Having been an 'eyewitness' to the police actions at the Rage Against The Machine concert Monday night outside the Staples Center, I can attest to the fact that the LA police were indeed the purpetrators of ALL the violence there. Just prior to the "pulling of the plug" of the concert, there was NO violence, NO negative behavior of any kind going on, merely 10,000 + people dancing, singing and having a good time. The concert was abruptly ended, by the LAPD and 10K people were told they were to disperse immediately or be arrested; less than 10 minutes later, with scores of people ambling toward the exit gates police in riot gear, on foot and horseback began their assault on the "passive" crowd, firing rubber bullets, tear gas and pepper spray at those people who were trying to leaving the area!!

In my opinion, I believe the police were using the minute acts of a "handful" of people, who were "teasing" police officers outside the assembly area on the south end, shouting obsenities and throwing debris as their "reason" to move in, end the concert and clear the area. However, their reason is grossly inflated; there was NO threat of violence from the crowd, that I witnessed in anyway, whatsoever.

Looking back in retrospect, I know now what was behind their "illegal" behavior: they were responding to imaginary fears from inside the STaples Center, as the convention was concluding it's first day; convention organizers WANTED the area outside cleared so that the delegates inside could exit, and get to their "cocktail parties".

They were indeed shielding the convention delegates but not from any harm because there was none, until the LAPD moved in with their tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray.