this movement doesn't stop at the DNC, we have to keep organized to bring about real social changeand justice!

In solidarity!

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the cops behaved the way they did in LA. They are, after all, the defenders of capital. Why would you expect them to behave differently?

The orders were coming from above, from Clinton himself. I find the timing conspicuous. They decided to sweep the streets after Clinton's speech. The police action was meant to preclude the protesters from stealing the show and upstaging Bill Clinton, the mass murderer and war criminal.

I find it ironic at about the same time Bill was foaming at the mouth, saying how his administration is for the people and working families blah blah blah, he unloosed cop terror on people in the streets and did his utmost to kill democracy.

What a president! What a country! What a democracy!

I was also there, with the giant Nader puppet, and all I saw were ( I counted 3) people on the fence, and numerous banners being pressed against the fence.
If you were held hostage by an armed band, would the police be justified by shooting you, to end the criminal act.
Of course not. Yet we, the peaceful overwhelming majority that was there, had our first admendment rights curtailed, and were subjected to potential bodily harm and incaceration, for the minor actions of a few.
Tear gas travels, and even if I didnt through plastic bottles at riot clad police,(which by the way I never saw happen, but it probably did), I did have to breathe it.

The reality of it is the police dispersed the crowd because they, and their superiors wanted it dispersed. Otherwise they would have just arrested those individuals whom were 'violating the security zone ' by the fence.

(do you think a few rowdy democrats inside would cause the convention to go down, and the power plug to be pulled, of course not, different group different action.)

I was at the event last night, and if this is possible, I walked away from that bullshit display from the SmellAPD even more disillusioned with the system than before. There was absolutely no reason to disperse the crowd, nor was there any reason to use the violent tactics that they did. The Lapd are nothing more than brainless morons, used as puppets by the powers that be. I let those motherfuckers know it too. One of these days those punks are going to be sorry for their actions. The people, with each incident, are growing more and more restless, more and more determined to do something about the supression of our most important right as American citizens: FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Eventually people will start showing up with weapons to counter the police tactics. The boys in blue will be sorry then. I thought it was cool to see members of Ozomatli taking to the streets the way they did. They were the last of the people to be backing up. Was that Zach De La Rocha in the streets, behind the yellow handkerchief? We need more participation like this. Let's see what happens tonight.

Stop and think. Perhaps the majority of people in this country like the "system". They like to be greedy, capitalistic pigs. They like their 401K, SUV and cell phone. The "system" is giving the majority what they want. The minority are you, the anarchist. A system without government or rules is chaos. It doesn't work, it won't work. But I will agree with you on one aspect: if we get what you want, I'll be just fine and I'll be the first to find you at night and deposit a slug into your 1500cc jello mass you call a brain. Only the strong survive, adapt or perish -- evolve or die.

While this whole situation is disconcerning in the first place, i do see the situation from more than one angle. Here's the ticket...truth is in the middle...always in the between of left and right is the truth...not necessarily reality, but truth. There is no way for me to know the exact goings on of "riot" seeing as, I was not there. But i do, however, understand the truth. Yes there are political agendas at hand, Yes there are injustices practiced on a daily basis, and Yes there are those who voice against them. Although i am disgusted by our countries political and social structures.... i realize that i am responsible, i have power and i have discernment. I will not believe ANYTHING...I KNOW... and there is a difference. Belief systems have faults and opinions, Knowledge is truth. Know yourselves, Know your truth...because Truth is the same for us all. Stay Strong, Find the light and dont breed bitterness, but LIVE truth.

Straight up, Rage put on a great fuckin show. There were all types of people there I even saw an iraqi flag being waved around. The best thing tom said was that the people in the audience truly represent the democracy of this country. It was fuckin peacefull even the fuckin mosh pits were mellow. I don't know, but I was all the way up front and I saw a great show. I think the kids who were climbing the fence probably just wanted to get a better view of the show. It was all good until they turned the power off. Then they asked us to leave no problem everybody started leaving. I'm pretty much a mellow person, but when the cops started shooting those rubber bullets and charging even I lost my cool. oh well great show and it feels good that kids now a days feel this way. it's time for change and we are the only ones able to do it. YOUTH POWER!!!!!

It should come to no ones surprise that the l.a.p.d once again took excessive force against the protestors at staples center. I myself was there to witness the agressive actions taken against protestors. It's amazing that the damn "pigs" just don't seem to understand that the spotlight is on them completely during this entire convention. Everyone is expecting the cops to be agressive, because let's face it, that's all they can do, react to something with agressive force. Sure there were some people that were on the fences, but they were not causing any problems, but to the police any sort of speaking out is taken as a strike against them. Why? Because they themselves know what they do is wrong. They were firing what they call rubber bullets, tear gas, and were also trampling on protestors with their mounted officers. Two girls in particular were being beaten by batons and getting trampled on at the same time. Is this really neccesary? Of course not, but do those idiots care, no, all they want is to show how tough they are, but they ain't shit. The good thing is that no matter what they do to us, we will not back down. We will continue to let our voices be heard, and continue to fight for what we believe in, including protesting against all the idiot cops that are out there. So i say, if you yourself are a protestor, don't let this stop you, use this as motivation to continue and do what we must to fix this system that screws us over everyday. VIVA LA RAZA.

to adapt is to learn from existing situations and react to them in a positive way. i don't understand how you can react positively to a nation, country or society that harbors to the 1% rich and ignores 99% of the poor. when you speak evolution try to remember the natives, who evolved a systematic approach to life, using nature as an emblem of courage and love. then go ahead and remember the utter waste of time and resources used in today's society. and then remember that hiding behind an suv is all fine and bloody dandy, till the oil companies run down the oil supplies, run to sunny cancun and watch you writhe in lament at your f-ing suv goin nowhere!!!

THANK YOU FOR REPORTING THE NEWS MOST OF US WILL NEVER SEE.

The LAPD/DNC thing was a wash from the start. Why?
Because all the media reports are the titilating stories of anarchists, riots and violence at the DNC. What they conveniently leave out is what the "protesters" are actually SAYING/protesting. Ever since Seattle there've been no mentions (much less in depth investigations) from the media of WHAT these protesters are fighting for, what their reasons, concerns and agendas are. All we get are stories of riots and fire pits, cops showing force -- all to fire emotions and leave the brain unused, effectively silencing any and all truly important issues.
I ask you people sincerely: HOW are things going to change if "the message" is drowned out by the HYPE? Protesters need to start SPEAKING instead of "demonstrating". By demonstrating you call attention to YOURSELF, not your CAUSE. Believe it or not, words do change things - just ask Clinton. He didn't get to be president because he plays sax & called attention to himself, he got there because Clinton knows how to use WORDS to affect audiences. RATM didn't use attention-getting tactics to get where they are (that's Limp Bisquick), they used words and music, they made people LISTEN, not just react. To succeed in today's political/media climate, one needs to be articulate, not just angry. This is not to imply that the crowd at the Staples center weren't mostly peaceful or sincerely intent on getting their message out. It's just to point out that no change can or will ever happen until people are LISTENING, not just WATCHING riot police or a bunch of protesters in masks waving flags like another 3rd world country. A good speaker will get a message across better than any act of protest. On RATM's first album cover was a monk who burned himself in protest. His actions probably made a news sensation for a few days, maybe inspired a few to remember and acknowledge his sacrifice and the photo will always hit hard, but I'm sure all-in-all his ultimate act of protest changed NOTHING he wanted changed. Why? Because there was no one to SPEAK for his issue once he was gone. People remember him, not his message/agenda. I don't think that was the legacy he inteded to leave, but I could be wrong.

This is a reply to the person telling us to look at the facts. About dirt, rocks, bottles being thrown. I was there all day, and the day before. And I stayed untill the end of it all. And there was no violence untill after the cops rode through with horses trampling people and beating them. And they werent just dispursing the crowd; they were chasing people and hitting them. Some people were even chased back into the condemed(sp) area.
On the other hand, the cops were tense and quick to fight all day long with the peaceful protestors. And low and behold, when I got home and turned on all the news on the tube, it was all bullshit. Unless you were there, you don't know much. So don't make stupid comments.
tyler

Although you say there were protestors throwing projectiles e it is clearly nothing compared to rubberbullets used by the true agressors involved the LAPD. I do not feel that violence is the most effective way, self defense is not violence. Clearly the LAPD took the route of shoot first ask questions later.

I saw those same news reports and they were expected. It's unfortunate that cops feel threatened by peaceful protesters who want to express their opinions. Opinions that are protected by our first ammendment rights.
Cops used a couple of bonfires and anarchists sitting on the fences to declare "unlawfull assembly", which eventually interfered with an actual protest for the homeless, which was given a permit to protest on the sidewalk. It's shameful and disgusting.

Hmm. Why is it, just as the sleaziest President in history finishes a speech on freedom and the American Dream, do the police open fire on innocent people? How would they feel if we shot stuff at them? I sure as hell didn't see any aggressive protesters until AFTER the cops came to break up the peaceful protest!

Seattle, Washington, Philly, and now LA. These are evidence that the power is in the hands of those that hold the money not those that hold the knowledge of what is actually occuring in not only our country but the world. All of the protests in the cities that I have mentioned were PEACEFUL even after the police intervened 95% held back their anger and did not retaliate violently. Honestly, do you think that if one of the delegates that will be on the floor in LA this week, if attacked by an authoritative figure, would lay down and take the unprovoked beating? I seriously doubt it. All that we as citizens can do is continue to protest against injustices that occur in the world that we live in and reject the system that breeds exploitation, subjugation, conquest, greed, and individual gain. If we do this the time will come when American citizens will realize that the rot begins within the economic system and ends through supporting the parties candidates that feed this decaying system. To rid something of rot you must destroy the area where the rot began. Solidarity amongst citizens against capitalism will rid the country of it's unassurance and will make millions realize that social worth and social gain is more powerful and succesful then individual worth and individual gain. I will continue to protest against this system until it is overthrown or me and the millions of others behind me will die trying.

In solidarity,
Revoltandresist

It absolutley outrages me that this is what our country is coming down to. The police had no right to use the extreme measures they did at the convention. Rage against the machine is a voice of many, many, young people who all share the same views of our corrupt goverment. It saddens me that their voice was silenced by their electricity plug being pulled. Do we have no rights left at all? Can we not assemble just as any other group to express our opinions? I guess not without being beat and arrested by the ones who vow to "serve and protect". Peace

The police as in organization are there to keep the people with power and money protected, From the violence that surronds are society, becuse of the havenots evry day strugle to eat. Who has more money and power then the politicins no one. thats why the police were there to keep the politicans from experincein the harsh reality that is life.

We are adapting. Truth of the matter is there were just as many socialists in the area as anarchists. Our form of adaptation is the same one the human species has used for thousands of years: CHANGING THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE LIVE! Also the majority likes their system because they don't understand all that is behind it. They understand exactly what the corporate media and politicains have told them: "we are the greatest free nation on the planet". Can anyone say load of bs?

Adapt, huh? So your idea of adapting is to kill another person. That's a real great way to argue for your cause. What an ass! If you really think that we should all adopt survival of the fitess mentality, then the smartest mutherfucker should just become a full blown terrorist, and kill as many people as possible. Better get that fully-automatic gas-powered carbine high powered rifle with a 60 round clip and a ton of ammo, cause there's a lot of people out there that are "in your way".