2007 MacArthur Park rallies

March 2012 Immigration policy protests in Los Angeles, California, US 2007 MacArthur Park rallies May 1, 2007 MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, California Police attempt to disperse rally Protestors Los Angeles Police Department 33 injured 5 arrests 7 injured 9 journalists injured The 2007 MacArthur Park rallies, also known as the May Day Melee, were two May Day rallies demanding amnesty for illegal immigrants which occurred on May 1, 2007, at MacArthur Park, in Los Angeles. When the protest overflowed onto city streets, police drove motorcycles through the crowd, then ordered the crowd to disperse. Some people began throwing plastic bottles and rocks at officers. Members of the Los Angeles Police Department then used batons and rubber bullets in a manner later found by the LAPD's own investigation, as well as by the courts, to be excessive. After community mobilization, pressure from the Mayor, and an extensive internal review, LAPD Chief William Bratton apologized, the commanding officer was demoted, 17 other officers faced penalties, and the LAPD paid more than $13 million in damages.Reston Maeve Rubin Joel February 5, 2009 Los Angeles to pay $13 million to settle May Day melee lawsuits https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-feb-05-me-lapd-settlement5-story.html subscription 21 January 2010 Los Angeles Times Incident Organizers obtained the necessary permits to hold a rally at MacArthur Park on May 1, 2007 until 21:00. At about 17:15 a few protesters began blocking the street, which the rally permit expressly prohibited. The police made numerous requests for the protesters to move from the street and abide by the conditions of the permit.January 2014 The protesters defied the police requests and began gathering in larger numbers on the street. When the attempts by police to move the crowd failed, police commanders declared the gathering an unlawful assembly. The formal order for the crowd to disperse was given in English, being broadcast from a police helicopter circling the park, from police cars, and from hand-held megaphones. A significant portion of the crowd, many who spoke and understood only Spanish, ignored this order and did not disperse.June 2025 Police officers formed a line and advanced slowly to clear the area. The officers proceeded about 50 feet at a time, allowing those complying with the dispersal order to retreat. Most protesters left the area at this point, however, some that had stayed began to throw rocks and bottles at the advancing officers.Dunphy Jack May 3, 2007 May Day Madness http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OGIyODdjZGNhOWU5N2ZhNzg1Y2U0M2I5ODlmM2RlOTQ= dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070517050114/http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OGIyODdjZGNhOWU5N2ZhNzg1Y2U0M2I5ODlmM2RlOTQ%3D May 17, 2007 1 June 2007 National Review Online mdy Altogether, the estimated 600 police officers fired 146 foam-rubber projectiles.McGreevy Patrick Winton Richard May 27, 2007 Chief to explain police actions at rally https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-may-27-me-mayday27-story.html subscription 15 June 2011 Los Angeles Times 33 marchers and 9 journalists were injured.2009-07-01 LAPD: No cops fired over May Day melee https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna31680896 2025-06-16 NBC News en One woman reported suffering a miscarriage after injury by the police.Rubin Joel November 20, 2008 Deal near in May Day melee http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-lapd20-2008nov20,0,2247926.story subscription live https://web.archive.org/web/20081211021713/http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-lapd20-2008nov20%2C0%2C2247926.story December 11, 2008 21 November 2008 Los Angeles Times mdy Five people were arrested.May 30, 2007 LAPD gets new tactics boss in wake of rally clash controversy http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20070530-1712-ca-immigrationrally-clash.html dead https://archive.today/20130202105224/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20070530-1712-ca-immigrationrally-clash.html February 2, 2013 31 May 2007 Associated Press Seven police officers were injured. The incident received considerable attention from news media because several reporters were also pushed and injured, notably Christina Gonzalez from L.A.'s Fox 11 News (KTTV), and Telemundo's National Evening Broadcaster, Pedro Sevcec. CBS 2/KCAL 9 (KCBS-TV, KCAL-TV) reporter Mark Coogan and his cameraman Carl Stein were also accosted. Stein was struck on the ribs by LAPD batons.http://cbs2.com/video/?id=38721@kcbs.dayport.com Latest Videos « CBS Los Angeles May 6, 2007 December 20, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071220020101/http://cbs2.com/video/?id=38721@kcbs.dayport.com deadJune 2025 Patricia Nazario, a reporter for KPCC, was beaten in the ribs and back, before being struck over the head with a baton. ABC 7 (KABC-TV) reporter Sid Garcia was hit by a rubber bullet, but it ricocheted off him.May 2, 2007 Police to Review Clash at LA Rally http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070502/D8OSG27G6.html usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20070504013346/http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070502/D8OSG27G6.html May 4, 2007 May 4, 2007 MyWay Associated Press Patti Ballaz, a camerawoman for KTTV who was injured, filed a claim for unspecified damages against the city and the police department. Response by government officials At a press conference later in the day, Police Chief William J. Bratton indicated that an investigation was underway to "determine if the use of force was appropriate," going on to state that "the vast majority of people who were [at MacArthur Park] were behaving appropriately."Watanabe Teresa Vara-Orta Francisco May 2, 2007 Small turnout, big questions https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-may-02-me-march2-story.html subscription May 6, 2007 Los Angeles TimesMay 2, 2007 Bratton: Officers' Conduct May Be Inappropriate http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-maydayprotest,0,2940990.story?coll=ktla-home-1 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070504040419/http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-maydayprotest%2C0%2C2940990.story?coll=ktla-home-1 May 4, 2007 May 4, 2007 KTLA Associated Press Bratton indicated he may ask the FBI to investigate the chain of events.May 3, 2007 Chief: FBI May Investigate LAPD Conduct At Rally http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_123064117.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070505203322/http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_123064117.html May 5, 2007 11 May 2007 KCAL-TV mdy Associated Press At the time of the events, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was on a trip to El Salvador. He cut his trip short three days later, in order to personally oversee the investigation of the chain of events,May 4, 2007 Mayor Villaraigosa Cuts Short Mexico Trip http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=state&id=5273639 11 May 2007 KABC-TVJuly 2024 medicmedic and asked Police Chief Bratton to oversee a "complete and comprehensive review of this incident, including deployment, tactics, and use of force." At a Sunday morning mass at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on May 6, Villaraigosa said "I come today with a heavy heart ... Nobody, nobody should be victimized in a way we saw women, children and families victimized just a few days ago."Pool Bob May 7, 2007 A contrite mayor goes to the park https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-may-07-me-mayor7_-story.html September 24, 2010 Los Angeles Times Los Angeles city council member Herb Wesson, whose district includes neighborhoods near MacArthur Park, criticized the police response by comparing it to beating of civil rights leaders in the South in the 1960s. He praised Bratton's response, though, saying "I'm proud that the chief said quickly that some inappropriate actions took place."McGreevy Patrick May 2, 2007 Bratton oversees LAPD inquiry at critical time http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bratton3may03,0,2598461.story?coll=la-home-headlines dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070505052533/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bratton3may03%2C0%2C2598461.story?coll=la-home-headlines May 5, 2007 11 May 2007 Los Angeles Times mdy Fabian Núñez, Speaker of the California Assembly whose district includes MacArthur Park where the events took place, condemned the actions of the police by saying "To say we are outraged is an understatement ... We want those responsible in the highest levels of the LAPD to pay consequences."Glazer Andrew May 4, 2007 LA Mayor Condemns Rally Violence https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/04/AR2007050400458.html September 24, 2010 Washington Post Associated Press Robert Baker, president of the Police union, responded, calling Wesson's and Núñez's words "police bashing that erroneously insinuates racial bias".May 5, 2007 Saturday In The Park Is Quiet As Protesters Are No-Shows http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=5277211 11 May 2007 KABC-TVJuly 2024 medicmedic Investigations Four separate investigations were created to investigate the incident, one of them being a special task force set up by city council president Eric Garcetti. The task force is composed of five councilmembers, and is co-chaired by Los Angeles city councilmembers Ed Reyes and Jack Weiss.May 14, 2007 Special Task Force To Hear Public Comment On May Day Police Action http://www.knbc.com/news/13314204/detail.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070927015033/http://www.knbc.com/news/13314204/detail.html September 27, 2007 15 May 2007 KNBC May 15, 2007 Shouts, Jeers At Public Meeting Over May Day Police Action http://www.knbc.com/news/13321886/detail.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070927015116/http://www.knbc.com/news/13321886/detail.html September 27, 2007 16 May 2007 KNBC The FBI also investigated the incidents for civil rights violations. On May 17, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a requestMay 17, 2007 United States of America, vs. City of Los Angeles http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site200/2007/0517/20070517_060620_FINALbrief.pdf dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070615150654/http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site200/2007/0517/20070517_060620_FINALbrief.pdf June 15, 2007 MediaNews Group with U.S. District Judge Gary A. Feess to look into whether the incident at MacArthur Park violated a 2001 consent decree which was a result of the Rampart scandal. If the judge finds the LAPD in violation of the decree, federal oversight of the LAPD could be extended beyond the current deadline of 2009.McGreevy Patrick May 18, 2007 Probe sought of LAPD's May 1 use of force http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lapd18may18,1,2997330.story?ctrack=1&cset=true 20 May 2007 Los Angeles Times On May 29, Chief Bratton presented preliminary findings of an internal police investigation to the civilian police commission, and on May 30 he presented the preliminary findings to the Los Angeles City Council. According to Bratton, the main reasons for the mêlée were "a command and control breakdown," [which] began at the planning stages and dominoed throughout the event itself".McGreevy Patrick Winton Richard amp May 30, 2007 Bratton cites staff failures in melee https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-may-30-me-lapd30-story.html subscription 14 July 2008 Los Angeles Times On October 9, five months after the incident, the LAPD released the results of an internal investigation.Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-oct-10-me-melee10-story.html LAPD takes blame for park melee October 10, 2007 Richard Winton Duke Helfand 14 July 2008 Community response On May 17, approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people marched in protest of the events that took place on May 1. The march started at a church 10 blocks west of MacArthur Park with a "town hall meeting", and ended at MacArthur Park. The march was peaceful, without a single arrest, and the town hall meeting featured speakers such as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez,http://www.asianjournal.com/?c=124&a=20366 3,000 at MacArthur Park for Peaceful March May 22, 2007 Rene Villaroman Asian Journal Online 23 May 2007 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071213174628/http://www.asianjournal.com/?c=124&a=20366 December 13, 2007 mdy May 19, 2007 MacArthur Park Peaceful Immigration Rally http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=5316589 18 May 2007 KABC-TV mdy Associated PressJuly 2024 medicmedic who later marched with the protesters. Police Chief William Bratton was also present at the march and town hall meeting.Uranga Rachel May 17, 2007 Marchers rally at L.A. park as LAPD faces a legal challenge http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_5924118 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070927204031/http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_5924118 September 27, 2007 May 30, 2007 Press Telegram mdy-all Fallout On May 7, 2007, Chief William J. Bratton announced a departmental reorganization. Cayler "Lee" Carter, who was a deputy chief and the highest-ranking official at scene, was demoted to commander and assigned home duty. On May 17, Carter announced his resignation from the LAPD, effective June 6.May 17, 2007 Police Official Retires After May Day Clash http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_137115916.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071007162410/http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_137115916.html October 7, 2007 17 May 2007 KCBS-TV mdy-all Associated Press In his May 7 announcement, Bratton also announced that Carter's deputy, Louis Gray, would be reassigned to the operations bureau, and that about 60 officers who were involved in the incident would be taken off the street, pending the outcome of the investigations.Hernandez Lisa May 8, 2007 Bratton to Suggest Replacement for Demoted Official http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=5283874 dead https://archive.today/20130124044133/http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=5283874 January 24, 2013 11 May 2007 KABC-TVWashington Post Top LAPD Officers Disciplined for Use of Force at Rally https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/07/AR2007050701640.html May 8, 2007 Sonya Geis 24 May 2007 On May 9, the Multi-Ethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network filed a class-action suit against the Los Angeles Police Department and the city.2007 Lawsuits Mount Over May Day Police Action In MacArthur Park http://www.nbc4.tv/news/13292611/detail.html# dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070513034325/http://www.nbc4.tv/news/13292611/detail.html May 13, 2007 11 May 2007 KNBC mdy-all In February 2009, the City Council approved a $12.85 million to settle nine lawsuits against the city.Kandel Jason 2009-02-04 May Day melee settled for $12.9 million https://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20090204/may-day-melee-settled-for-129-million/ 2025-06-16 Los Angeles Daily News en-USBehrens Zach 2009-02-03 $12.85 Million Paid to Victims of May Day Melee https://laist.com/news/police-public-safety/1285-million-paid-to-victims-of-may 2025-06-16 LAist en On May 30, Bratton announced the creation of a new Incident Management & Training Bureau, and assigned Deputy Chief Michael Hillmann to head the newly created bureau. Over a year later, on July 8, 2008, the LAPD announced "that 17 officers and two sergeants from the department's elite Metropolitan Division should be punished for their roles in [the incident]".Winton Richard Gorman Anna Glover Scott July 9, 2008 Officers in melee to face censure http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-melee9-2008jul09,0,709480,full.story dead https://archive.today/20120910014037/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-melee9-2008jul09,0,709480,full.story September 10, 2012 14 July 2008 Los Angeles Times The recommended punishment was not publicized, and could range from a simple reprimand to termination. Critics decried the announcement, saying that only officers "whose actions were captured on video" were recommended for punishment.June 2025 Chief William Bratton asked for four officers to be dismissed, however no officers were fired. References 30em Further reading Sasha Costanza-Chock Sasha Costanza-Chock Out of the Shadows, Into the Streets!: Transmedia Organizing and the Immigrant Rights Movement 2014 MIT Press 978-0-262-32281-2 https://books.google.com/books?id=PTgbBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA69 MacArthur Park Melee Category:Police brutality in the United States Category:Protests in California Category:Illegal immigration to the United States Category:Los Angeles Police Department Category:2007 protests Category:May Day protests Category:Riots and civil disorder in California Category:2007 in Los Angeles Category:Immigration-related protests in the United States Category:May 2007 in the United States