Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
23 Arrested During Downtown L.A. Protest This Morning [UPDATED]
Over 1,000 activists - including Occupy L.A. protesters, Good Jobs L.A. advocates, unemployed residents, community groups, clergy and labor organizations - have successfully taken over the intersection of 4th and Figueroa in downtown Los Angeles this morning.
Their march and rally began at 7am at the Bank of America Plaza on S. Hope Street, calling on Congress to make Wall Street accountable for fixing the economy as well as demanding jobs, not cuts.
The protest permit ended at 8:20am. Apparently, the march is behind schedule. Protesters plan on doing "acts of civil disobedience" in the intersection. Arrests are likely, and people have already volunteered to be arrested.
L.A. protests are slated to occur throughout the day, including a second downtown march starting at the civic center at noon. Similar protests are taking places in cities around the country, including New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, Seattle, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Houston and Miami.
Support for LAist comes from
()
Photo by @SLSmith via Twitpic
UPDATE 10:05 AM A total of 23 arrests were made, according to the LAPD's Cpt. Andy Smith, who said the police's intervention in the planned protest was "successful." More protests are slated to take place today in Los Angeles and other cities.
UPDATE 9:58 AM The crowd has been asked to remain on the sidewalk, and that announcements are forthcoming.
UPDATE 9:47 AM More than half of the arrests are complete. A crowd is still gathered on the sidewalk, being led in chants and cheering each arrest.
UPDATE 9:41 AM All of the tents set up in the intersection have been removed. The LAPD officers are speaking to each arrestee and encouraging them to physically cooperate with the arrest rather than being carried. An organizer leads the chant: "This is what democracy looks like" and then "Rebuild L.A.!"
UPDATE 9:37 AM The third person arrested goes slack, is carried away by four police officers.
UPDATE 9:34 AM An elderly woman is the first to be cuffed and arrested. As the chants continue, protesters are arrested one by one. About 18 people are putting themselves up for arrest.
Support for LAist comes from
UPDATE 9:31 AM: With excess people cleared from the center of the intersection, what remains at the core of 4th and Figueroa is a line of protesters with linked arms in orange and yellow vests, and also a circle of protesters in while hand-markered shirts with slogans who are seated in a circle with linked elbows. These are the protesters who volunteered themselves in the organization protest as those willing to be arrested. As the LAPD moves through the stages of their standard dispersal of an unlawful assembly, so long as the protesters remain in place, arrests will begin shortly.
UPDATE 9:14 AM A protest organizer speaks from the loudspeaker to let all participants know it's time to move back and be peaceful. The LAPD, as expected, declare the protest an "unlawful assembly" and order the crowd to disperse. "You break up this assembly. If you do not do so, you will arrested, or subject to other police action." This announcement is standard in these situations. The LAPD offers a list of suggested routes for dispersal. The same announcement follows in Spanish.
UPDATE 9:04 AM: Protesters lay out banners as the LAPD approach the group in the center of the intersection and work towards issuing the dispersal order and making arrests.
UPDATE 8:54 AM: The LAPD prepare to issue the dispersal order and declare the protest an "unlawful assembly." At this point they're just waiting for the go-ahead.
UPDATE 8:45AM: A group of 18 protesters who have volunteered to be subject to arrested formed a circle in the center of the intersection, and tents have been set up in the middle. A Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief, when asked by KTLA's Eric Spillman on the Channel 5 Morning News, said the protest would not be allowed to last much longer. Minutes later, the LAPD began to make strides to clear the intersection, as the crowd drew back, and the 18 designated protesters remained in the street, ready for arrest.
LAist Associate Editor Lauren Lloyd contributed to this report
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist