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Thousands retake MacArthur Park
Thousands of people rallied and marched yesterday in a strong statement for immigrant rights and against police brutality. The protest began with a rally and media circus in front of Immanuel Presbyterian Church, where Villaraigosa (who was notably out of town during the police riot on Mayday) as well as various other politicians, clergy, and a representatives of Homies Unidos, spoke to a crowd that filled the street and sidewalk between police lines at each end of the block. More than 5 satellite trucks sat around the corner, uploading sound bites from the politicians to the corporate TV news stations. The evening news paired reports from the march and rally with reports of the new proposed (anti-) immigration bill making its way through the Senate.
After the speakers, the crowd marched down Wilshire to MacArthur Park, joining a festive crowd of more than a thousand people already assembled there. In the park, there was a longer rally in front of a sound stage, with representatives of the various march organizers as well as Youth Justice Coalition and Qteam.
From the Newswire: 25,000 March /Rally Renews Call for Immigrant rights: more than 20,000 Took Back Macarthur | | Background info: flyer for the march and vigil || Immigrant Workers' Union statement against the proposed Senate anti-immigration Bill
Photos: Photos: Activists Confront Bratton-retaking MacArthur Park, May 17 by Twirl || Cell phone photos by LA-IMC || Crowds and Undercovers by Amanda || Undercover Agent by Streets Are Watching
Audio: YJC and Qteam by R & S
Video: Immigration Rally without the Police Brutality by GameJew (links to video hosted at Revver).
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