The way i saw it, from pershing square...people started showing up as early as 9am. there was a overwhelming presence of police on bike, cruisers, motorcycles...the people's presence was positive and strong at pershing square alot of noise was made and music was blazing. dolores fuertes and larry holmes spoke. by the time the march left pershing square, it 5,000 or more bodies. people took over the entire street from 5th and olive to the corner infront of staples center at olympic and figueroa. police in semi-riot gear flanked the protest route...no altercations were seen or reported. heat was the biggest problem, there should have been more water and medical support for the protesters. Mumia cry was heard along with many other causes present: three strikes, police brutality, animal rights, leonard peltier, bisonette, and way way too many others to represent. i'm out...the revolution will continue.

As an activist who protested in Philadelphia I want to thank you for your timely report. I have been watching CSPAN and CNN all day with no reports about the demo that took place today in LA. Just another THANKS TO INDY MEDIA OUR ONLY "FREE PRESS"..

Transform Mumia into a Mummy!

I looked all over for Peltier supporters to photograph for the Indian papers, but didn't find any signs or banners, alas.

I have to admit it was refreshing to see members of the protest groups picking up trash from both the march and from the public at large, kudos to them!

Generally, from an outside perspective, it seemed like LAPD was keeping a huge presence but acting restrained. Sheriff deputies were in camo and ready to go down by Patriotic Hall (under the freeway), but did not seem to deploy. Secret Service agents are posted at every gate to the Staples grounds, as well as positioned in random fashion along the perimeter.

The only disturbing sites I saw all day were the sheriffs under the freeway on Figueroa just south of the Staples center. Deputies there were armed with shotguns out and ready - it seemed quite amiss with the lack of any people around them.

At the Shadow Convention, there was a police presence around the main entrance - but the officers assigned seemed to be specifically selected to represent a broad racial and social makeup - definately stage dressing. They also seemed to be instructed to be "happy officers".

Anyway, that's it for me... Well behaved protesters and well behaved police - pretty surprising for the hot weather.

Gary Fuller

Editor, OCB Tracker

California's Native News

I was downtown yesterday and Sunday. Major streets have been blocked off, 13 ft. high fencing surrounding areas more than a block away from the Staples Center. Concrete road blocks look ready to withstand tank attack. Major throughfares and intersections rendered unrecognizable. Police are on every corner, under freeway on-ramps,and on the 110 freeway itself (which borders the site) The Staples Center sign flashes a welcome to the convention message, while a vibrant part of the city looks like a dead zone. Our public urban space has been controlled to let you know "you don't belong here".