All of a sudden it looked like the bad old days this week in Los Angeles. A peaceful pro-immigration rally in the downtown area Tuesday descended into chaotic violence as the LAPD charged in swinging with batons and firing more than 200 rounds of foam bullets.

The melee was sparked when a small group of protestors, their faces covered in bandanas, broke off from the rally, blocked traffic and starting peppering riot-ready police with epithets and filled water bottles.

These antics which marred the wonderfully peaceful tone of both this year and last's pro-immigrant demonstrations certainly merit excoriation. But not the heavy-handed over-reaction by LAPD.

Local news stations and Youtube brim with videos showing the cops swarming into the park where nothing was happening except thousands sitting on the grass listening to speakers. Several journalists and reporters were also manhandled and clubbed sparking a chorus of outrage from professional press organizations.

The violent police action comes just as Chief William Bratton is up for renewal of his tenure. Even his critics agree that Bratton has made noteable strides in reforming a once notorious department. A near unanimity of the 15 member city council had been leaning toward his re-appointment precisely because of his demonstrated support of authentic and deep police reform.

To his credit, Bratton came quickly to the scene of the confrontation. And his in his day-after press conference the Chief agreed that what he had seen had been both "disturbing" and "inappropriate." He announced two probes of the incident, but California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez has called on the L.A. County District Attorney to open his own independent investigation.

Here's the L.A. Times piece on what happened to the reporters who were attacked. Kudos to the Times who had the good sense to quote me on the topic :)

Comments (36)

1. The LAPD suffers, and the L.A. community suffers, from the Mayor's "Special Order 40" prohibiting LAPD from cooperating with ICE. The predictable results include the highest number of gang concentration along with a dollar price tag of over one BILLION dollars of L.A. American taxdollars spent because there are over 2 million illegal aliens in town. No, they are not undocumented - they stole YOUR I.D. but these criminals are not immigrants - they have no intention of assimilating or ever becoming Americans (citizenship SI Yanque NO). The Federal and State governments ought to with-hold any further subsidies to L.A. or any other so-called sanctuary zone. When the free money runs out the cops will be encouraged to enforce the law - till then why should they bother?

   Posted by tucanofulano1 at 05/03/2007 @ 02:57am

2. Tuc, so your point is that all illegal immigrants are criminals. how enlightened.you are just a racist in disguise.

   Posted by johannesrolf at 05/03/2007 @ 08:35am

3. The Federal and State goverments need to immediately begin enforcing the laws we already have on the books. Deportation of ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS should be a priority. Sounds like the city of LA has allowed itself to become hostage to these illegals and their demands. These people are a drain on the economy. Most taxpayers are sick of supporting their "anchor babies". Haven't they ever heard of birth control? My medical insurance rates are affected because they use the hospital emergency rooms as a doctors office. I could go on but the point is all of these people need to go back to where they came from and get in line to enter the US legally like so many others have done.

   Posted by Hernova at 05/03/2007 @ 08:40am

4. Republicans are never going to punish the businesses that give illegal immigrants jobs - punish the immigrants instead. Republicans are never going to demand illegal-free produce or pay more for any product with a zero-illegal label on it. Immigration is simply one more variation of the "states-rights" issue to Republicans. Even right wingers in the Bush administration hire Central American un-licensed masseurs.

   Posted by conshame at 05/03/2007 @ 08:46am

5. Penalty for hiring an illegal alien: Nothing

   Posted by conshame at 05/03/2007 @ 08:47am

6. Tuc, so your point is that all illegal immigrants are criminals. how enlightened.you are just a racist in disguise.

   Posted by JOHANNESROLF 05/03/2007 @ 08:35am

   JR...so your point is that they are all just law-abiding workers? (Remember that they broke our federal laws to get here). You are just a pathological relativist.

   Posted by Sliver at 05/03/2007 @ 08:54am

7. Penalty for hiring an illegal alien: Nothing

   Posted by CONSHAME 05/03/2007 @ 08:47am

   CS, you DO realize that many of those protestors OPPOSE sanctions against businesses, because they know that it would actually REDUCE the amount of illegal immigration, and thus undercut their agenda.

   Posted by Mask at 05/03/2007 @ 09:29am

8. The issue of this blog isn't illegal labor. The police go on a rampage and abuse people--that's the story, an event that happens all too often. Will anybody be held accountable? will any of these goons go to prison? If history is any guide, the answer is no.

   Posted by mtspence05 at 05/03/2007 @ 09:32am

9. hey, lets contract out riot control to blackwater...lol.

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 05/03/2007 @ 09:42am

10. Posted by MTSPENCE05 05/03/2007 @ 09:32am

    Let me see if I got this right. Illegal aliens marching in our streets, the government does NOTHING about it, some native citizens don't like it, and you want to lock up the cops for being so harsh for firing foam bullets.

    When are all you lefties gonna start adopting all these illegals that weren't aborted??

    Posted by Sliver at 05/03/2007 @ 09:44am

11. Posted by SLIVER

    All those marching were illegal aliens? The correct procedure for the police is to beat people with batons and fire rubber bullets? You're suggesting that it's okay for the police to break the law in certain situations. I don't agree.

    Posted by mtspence05 at 05/03/2007 @ 10:06am

12. And in case you're not bright enough to figure it out, Sliver: If the police can do it to them with impunity, they can do it to you with impunity. That's the way it works.

    Posted by mtspence05 at 05/03/2007 @ 10:08am

13. .....your point is that all illegal immigrants are criminals.....

    Posted by JOHANNESROLF 05/03/2007 @ 08:35am

    JR,

    I am no `writer', as most here know and as I believe you hold yourself out to be (among other things typical of Libs), but I certainly `read' better than I `write'! Now tell me, why do you question the link between "illegal" and "criminals"?

    Posted by Happy at 05/03/2007 @ 10:19am

14. MTSPACE....from the AP reports:

    The clashes started around 6 p.m. Tuesday, when police tried to disperse demonstrators who moved into a street, according to rally organizers and reporters. Authorities said several people threw rocks and bottles at officers, who used batons to push the crowd back to the sidewalk and then cleared the park.

    A police order to disperse was in English and from a police helicopter, a likely ineffective tactic because of the noise and because many at the protest were Spanish-speakers, Bratton said at a news conference Wednesday.

    Bratton said police were initially trying to deal with 50 to 100 "agitators."

    "The individuals were there to provoke police," Bratton said. "Unfortunately, they got what they came for."

    Police union leaders urged against a "rush to judgment."

    "Our officers gave a legal dispersal order and were met with violence. In the coming days it will become clear what transpired," said Los Angeles Police Protective League President Bob Baker in a statement.

    Seven officers suffered minor injuries, and another was pushed off his motorcycle, Bratton said. About 10 other people were treated for minor injuries, though authorities expected the number to rise.

    Doesn't just about every "peaceful" demonstration have its agitators who are there to rile up the police when cameras are around?

    Ask me about Kent State sometime. I live 15 minutes from there. Have done some business with KSU, know many that work there and were there in May 1970. The media doesn't mention all the out-of-towners that spent the previous 3 days breaking store windows, vandalizing cars, and setting the ROTC building ablaze. Back away from your Neil Young fantasy and look at the whole picture.

    Posted by Sliver at 05/03/2007 @ 10:28am

15. So a few "agitators" breaking windows, throwing rocks is justification for the police, National Guard to abuse, shoot peaceful protestors?

    Posted by mtspence05 at 05/03/2007 @ 10:41am

16. JR,

    I am no `writer', as most here know and as I believe you hold yourself out to be (among other things typical of Libs), but I certainly `read' better than I `write'! Now tell me, why do you question the link between "illegal" and "criminals"?

    Posted by HAPPY 05/03/2007 @ 10:19am | ignore this person

    there is a subtle distinction here that our courts and our police depts are well aware of.there are some illegals here that are criminals, that is they are murderers, thieves etc. but not all 20 million. that is the distinction that is made. we deport illegals, we do not put them on trial and in prison simply for being here illegally.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 05/03/2007 @ 11:16am

17. Ask me about Kent State sometime. I live 15 minutes from there. Have done some business with KSU, know many that work there and were there in May 1970. The media doesn't mention all the out-of-towners that spent the previous 3 days breaking store windows, vandalizing cars, and setting the ROTC building ablaze. Back away from your Neil Young fantasy and look at the whole picture.

    Posted by SLIVER 05/03/2007 @ 10:28am | ignore this person

    so, because someone committed some vandalism, you are attempting to justify the murder of students who were doing no such thing? typical of this poster, no moral compass.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 05/03/2007 @ 11:17am

18. Posted by HERNOVA 05/03/2007 @ 08:40am | ignore this person

    deporting 20 million is neither desirable, nor feasible. do the math. 50 people per bus.400,000 busses for 20 million.

    most of these 20 million are indeed law abiding, tax paying people. OH, let me repeatr that for our amoral Tories, they are people first and foremost. any kind of solution must above all be humane. that is what Sliv and Hap are not, humane.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 05/03/2007 @ 11:22am

19. Most taxpayers are sick of supporting their "anchor babies".

    they are? check your constitution. the anchor babies are enshrined in the constitution.I imagine you know what it takes to change the constitution.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 05/03/2007 @ 11:39am

20. illegal aliens are not handled by the criminal justice system. they are handled by dept of immigration.most police depts refuse to enforce the immigration statutes, they have enough on their plate with criminals. same with our criminal justice system, they don't put illegals on trial simply for being here illegally.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 05/03/2007 @ 11:56am

21. whenever we mention Kent State, we must also eremember the black" Kent state", Jackson State, where two black students were shot.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 05/03/2007 @ 12:01pm

22. JRO

    there is a subtle distinction here that our courts and our police depts are well aware of.there are some illegals here that are criminals,

    Actually, many of them are. Entering this country illegally is a misdemeanor. Remaining illegally, however, is merely a civil violation.

    most of these 20 million are indeed law abiding, tax paying people. OH, let me repeatr that for our amoral Tories, they are people first and foremost.

    No, but you could increase deportation and border control efforts to make it harder and increase employer sanctions to make it less lucrative. You will probably have to allow many of them to work their way towards legal, guest-worker status but you need measures in place to keep that from encourage more illegal immigration.

    Posted by brunowe at 05/03/2007 @ 12:29pm

23. Bruno, reasonable post. the distinction still must be made. when illegals commit criminal offenses they are dealt with by our criminal justice system. otherwise they are dealt with by immigration services.

    Bush's proposal is absurd, like they're all gonna go back home and get in the back of the line. realism is what is lacking in all the proposals, which are largely made up of wishful thinking. like the war in Iraq, wishful thinking.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 05/03/2007 @ 12:39pm

24. And in case you're not bright enough to figure it out, Sliver: If the police can do it to them with impunity, they can do it to you with impunity. That's the way it works.

    Posted by MTSPENCE05 05/03/2007 @ 10:08am | ignore this person

    Ok, what if I am willing to take that risk? Let's expand that to the Patriot Act.

    What if I am willing to take the risk that the government looks at my library habits and sees that I check out a lot of John Grisham. What if I am fine with them listening to my conversations about snowboarding and vodka with my buddy in Toronto?

    What then?

    Maybe I think it is worth the risk to my personal safety at the hands of the brutal police, and care less if they beat up a bunch of people for making my commute longer.

    Are you afraid? Do you have a tin-foil hat? Do you have anything better to do than march around in the streets yelling while no-one is listening.

    I think my chances of being beaten by police for pretending to care about some worthless cause is about 0%.

    So beat away.

    Posted by WallStreet at 05/03/2007 @ 4:08pm

25. Has anyone in a suit and tie carrying a briefcase ever been randomly beaten by cop?

    Interesting isn't it.

    Posted by WallStreet at 05/03/2007 @ 4:12pm

26. If you get together with 150,000 of your closest friends. And you suspect that 3 0r 4 of these close friends might, at some point start throwing bottles at the cops, and you think that you probably won't get a beating, you are a moron.

    Posted by WallStreet at 05/03/2007 @ 4:14pm

27. Lets examine this article...

    "All of a sudden it looked like the bad old days this week in Los Angeles. A peaceful pro-immigration rally in the downtown area Tuesday descended into chaotic violence as the LAPD charged in swinging with batons and firing more than 200 rounds of foam bullets."

    So, the cops charged a bunch of people sitting around singing cumbuya and holding little children.

    But wait.....

    "The melee was sparked when a small group of protestors, their faces covered in bandanas, broke off from the rally, blocked traffic and starting peppering riot-ready police with epithets and filled water bottles."

    What? The cops got crap thrown at them? I thought the cops started this? Why wait till the second paragraph to mention that the force indicated in para 1 was incited by the crowd?

    Is Marc Cooper a moron, a liar, or professionally incompetent?

    Posted by WallStreet at 05/03/2007 @ 4:21pm

28. So the rally was peaceful until it wasn't. got it.

    Posted by WallStreet at 05/03/2007 @ 4:25pm

29. WallStreet-If you read the entire article you'll discover that the police then targeted the peaceful demonstrators.In America the police are to only target the guilty so you may wish to move to a place like North Korea or Iran where law enforcement is practiced in the manner you approve of.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 05/03/2007 @ 4:46pm

30. Nobody,

    I still say it is worth the risk. North Korea and all.

    Posted by WallStreet at 05/03/2007 @ 4:54pm

31. As for the article, do you not believe that it was a tad misleading?

    Posted by WallStreet at 05/03/2007 @ 4:55pm

32. Also,

    This kind of crap does not happen to people like me. It happens to people who PRETEND to care about stuff.

    It happens to people that try to find any excuse to get together in big groups and drink Tecate.

    It happens to people who drive their parents BMW X5 to a global warming rally.

    It happens to people who march against things they aren't smart enough to understand.

    I happens to people who think that the outcome of a criminal court case is a slight against their people/ ideals.

    This is why I have no fear. I am like the cops. I just want to do my job, and go home and chill with my family and American Idol.

    Posted by WallStreet at 05/03/2007 @ 5:03pm

33. Wallstreet-In other words,it happens to those who exercise their rights.Check on real estate in North Korea or Iran.I hear it's cheap and you can still watch American idol.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 05/03/2007 @ 5:41pm

34. WallStreet-Ever hear of "blue flu" or see police demonstrate for higher wages and benefits?I have.Guess the police demonstrate,too if they believe in the cause.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 05/03/2007 @ 5:43pm

35. Posted by I'M NOBODY 05/03/2007 @ 5:43pm | ignore this person

    they also act like hooligans, as they did in NYC, when they shut down the Brooklyn bridge during a noisy, abusive demonstration.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 05/03/2007 @ 9:01pm

36. JR-Police persons can be the worlds biggest hypocrites.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 05/04/2007 @ 12:56pm