HELIOLITH

Trying to catch up on the news of May Day Rally in Los Angeles, and wanting primary sources, I turned to YouTube. Lamentably, I had to filter through white-supremacist versions of riot footage, set to what sounds like angry white-power punkrock. Is there really a white-power musical genre? Blech. One of the videos particularly, poses some questions, such as where was the English speaking media?

It’s a very good question. Telemundo (who was assaulted on camera by police while trying to cover the rally live), as well as TV Azteca obviously covered the story, as did Univision. It’s not on the front page of my Google News anymore, and when I searched the New York Times (my hometown metropolitan paper) all I found was this insubstantial summary of national events, including this short and malinformed paragraph about what really happened. I don’t subscribe, so I won’t know if they issue an apology for their mistakes. Here is what they printed: Immigrant Rights Rallies Smaller Than Last Year - New York Times

Although sizable in some places, the demonstrations were for the most part peaceful. At an evening rally, however, the Los Angeles police scuffled with some protesters as they tried to disperse the crowd. The police said protesters threw rocks and bottles at officers, who fired rubber cartridges and used batons to push the crowd out of the street. Minor injuries such as cuts and bruises were suffered by several people in the crowd and by several police officers; one person was arrested.

Scuffled with some? It looks like a good deal more than some. Firing rubber bullets into a crowd that was marching peaceably because of a few rabble-rousers? The LAPD has proven themselves incompetent once again. Call Villaraigosa and demand the termination and prosecution of all officers involved! 213-978-0600 or email him at mayor@lacity.org

If enough citizens are outraged, perhaps this will be dealt with swiftly. If not, it’s just more upsetting evidence that we live in an increasingly racist and intolerant nation. Please help me make that a lie.

More YouTube links here, here, and here.

Here’s the latest news via google for search terms ‘lapd’ & ‘immigrant’