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DREAM Act Protest Shuts down Wilshire Blvd., 9 Plan to be Arrested [Updated]
Wilshire Boulevard has reportedly been shut down by a DREAM act protest led by students. In an alert by LAPD's West L.A. division, "Wilshire Blvd off the 405 Fwy at Veteran ave is severely congested. use alternate route to get into Westwood." The DREAM act is a piece of federal legislation dealing with undocumented alien students. More details coming.
Update: Nine protestors sitting in the middle of Wilshire Boulevard, surrounded by 50 or so supporters, plan on being arrested this afternoon, according to an organizer, who only identified herself as Melanie, over the phone. The street is blocked in both directions in the Westwood area, severely affecting traffic around the 405 Freeway, according to police.
Melanie said they want to bring attention to the DREAM Act, which would enable children under the age of 16 brought by their parents to the U.S. illegally to gain citizenship by completing two years of high school, college or military service.
The group is made up of students, UCLA professors and five people who protested at John McCain's Tucson office earlier this week. Today's action is part of a national campaign.
Update 2: The nine who were arrested were released and ticketed. The last photo above shows them in front of the California Highway Patrol building.
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