LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Organizers of recent “No Kings” protests that drew large crowds in downtown Los Angeles — and led to multiple arrests — were Tuesday planning another round of demonstrations May 1 at MacArthur Park as part of a nationwide “Workers Over Billionaires” day of action.
A coalition of labor and community groups, including the 50501 Movement, is organizing the event as part of what organizers describe as a coordinated show of economic and political protest.
The May Day demonstrations follow protests Saturday in downtown Los Angeles, where authorities reported 74 arrests after some demonstrators threw chunks of concrete at federal officers.
The arrests included 66 adults and eight juveniles, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The rally began at Gloria Molina Grand Park across from City Hall and remained largely peaceful until late afternoon. Police declared a citywide tactical alert about 5:10 p.m. after a group of demonstrators began kicking a fence at the federal detention center at Alameda and Temple streets.
Organizers of the upcoming May 1 demonstrations said the nationwide effort will include marches, rallies and possible walkouts focused on economic inequality, immigration enforcement and federal spending priorities.
“We’ve protested for over a year, and now we must show this administration that We the People will no longer continue business as usual,” Sarah Parker, executive director of Voices of Florida, said in a statement.
Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, urged people to attend the May 1 rally in MacArthur Park.
“We are going to continue to fight for freedom,” Salas said. “The freedom to stay with our families. The freedom to work and have a decent wage without being persecuted by ICE or Border Patrol.”
MacArthur Park was the site of a large federal agent deployment last July, weeks after protests over federal immigration enforcement erupted in the city.
Additional demonstrations are planned in cities across the country, including Chicago, Oakland and Albuquerque.
More information is available at maydaystrong.org.
Recent Comments