Thread: MACARTHUR PARK UP AND RUNNING, CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

Oh My, they are back in the park (MacArthur Park). FOX News showed thousands in the streets of Los Angeles and it was mentioned there will be a candlelight vigil.

Martin Sheen was said to be participating.

You'd think this was the scene of a massacre or something rather than lawless foreign nationals disobeying police orders to disperse...

This event occured Thursday, May 17, the day the Immigration Bill was agreed to by Ted Kennedy, President Bush, Sec. Chertoff, Senator Graham, and others.

Immigration marchers return to LA park

By DAISY NGUYEN Associated Press Writer

News Fuze

Article Last Updated:05/17/2007 09:47:29 PM MDT

LOS ANGELES- About 2,000 immigration reform demonstrators marched peacefully Thursday to the park where protesters and journalists clashed with police during a rally earlier this month.
Organizers said the purpose of the demonstration was to strengthen the immigrant community's trust that they could exercise their constitutional rights. It came hours after the White House and top lawmakers announced a deal that would grant legal status to millions of illegal immigrants if approved.
"We are hardworking people. We just want to be here legally," said Maria Navas, a sewing factory worker from El Salvador who has been in Los Angeles for 14 years.
Marchers gathered in front of a church for a town hall-style meeting before a procession to MacArthur Park west of downtown. Police spokeswoman Mary Grady said the department kept officers on overtime in case they were needed.
Four investigations are ongoing into the May 1 melee, and two commanders have been removed. At that event, riot police struck demonstrators and journalists with batons and fired more than 240 rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Officers say they responded after being pelted by rocks and bottles. No one was seriously hurt, but at least 60 citizen complaints involving as many as 100 officers have been filed.
People waved from windows in tall office buildings as the marchers filed past Thursday. When people arrived at MacArthur Park, a police officer used a bullhorn to direct marchers in Spanish, saying "Thank you for your cooperation."
The peaceful crowd banged on drums and waved mostly U.S. flags, as well as those from Mexico, El Salvador and other Latin American countries. Police estimated the crowd at about 2,000.
"If there are a lot of people who come today, maybe the lawmakers in Washington will take notice. The immigrants are here; they deserve a chance," said participant Alberto Reyes.
This time, police patrolled on bicycles or stood by. Officers planned to pass out fliers with a message printed in English, Spanish and Korean.
"The Los Angeles Police Department is committed to working in cooperation with the event organizers to protect your right to free speech," the flier said. "We wish to allow you to engage in marches, demonstrations, protests and rallies in the city of Los Angeles to freely express your opinions."
Marchers differed on the legislative immigration plan, which would require illegal immigrants to return home to apply for residency, pay a $5,000 fine and potentially wait eight to 13 years for permanent residency. Debate on the proposal is set to begin Monday in the Senate.
A factory worker, Ricardo Cristobal, said that he thought the $5,000 fine was too high and that he was participating in his third march "so the government can hear us and legalize us."
Also among the marchers was actor Martin Sheen, who said he was supporting immigrant rights because his parents came to the United States as immigrants from Spain and Ireland.
"Today I march under my real name, which is Ramon Estevez," Sheen said.
He said he supported the measures in Congress. "It's a good start. It's not going to satisfy everybody, and it's not going to solve the problem, but it's as good as one can do under the circumstances," Sheen said.

http://origin.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_5917898

Marchers Return to Site of Immigration Rally Clash at L.A. Park

Los Angeles, CA (CNS) -- Just hours after federal lawmakers announced a compromise immigration bill, about 2,000 people returned to MacArthur Park today to complete a May Day rally that was marred by police violence.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa led a 10-block procession from Immanuel Presbyterian Church to MacArthur Park, where organizers held a candlelight vigil during the festive gathering.
``One Los Angeles marched together in peace to stand up for the idea that in a great and generous America, we have every right to march peaceably, to speak out against the government, to ask to be a part of the American dream,'' Villaraigosa said while standing alongside police Chief William Bratton at MacArthur Park.
``This was important, given what happened on May 1,'' Villaraigosa said. ``It's also important that we come together as one city.''
However, Villaraigosa was drowned out during his brief speech by about 100 demonstrators who shouted obscenities and called him ``Vendido,'' or sell- out in Spanish.
``He needs to fire Bratton,'' said Ernesto Robles, 34, of Hollywood. ``He's not with us as long as he supports a corrupt police chief who lets people get beaten.''
Other demonstrators chased Spanish-language radio personality Eduardo ``Piolin'' Sotelo into his radio station's van, also shouting ``Vendido.'' Sotelo had encouraged his large listening audience to attend the gathering.
The demonstration was held the same day that an agreement on a bipartisan Senate bill between key senators and the White House was announced.
The proposal would allow undocumented residents to live legally in the United States after paying a $5,000 fine and to receive temporary-resident permits while they apply for a ``Z Visa.''
Heads of undocumented immigrant households would have eight to 13 years to return to their home countries and apply for permanent legal residence for family members.
Victoria Sanchez, 38, of Boyle Heights, said she liked the proposal.
``That fine sounds like a lot of money, but it's a good idea,'' said Sanchez, who moved to Los Angeles from Mexico 10 years ago. ``We need something to help us become legal.''
However, Hugo Estrada, 29, of Huntington Park, remained skeptical of the plan.
``I don't trust the part where they want people to go back,'' said Estrada, who moved to Los Angeles with his parents 25 years ago. ``It sounds like a bad trick or something. I don't like it.''
Others gathered for the rally said they were not aware of the new federal immigration proposal.
Lucy Marquez, 47, wrapped an American flag around her shoulders and watched as her two daughters played nearby.
``I just came out here because I was at the last rally, and it really upset me,'' said Marquez, a Koreatown resident. ``I wanted to see if anything bad was going to happen. So far, so good.''
Demonstrators, journalists and police officers were injured at the end of a march supporting the rights of undocumented immigrants in MacArthur Park May 1, when police tried to disperse some people who moved off the sidewalk into Alvarado Street, police said.
After bottles were thrown at police patrolling the park, officers clad in riot gear responded by wielding batons and firing 146 rounds of foam-rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, police said.
A preliminary version of the LAPD's after-action report will be heard by the full City Council on May 30. In a separate investigation, the department is checking into complaints filed by demonstrators and journalists injured during the fracas.
Three LAPD investigations into the incident are underway, along with probes by the Los Angeles Police Commission and the FBI.
Deputy Chief Cayler ``Lee'' Carter Jr. was demoted last week from deputy chief to commander and reassigned to home duty. Bratton announced yesterday that Carter has decided to retire effective June. 6.
Bratton declined to comment on Carter's retirement but did say that he did not anticipate any problems at today's rally.
``Things are going very well today with a good size crowd,'' Bratton said. ``We were greeted quite warmly all along the parade route. I think the vast majority of the Latino population here appreciates the LAPD as making their lives a lot safer.''
The American Civil Liberties Union asked the judge overseeing the LAPD's consent decree to hold a hearing on officers' use of force during the May 1 melee at MacArthur Park.
The ACLU alleged that the LAPD violated civil rights during the rally. The city agreed to the consent decree in the wake of the Rampart corruption scandal, which also alleged civil rights violations.
One year ago, Judge Gary Feess extended the consent decree for three years.
Bratton said he has not yet reviewed the ACLU's allegations.
``It's already been extended for three years,'' Bratton said. ``What do they want to do? Make it a lifetime?''

Courtesy CNS

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