The May Day Melee

On Tuesday, May 1, 2007 something went wrong in MacArthur Park. Around 6,000 people marched into the park during an immigration rights rally on May Day. More than 500 officers of the LAPD were on hand to keep the peace during the event. The day proceeded without a hitch. Then something happened. Exactly what that was is the subject of a great deal of debate.

The rally is over but the hue and cry from angry citizens continues to echo through City Hall. Both LAPD Chief William Bratton and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have been taken to task for the events of that day. The FBI has launched a probe into civil rights violations and a wave of lawsuits and administrative claims have been filed against the city. The end result could cost the city millions of dollars.

Debates are raging as to how the city should deal with this issue. Some argue the police are being punished without a trial and officers are being denied their rights. Others complain that the demonstrators are due monetary restitution and more heads should roll at both the LAPD and City Hall.

But before we can discuss what should be done, we need to examine what actually happened and why. We have a tendency to assign blame, punish those in the crosshairs and then close the book and move on. The history of Los Angeles proves over and over again that doesn't work, from the Watts Riots, to Rodney King, to the Rampart Scandal.

So what actually happened in MacArthur Park on May Day? Like many things in today's world, it seems to depend on your personal point of view.

Just after 6pm on May 1st, the police opened fire on a defenseless crowd with rubber bullets. No warning whatsoever was given. They sprayed 240 rounds into the midst of the demonstrators. Riot police, including 100 officers from the elite Metro Division, waded into unarmed civilians wielding batons.

Anyone in their path, including television reporters, women and children were targeted and struck down. Marching forward relentlessly in their black armor with helmets and shields, they stormed through the park beating down the helpless civilians who struggled to escape the violence.

Tensions were rising throughout the day. Agitators were cursing and goading the police officers. Bottles and rocks began raining down on the officers from within the crowd. Finally, just after 6pm, with the crowd threatening to spiral out of control, the police gave the order to disperse. They announced it several times, in both English and in Spanish. Facing the increasing danger of an angry mob that was threatening to explode the order was given to move in and force the crowd to vacate the park. They repeated the order to disperse continuously as they advanced.

Officers were attacked with a hail of bottles and rocks as they moved forward. They fired 146 nonlethal rounds into the crowd to force them back and avoid the danger of hand-to-hand combat. They slowly cleared the demonstrators from the park, using force when necessary. A number of LAPD officers had to be transported to local hospitals and treated for minor injuries.