Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, May 6, 2010, 10:30 am - About 100 people protested in front of the Downtown Los Angeles ICE building Thursday. Fourteen immigrant rights activists chained themselves together in the street blocking the entrance and exit of ICE buses. The protest was held as a civil disobedience action against deportations and the new Arizona law, SB 1070.

Reports From the Newswire: CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE:14 Chained together BLOCKING ICE ENTRANCE IN LOS ANGELES by phuk minutmen | | Breaking: Cell phone photos of lockdown in street | 10:30 am - BREAKING: 100's take street at downtown detention center

2:45 pm UPDATE: Police still cutting people out of lock boxes. Caller from the scene reports arrests sill being made. 100s witnessing from sidewalk as in support of the activists. Arrestees believed being taken to Parker Center. Action has been able to block ICE buses for close to five hours now.

- 2:00 pm: Police have started making arrests of those in the street.
- 1:35 pm: BREAKING NEWS: police bring force against protestors
- 12:00 Noon Protesters still holding the street. Alameda Blvd sill closed off. Police appear to be getting ready to give dispersal order and start cutting people in lock down out of metal tubes. Police horse units reported in the area. Situation peaceful at this time.

VIDEO: Civil disobedience at immigration detention facility downtown Los Angeles by Musicamante

LOS ANGELES - May 1, 2010 - The air was electrified by a presence not felt since the Gran Marcha of 2006. Tens of thousands marched through downtown Los Angeles in solidarity with Arizona's victims of a new law that effectively legalizes racial profiling. The new Arizona law has been denounced by President Obama, DHS Head Janet Nopalitano, the Mayor of Phoenix, the Sheriff of Pima County (Arizona), and even some Republicans who see it as draconian legislation.

Many of the protest signs carried bold statements calling the Arizona law "racist" and "Nazi"-like. There was a sense of urgency in their voices, demanding to "Boycott Arizona" and overturn Arizona's SB 1070 law on the grounds that it was racially discriminatory and unconstitutional.

Demonstrations were held nationwide and cities throughout the nation are reporting sizable turnouts. The large downtown march was not the only protest in the Southern California area: Santa Ana, San Bernardino and Temecula are also reporting large protests.

From the newswire: Los Angeles Marches Against Racist Arizona Law (PHOTOS) by Manuel Alderete | | ¡Reforma Sí! ¡Migra No! Inland Empire stands with Arizona by Rockero | | Video: May Day 2010, San Bernardino | | Primero de Mayo Temecula by Rockero | | May Day March in Downtown Santa Ana Attracts an Estimated 1,000 People by Duane Roberts | | May 1st march for SB 1070 by TheCyman

Photos: Los Angeles May Day Protests, set 1 of 3 | Set 2 | Set 3 by Robert Stuart Lowden | Los Angeles 2010 May Day by Marcus | May Day LA (10 of 10) by SCHA-LA

NEW VIDEO: Los Angeles May Day Protest March by Bill Sparkes

WEST LOS ANGELES, April 20, 2010 – Residents of West Los Angeles neighborhoods impacted by the increase in corporate jet traffic at the Santa Monica airport held a press conference and marched to the airport this Sunday. The 70 year old Santa Monica airport which was once a relatively quite airport for small single engine private planes has become the nation’s busiest small airport for large corporate jets in within a densely populated residential area. Long time West LA residents just East of the airport have watched the quality of their environment deteriorate to the point where toxic jet fumes are becoming life threatening for some.

Many of the home owners in the neighborhoods near the airport and under the flight path are retired and living on a fixed income so moving is not an option. Younger residents many who are recent first time home buyers with small children were not informed of the noise and toxic air generated by airport operation when they bought their homes. The problem is particularly acute for those living within a half mile East of the airport. A recent study by the UCLA Institute for the Environment shows ultra fine toxic particles in the air around the airport are 10 times higher than normal LA conditions. From the Newswire: West LA Community Fights to Stop Corporate Jets at Santa Monica Airport | | MP3 AUDIO: Speeches from the Shutdown Santa Monica Airport Rally

LOS ANGELES, April 17, 2010 – Neo-Nazi groups staged a demonstration today on the steps of City Hall. About 25 Nazis in full uniform and with Swastika flags marched to City Hall under the escort of hundreds of police. Police created a wide buffer zone between the Nazi rally and a large crowd of counter protesters estimated at around 500 people.

There are conflicting reports of at least two incidents where suspected Nazis were beaten by some members of the counter demonstration. There are reports of the beating of a shirtless man displaying swastika tattoos. And another incident where police intervened to extract a second man from the crowd it is unclear if the second man was indeed a part of the Nazi group. Both men escaped with minor injuries. There are also reports of some injuries sustained by counter protesters incurred from police blows during the LAPD intervention to extract the two men. From the Newswire: Nazis Hold Rally At Los Angeles City Hall & Protester Physically Attacked by Anti Nazi Censors By Robert Stuart Lowden | Some Photos of the Nazi Response Today 4.17.10 by by Cameron H. | Short report on the Downtown Anti-Nazi protest

Commentary by Anna Kunkin: The Nazis Brought Solidarity and Questions | | Photos: Nazi rally at LA City Hall turns bloody by Marcus | | VIDEO: Nazis are not welcome in LA by ONE LOVE COMMUNITY | | L.A. P.D. Undercovers @ Nazi Rally by Arizona Anarchist

UPDATE: Reports of up to five arrests have been made in connection with the brawl between a nazi supporter and a few counter demonstrators and the police intervention that ensued. Details of the incident are still not clear. Although no arrests were made at the scene, it is believed that police made the arrests at some point after the protest. At least one community organizer is been held on charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. It is not clear how the charge is related to brawl but supporters are calling for the release of Julio Rodriguez. See Free Julio & Julio Rodriguez Update for more information.

New Reports still coming in: L.A. Anti-Nazi Demonstration Drowned Out NSM by Jen Kluu | NEW VIDEO: Anti-Nazi Rally by SCHA-LA | | LA Anti-Nazi Protest is a Civil Rights Victory - commentary by Luma Nichol

This just in: Julio Rodriguez Freed!. Still no word on four others believed arrested on Saturday.

WEST LOS ANGELES, April 16, 2010 - A mixed group of "Tea Party" activists, protesters and political hopefuls staged a small but visible protest outside of California Senator Diane Feinstein's Los Angeles Offices. It was one of many held throughout the southland on the American tax deadline date in response to the Obama administrations policies concerning healthcare, immigration and the growing federal deficit.

The protest was composed of Libertarians, Evangelicals, Catholics, Republicans, a percentage of Democrats, LBGT Republicans, Jewish, Atheist, immigrant, wealthy and middle class conservatives.. This reporter spoke to at least a fourth of the crowd and found it to be surprisingly diverse and somewhat representative of the west side.

Generally the crowd was friendly with only a few openly hostile personalities. A warning went up at the beginning of the protest to be aware of left wing photographers that were simply there to take embarrassing shots of the participants. Of course that would seem to make this dreadlocked photographer who reports for IndyMedia an immediate center of attention, but happily that was not the case. The crowd was friendly and orderly. Full report: Eclectic Los Angeles Tea Party Stages Tax Day Protest at Feinstein Office, Part 1 | | Part 2 by Robert Stuart Lowden