by Labor Activist
Monday, Mar. 24, 2003 at 8:28 PM
Sundays peaceful demonstration ends with skirmishes between demonstrators and police.
Following a peaceful demonstration in Hollywood Sunday afternoon, LAPD pursued and attempted to corral about 200 demonstrators attempting to leave the Orange & Sunset area where the demonstration was held.
Hundreds of police in riot gear, some on motorcycles, some riding on armored vehicles, others on foot, marching in groups of about a dozen each refused to allow demonstrators to disperse, corralling the group down various sidestreets south of Sunset Blvd.
One demonstrator attempting to return to his car parked down one street was confronted by two baton wielding LAPD members yelling "Get the fuck back! Stay with the group!" The man returned to the group, which was accompanied by members of the National Lawyers Guild.
The afternoon demonstration, which was sponsored by numerous Peace Groups, included performances by Michelle Shocked, a Latino musical group, and speeches by California State Rep. Jackie Goldberg, Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) and several others.
Several skirmishes with police occurred earlier around Sunset & Highland with at least 10 arrests reported.
A major anti-war demonstration will be held next weekend in downtown Los Angeles.