Shocking

Attorney Browne Greene, left, shows a photo of Patti Ballaz’s (camerawoman for FOX news} injuries sustained at an immigration rights protest in MacArthur Park on May 1st, 2007.
(Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
May 4, 2007




A frightened woman flees an approaching line of riot police called in to break up the assemblage.

(Rick Loomis / LAT)

May 1, 2007

This story should be getting more press. At the end of a peaceful immigration march in LA on May 1st the police used a shocking amount of force on demonstrators - even the chief of police says "A lot went wrong, I'm embarrassed for this department."

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is more than embarrassed, he is pissed (as he should be}

Back home after an aborted trade mission to Mexico, a grim Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Friday that he was outraged by the May Day clash between the LAPD and immigration demonstrators, and he promised "the highest level of scrutiny" in the city's investigation.

During an evening news conference given in both English and Spanish, Villaraigosa said he had been "deeply, personally" affected by the images of Los Angeles Police Department officers clad in riot gear, wielding batons and firing rubber bullets to break up a pro-immigration march at MacArthur Park.

"It hit me in my gut," said a visibly upset Villaraigosa. "We consider this a violation of our human rights," added the mayor, who was flanked by city, county and state officials.

"What happened on May 1 was wrong. I am here to work as hard as I can to make it right."

This should not happen in this country. Demonstrators are not enemies. The Press is not the enemy.

UPDATE: Not only Mexican demonstrators in LA are seen as bad guys by police. There is still fall out from the GOP Convention protests of 'O4 - another story that got shockingly little press.