May Day 2014: Los Angeles Takes the Streets for a Global Spring

LOS ANGELES, CA – In solidarity with workers of the world, Los Angelenos took to the streets on Thursday, May 1, 2014, to demand human rights for the global 99%. In addition to permitted marches scheduled by 501(c) charities and labor unions, autonomous grassroots protests sprouted up throughout downtown L.A.

In the morning, supporters of Wave of Action Los Angeles and Occupy Los Angeles joined the Million Mask March in Pershing Square. A project called “Painted Anonymity” offered free all-natural face painting to anyone who wanted to march without a paper, plastic, or cloth mask. The artist explained that the geometric designs protect the anonymity of those who desire to resist facial recognition technology, which “poses a threat to privacy as it is frequently used on people without their knowledge or consent. Painted Anonymity is a peaceful expression of resistance to that invasion of privacy.”

“We also believe the application of face paint prior to a protest rally is ceremonial,” the founder of Painted Anonymity continued, “putting us in touch with the kind of rituals our ancestors engaged in when seeking strength, courage, and protection.”

Dozens of Anonymous masks dotted Pershing Square while Occupy Los Angeles held a “Really Really Free Market” to distribute free clothing and bedding. Police presence outnumbered civilians, with squads of 8-10 police officers on bikes on all the sidewalks surrounding Pershing Square. LAPD officers on foot and private security closely monitored all activity in the square, inquiring about permits for early arrivals who set up lawn chairs and an umbrella for sun protection. All street parking spots were occupied by squad cars or marked off with temporary “no parking” signs.

Shortly after noon, the Million Mask Mayday L.A. marched to Bank of America for #opDAB “Dance Against Banks” at the corporate bank plaza on Hope St.Bank of America declined the invitation to dance with Anonymous and Occupy by fencing off their plaza and stationing security and staff to check the credentials of anyone entering the square.

Dozens of marchers lined the sidewalks with banners reading “Fraud = BoA business model,” and “BoA: Bad for America.” Nowhere Man walked through the crowd twirling his iconic “Imagine Fairness” sign while outraged citizens used megaphones and a public address system to list the corporate crimes of Bank of America. Police on motorcycles, bicycles, and in vehicles patrolled the street.

Boisterously bearing balloons and banners, the assembled crowd next marched to #StopWells Fargo at their Olympic & Figueroa branch. As announced at the call to action by Occupy Fights Foreclosures (OFF) at the Occupy Los Angeles (OLA) General Assembly (GA) on April 23, “If we do not keep taking to the streets, the big banks will be able to convince everybody that things are just fine. It is important to keep the pressure on and let the banksters know we haven’t forgotten their crimes against the people!”

Occupy Fights Foreclosures revealed that in California, people are outraged that a mere $400 million of the nearly $2 billion “Keep Your Home California” federal stimulus funds have been distributed to help homeowners since the program was launched in 2010. Occupy Fights Foreclosures announced, “We must impress upon Wells Fargo that it would be better to work with their customers than hide from them. Let’s tell them we are tired of their shady business practices! Customers are supposed to be served, not strip-mined.”

In national news this week, Wells Fargo held their annual shareholders general meeting under heavy security at a secluded San Antonio resort. Annual meetings have become a game of cat and mouse as the elite try to dodge the scrutiny of the majority. In downtown Los Angeles, the branch was closed off by a wall of LAPD officers in advance of the arrival of the march. Marchers occupied the entire sidewalk at Figueroa and Olympic with a gigantic red banner reading “We’re Felons” in the style of the bank’s logo. An 8-ft. tall papier-mâché banker with million dollar bills in his hands leered gleefully alongside a replica stolen home as traffic passed on Figueroa Blvd.

After a sage ceremony, Danza Azteca kicked off the Wells Fargo round of dancing against banks. Passionate current and former homeowners addressed the crowd about bank and police state overreach. Occupy demands delivered to 20 Wells Fargo locations around the country this week included: stop all foreclosures and evictions, provide reasonable loan modifications that include principal reduction, and stop employing tactics to mislead, harass, and intimidate homeowners.

As the sun peaked in the afternoon, the dancing continued down the block to join the Southern California Immigrants Rights Coalition (SCIC) march at Olympic & Broadway. En route, the human wave of action paused at the Los Angeles office of the Federal Reserve Bank for a stimulating teach-in. Chants of “Stop the deportation NOW!” and “Fund Jobs, Not War!” filled the air as the May First March traveled up Broadway. A large red banner reading “Alta a las Redadas / Stop the Raids!” spanned the street. A bright yellow flag sported the Albert Einstein quote, “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”

On Thursday afternoon in MacArthur Park, Revolutionary Autonomous Communities (RAC-LA) held a 7th anniversary picnic to commemorate the founding of the organization in response to the police riot on May Day 2007. Residents of the area reported an alarmingly strong police presence in the morning, and officers mounted on horseback intimidated the picnic attendees.

Another march for labor and immigrant rights was held in the early morning from Chinatown to the Federal Detention Center. Billed as “Mayday 4 All,” the morning march included thousands of supporters from organized labor. Handmade signs at #Mayday4All read “End Wage Slavery” and “We the People Demand Real Democracy.”

Celebrating solidarity between Occupy, Anon, Wave of Action, and the 99% everywhere!
Los Angeles People’s Media, May 2014

Occupy Los Angeles General Assembly (OLA GA)
Wed 7:30 PM
South steps of Los Angeles City Hall

Occupy Venice General Assembly (OV GA)
Monday 8 PM
Beyond Baroque 681 Venice Blvd. Venice 90291

Occupy Fights Foreclosures meets
Tue 7-9 PM (Spanish)
Thu 7-9 PM
Sun 2-4 PM
Denny’s 530 Ramirez St. Los Angeles 90012