Los Angeles May Day mêlée

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The Los Angeles May Day mêlée, on May 1, 2007, followed a May Day rally at MacArthur Park supporting illegal immigration. After some of the people attending the rally became violent, the rally was broken up by the Los Angeles Police Department. The tactics used by the LAPD have been controversial.

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[edit] The incident

The stated objective of the rally was to bring attention to the large population of illegal immigrants in the US and in Los Angeles. Organizers obtained all the necessary permits to hold a pro-illegal immigration rally at MacArthur Park on May 1, 2007 until 21:00. At about 17:15 a few protesters began blocking the street, which the rally permit expressly prohibited. When several people began pelting Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers with rocks, bottles, and other debris, police commanders declared the gathering an unlawful assembly and gave the command for the crowd to disperse. The order was broadcast from a police helicopter circling the park, from police cars, and from hand-held megaphones, before police officers in riot gear formed a line and advanced slowly to clear the area. The officers proceeded about 50 feet at a time, allowing those complying with the dispersal order to retreat.[1] The orders were given in English to a crowd of mostly Spanish speaking demonstrators.[2]

According to lawsuits filed, the LAPD had approximately 600 officers on the scene, while the group of protesters who threw "plastic water bottles and oranges" numbered about 40.[3] Altogether, police fired 146 foam-rubber projectiles.[4] 27 marchers and 9 members of the media were injured, 5 people were arrested,[5] and at least 50 civilians filed complaints with the LAPD regarding mistreatment by officers.[6] 7[5] to 15[1] police officers were injured.

News coverage of the event, particularly from KMEX Channel 34, suggested that most protesters were actually demonstrating peacefully, did nothing to provoke the LAPD, and left when the order was given. Video footage shows police striking with their batons at protesters who, while not overtly violent, disobeyed repeated orders to disperse.[7] [8]

The incident has received considerable attention from news media because several reporters were also pushed and injured, notably Christina Gonzalez from L.A.'s Fox 11 News (KTTV), and Telemundo's National Evening Broadcaster, Pedro Sevcec. Sanjukta Paul, a National Lawyer's Guild observer, was beaten repeatedly by a LAPD officer, including a blow to the kidneys, as she attempted to separate police from the crowd. [9] CBS 2/KCAL 9 (KCBS, KCAL-TV) reporter Mark Coogan and his cameraman Carl Stein, were also accosted. Stein was struck on the ribs by LAPD batons. [1] Patricia Nazario, a reporter for KPCC, was beaten in the ribs and back, before being struck over the head with a baton. ABC 7 (KABC-TV) reporter Sid Garcia was hit by a rubber bullet, but it ricocheted off him. [10] Patti Ballaz, a camerawoman for KTTV who was injured, filed a claim for unspecified damages against the city and the police department. [11]

[edit] Response by government officials

At a press conference later in the day, Police Chief William J. Bratton indicated that an investigation was underway to "determine if the use of force was appropriate," going on to state that "the vast majority of people who were [at MacArthur Park] were behaving appropriately." [12] [13] Bratton indicated he may ask the FBI to investigate the chain of events.[14]

At the time of the events, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was on a trip to Mexico. He cut his trip short three days later, in order to personally oversee the investigation of the chain of events,[15] and asked Police Chief Bratton to oversee a "complete and comprehensive review of this incident, including deployment, tactics, and use of force." [13] At a Sunday morning mass at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on May 6, Villaraigosa said "I come today with a heavy heart ... Nobody, nobody should be victimized in a way we saw women, children and families victimized just a few days ago."[16]

Los Angeles city council member Herb Wesson, whose district includes neighborhoods near MacArthur Park, criticized the police response by comparing it to beating of civil rights leaders in the South in the 1960s. He praised Bratton's response, though, saying "I'm proud that the chief said quickly that some inappropriate actions took place." [17] Fabian Núñez, Speaker of the California Assembly whose district includes MacArthur Park where the events took place, condemned the actions of the police by saying "To say we are outraged is an understatement ... We want those responsible in the highest levels of the LAPD to pay consequences."[11] Robert Baker, president of the Police union, responded, calling Wesson's and Núñez's words "police bashing that erroneously insinuates racial bias".[18]

[edit] Investigations

Four separate investigations were created to investigate the incident,[19] one of them being a special task force set up by city council president Eric Garcetti. The task force is composed of five councilmembers, and is co-chaired by Los Angeles city councilmembers Ed Reyes and Jack Weiss [20][21]. The FBI also investigated the incidents for civil rights violations[5]

On May 17, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a request with U.S. District Judge Gary A. Feess to look into whether the incident at MacArthur Park violated a 2001 consent decree which was a result of the Rampart scandal. If the judge finds the LAPD in violation of the decree, federal oversight of the LAPD could be extended beyond the current deadline of 2009.[6]

On May 29, Chief Bratton presented to the civilian police commission a preliminary findings of an internal police investigation, and on May 30 he presented the preliminary findings to the Los Angeles City Council. According to Bratton, the main reasons for the mêlée were "a command and control breakdown," [which] began at the planning stages and dominoed throughout the event itself". [2]

[edit] Community response

On May 17, approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people marched in protest of the events that took place on May 1. The march started at a church 10 blocks west of MacArthur Park with a "town hall meeting", and ended at MacArthur Park. The march was peaceful, without a single arrest, and the town hall meeting featured speakers such as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez[19][22], who later marched with the protesters. Police Chief William Bratton was also present at the march and town hall meeting.[23]

[edit] Fallout

On May 7, 2007 Chief William J. Bratton announced a departmental reorganization. Cayler "Lee" Carter, who was a deputy chief and the highest ranking official at scene, was demoted to commander and assigned home duty.[24] On May 17, Carter announced his resignation from the LAPD, effective June 6. [25] In his May 7 announcement, Bratton also announced that Carter's deputy, Louis Gray, would be reassigned to the operations bureau, and that about 60 officers who were involved in the incident would be taken off the street, pending the outcome of the investigations. [24][26]

On May 9, the Multi-Ethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network filed a class-action suit against the Los Angeles Police Department and the city. [3]

On May 30, Bratton announced the creation of a new Incident Management & Training Bureau, and assigned Deputy Chief Michael Hillmann to head the newly created bureau.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Jack Dunphy (2007-05-03). May Day Madness. National Review Online.
  2. ^ a b Patrick McGreevy and Richard Winton (May 30, 2007). Bratton issues report on melee. Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ a b Lawsuits Mount Over May Day Police Action In MacArthur Park.
  4. ^ Patrick McGreevy and Richard Winton (May 27, 2007). Chief to explain police actions at rally.
  5. ^ a b c d LAPD gets new tactics boss in wake of rally clash controversy. Associated Press (May 30, 2007).
  6. ^ a b McGreevy (May 18, 2007). Probe sought of LAPD's May 1 use of force. Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ A reporter's account of the MacArthur Park Clash. Los Angeles Times (May 2, 2007). Retrieved on May 6, 2007.
  8. ^ Video: Police Brutality in Los Angeles May Day Rally: Mac Arthur Park 2007 : LA IMC
  9. ^ Police Terror in the Park. LA Indy Media (May 2, 2007). Retrieved on May 6, 2007.
  10. ^ Police to Review Clash at LA Rally. AP (May 2, 2007). Retrieved on May 4, 2007.
  11. ^ a b Andrew Glazer (May 5, 2007). LA Mayor Condemns Rally Violence. Associated Press.
  12. ^ Bratton: Officers' Conduct May Be Inappropriate. KTLA (May 2, 2007). Retrieved on May 4, 2007.
  13. ^ a b Small turnout, big questions. Los Angeles Times (May 2, 2007). Retrieved on May 6, 2007.
  14. ^ Chief: FBI May Investigate LAPD Conduct At Rally (May 3, 2007).
  15. ^ Mayor Villaraigosa Cuts Short Mexico Trip (May 4, 2007).
  16. ^ Villaraigosa visits site of May Day melee. Los Angeles Times (May 7, 2007). Retrieved on May 11, 2007.
  17. ^ Patrick McGreevy (May 2, 2007). Bratton oversees LAPD inquiry at critical time. Los Angeles Times.
  18. ^ Saturday In The Park Is Quiet As Protesters Are No-Shows (May 5, 2007).
  19. ^ a b MacArthur Park Peaceful Immigration Rally. Associated Press (May 19, 2007).
  20. ^ Special Task Force To Hear Public Comment On May Day Police Action. KNBC (the local affiliate of NBC (May 14, 2007).
  21. ^ Shouts, Jeers At Public Meeting Over May Day Police Action. KNBC (the local affiliate of NBC (May 15, 2007).
  22. ^ Villaroman, Rene (May 22, 2007). 3,000 at MacArthur Park for Peaceful March. Asian Journal Online.
  23. ^ Uranga, Rachel (May 17, 2007). Marchers rally at L.A. park as LAPD faces a legal challenge. Press Telegram. Retrieved on 2007-05-30.
  24. ^ a b Lisa Hernandez (May 8, 2007). Bratton to Suggest Replacement for Demoted Official.
  25. ^ Police Official Retires After May Day Clash. Associated Press (May 17, 2007).
  26. ^ Geis, Sonya (May 8, 2007). Top LAPD Officers Disciplined for Use of Force at Rally. Washington Post.

[edit] External links