Five arrested at Los Angeles immigration rally
The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

Five people were arrested at a Los Angeles park on Saturday as police dispersed anti-immigration demonstrators and counter-protestors, authorities said.

Among those arrested for failure to obey was activist Ted Hayes, who organized the anti-immigration rally at MacArthur Park, said Officer April Harding.

Hayes got a permit for a daylong rally of Minutemen activists and a smaller group of protesters demanding reparations for slavery. They were met by a third crowd of about 300 pro-immigrant marchers carrying signs and vowing to prevent the others from marching into the park.

Police handled the situation carefully, mindful of the May Day clash in which officers used rubber bullets and batons to clear immigration reform demonstrations. Officers, some in riot gear, some in shorts and on bicycles, kept the two sides apart.

"There was a lot of shouting, a lot of trash talking, but no violence," Harding said.

When the rally's permit expired on Saturday afternoon, police officials declared the anti-immigrant protesting an illegal assembly. Five people including Hayes refused to disperse and were arrested.

Published: Saturday, June 23, 2007 19:16 PDT

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