With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
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.
LAPD Vows To Arrest Chalk-Wielding Protesters At Occupy L.A.'s 'Chalk Walk' Tonight [UPDATED]
Police said that they plan to arrest protesters with Occupy L.A. who plan to wield sidewalk chalk at tonight's "Chalk Walk", which will coincide with the downtown Art Walk.
LAPD Capt. Horace Frank of the Central Division told the Los Angeles Times: "It's a violation of the law, it's vandalism, and we're going to make an arrest." He added that some businesses owners downtown aren't happy with chalk drawings: "My BlackBerry is burning up with pictures of businesses being vandalized."
The Times notes that the city attorney's office hasn't pressed charges in the cases of most of the people arrested for vandalism at last month's Art Walk.
Richard Schave, a founding member of the Art Walk non-profit, asked the city if it would be possible to create a "safe space" for the group to protest, after LAPD clashed with protesters at last month's "Chalk Walk." The city said that it could approve a permit for protesters to congregate at Pershing Square, but not if the event included chalking, which it does not consider lawful.
Support for LAist comes from
[Eds. note: a previous version of this post incorrectly stated that Richard Schave requested a permit from the city.]
The President of Public Works, Andrea Alarcon, sent Schave a letter saying that the city considers chalking illegal activity:
"Unfortunately, a request for a permit to assemble in Pershing Square for the purposes of ‘chalking’ does not fit within the parameters of our permitting structure because the use of chalk to deface public or private property is not lawful."
Occupiers, of course, disagree that chalking is illegal and point out that other groups have gotten the city's permission to use chalk in the past. Not that the city's denial and threats will do anything to stop their protest tonight. Supporters from the Bay Area, Cindy Sheehan and Code Pink are expected to show up.Some of them were already up this morning drawing homages to the First Amendment and Occupy movement in Pershing Square. A few squad cars showed up, too, which you can see on the USTREAM here:
Free desktop streaming application by Ustream
UPDATE: 3 Members of Occupy Group From Oakland Detained For Using Sidewalk Chalk At Pershing Square
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The rock legend joins LAist for a lookback on his career — and the next chapter of his music. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past.
Best of LAist