AJLPP CONDEMNS POLICE BRUTALITY AGAINST IMMIGRANTS: LAPD ATTACKS MAY 1 DEMONSTRATION IN LOS ANGELES,

Los Angeles --The Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace (AJLPP)- Southern California vehemently condemns the unprovoked massive police attack by the LAPD/SWAT against the May 1.70,000 immigrants march-rally in Macarthur Park, Los Angeles .

The reactionary forces is trying to discourage immigrant rights mobilization that ran to tens of thousands. The immigrant rights movement is getting stronger and bigger as it mobilizes from April 7, 2007 where 75,000 people turned out for the rally.

The May 1 rally mobilized in Los Angeles in the three march-rallies that was held by three different alliances- the MIWON ( 60,000), the downtown rally by the March 25 ( 25,000) and the La Raza march ( 10,000).

The LAPD Terror Attack Against the People

The LAPD , used 20-30 motorcycled African American cops to commence fascist attacks on the unsuspecting crowds at the corner of Westlake and Wilshire and at the Alvarado-Wilshire intersection.

The all- Black police motorcycles ran through the Cuahatemoc dancers hitting even children and senior dancers of the Danza Azteca. This type of dispersal attack was used in Oakland demonstration in 2003.

When the crowd starting to pelt them with water bottles and corncobs, the police/SWAT opened fire with rubber bullets, tear gas, foam and stun grenades and delliberately targeted the sound stage for the MIWON rally with a barrage of fire.

The rally was not even starting thus Catholic Cardinal Roger Mahoney and Senator Cedillo who marched with the demonstrators was prevented from speaking at the rally at MacArthur park.

Clearing Operations

The LAPD started their clearing operations without even warning the crowd. Combined baton wielding police platoons and the rubber bullet firing SWAT teams attacking everybody at the park and the crowd who ran pell-mell. The students and youth defended the rallyist as they scampered out of the park.

The police attacked families, hurting children and old people, vendors and even brutalized journalist. A lawyer and a correspondent of the KPFK and several reporter were hurt during the police riot against the people.

More than 20,000 marched in downtown Los Angeles in the morning and held rallies in front of the City Hall lawn/. Another 60,000 marched and converged at Macarthur Park from Vermont and 3rd while another 10,000 marched to MacArhur Park from Washington Blvd. led by La Raza Coalition. This group was attacked by the police.

This is not the first time that the police attacked a peaceful crowd in Los Angeles. During the national democratic nation convention at the Staples Center and at a demonstration in Parker Center in 2000 and also at Hollywood against the racist minutemen, the LAPD used violent force against the demonstrators.

The AJLPP-SC calls on the Mayor of Los Angeles and the City Council to sanction the LAPD and stop police brutality against immigrants and against the people of Los Angeles.

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