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FBI to Investigate Immigration Rally
By JEREMIAH MARQUEZ, Associated Press Writer
2 hours ago

LOS ANGELES - After days of watching from afar news footage showing his city's police officers wielding batons and firing rubber bullets into a crowd at an immigration rally, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa decided to cut short a trade mission to Mexico to deal with fallout from the violence.

Villaraigosa planned to return to Los Angeles Friday.

"I've decided to go back because I think it is necessary to make sure people know everything is in order and we will conduct a thorough and transparent investigation," Villaraigosa told the Televisa news network late Thursday.

Villaraigosa arrived in Mexico Thursday to promote investment, trade and tourism with Los Angeles, home to the largest Mexican population outside Mexico. He visited El Salvador earlier in the week.

Authorities have launched several investigations into the Police Department's actions at the May 1 rally, where police fired 240 rubber bullets. Video images of the incident were broadcast worldwide.

"I was very disturbed by what I saw," Villaraigosa told reporters in Mexico City on Thursday.

The FBI said Thursday it would open a civil rights inquiry into officers' conduct.

The preliminary inquiry seeks to determine "whether the civil rights of protesters taking part in the May 1st immigration rally were violated," according to an FBI news release.

Prior to the FBI announcement, Police Chief William J. Bratton said he inquire whether an FBI probe of Tuesday's clashes at MacArthur Park was possible.

"I have no issues with the FBI coming in ... and taking a look at it," he said.

The FBI probe is the fourth official investigation of the incident. The Police Department opened two investigations almost immediately after the violence, one to create an "after-action report" that evaluates planning and operations, and another by internal affairs to probe complaints against officers.

An independent review also has been undertaken by the investigative arm of the city's civilian Police Commission, a five-member board of mayoral appointees that sets policy for the Police Department.

Bratton said he hoped a federal review would show the department has nothing to hide while dispelling any claims that police had targeted immigrants or immigrant rights activists. Rally organizers decried the police behavior as brutal.

The clashes started around 6 p.m. Tuesday, when police tried to disperse demonstrators who moved into a street, according to rally organizers and reporters. Officers used batons to push the crowd back to the sidewalk after several people threw rocks and bottles at them, then cleared the park, authorities said.

News images showed police hitting a TV cameraman to the ground, shoving people who were walking away from officers and injuries from the rubber bullets. Bratton has said the use of force occurred while officers were trying to deal with 50 to 100 "agitators" who were trying to provoke police.

A police order to disperse probably wasn't effective because it was in English and given from a helicopter, Bratton said Wednesday. Many at the protest were Spanish speakers, he said.

Seven officers suffered minor injuries, and another was pushed off his motorcycle. About 10 other people were known to have been treated for minor injuries, though authorities expected the number to rise.

Police union leaders urged against a "rush to judgment."

"Our officers gave a legal dispersal order and were met with violence. In the coming days it will become clear what transpired," Los Angeles Police Protective League President Bob Baker said in a news release.

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Associated Press writer Julie Watson in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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