It's May Day, which means marches, and a lot of roads are closed *

It's May Day and downtown Los Angeles is bracing itself for an afternoon of marches and rallies that are expected to fill the streets with thousands of people demonstrating in favor of immigrant rights and other causes.

Up to 100,000 people are expected to participate in four separate marches that will start in in MacArthur Park and the south end of downtown and end in a rally at the Civic Center.  Though the earliest march won't begin until 1:30 p.m. authorities are warning downtown workers, residents and visitors to expect a day of rolling street closures and heavy traffic as demonstrators gather early at staging areas and then head home after the rally's scheduled end at about 8 p.m. The city's transportation department  has more information on street closures and a map.

Even those who leave their cars at home will have to be prepared for delays and detours on MTA bus routes and subway cars that are more crowded than normal.

While most of the attention will be focused on the marchers, the LAPD will also be under a great deal of scrutiny today after last year's mostly peaceful event ended with riot police beating journalists and demonstrators in MacArthur Park. The beatings, captured on television cameras, took place as the police were trying to clear the park after 20 to 30 people starting throwing rocks and bottles.

This year, after additional training and cooperation with march organizers, the Police Department leaders say they are better prepared to keep things under control without letting conditions turn chaotic.

The Times will have about 10 reporters and photographers out in field covering the marches and rally. A full story, along with background, will be updated during the day. More May Day march news and traffic info on LAist and  Blogdowntown. Marches and demonstrations (and counter-demonstrations) are also scheduled for Santa Ana, San Diego and other cities across the nation.

* Updated with a new map at 10:20 am

-- Jesus Sanchez

Photo: Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times

Map: LA Times

Comments

[skylights]

It's great to see so many people here honoring the workers that made the 8-hour work week possible, and were killed for their efforts. The rest of the world celebrates May 1 as International Workers' Day, and we need to bring this holiday back to America, so our workers can celebrate on the same day as the rest of the world.

[Vaak]

It's so great to see people, who aren't American citizens, who have absolutely no rights guaranteed to them, come in here, demand we make changes to accommodate them, demand we change the meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment, so their children are citizens and thus anchor babies, but refuse to allow us to enforce our immigration laws, and they refuse to learn English and demand we learn Spanish, so then we are terrorized by another 'No Gringo Day,' or what is it now, just May Day again?
If these people are able protest here, why can't they protest in their home country and demand change? But, there I go again thinking logically.

[monsieur pierre]

in europe it is holiday on the " 1 may"and on top of that it is the catholic holyday of " Ascent "

[chapinlo1]

ANTONIO "ILLEGAL ALIEN VILLARAIGOISA AND FABIAN NUNEZ SHOULD GET FIRED AND SENT BACK TO MEXICO FOR DEFENDING ILLEGAL ALIENS. I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR LATINOS AGAIN!

JOHN MC CAIN FOR PRESIDENT!!!!

[MAJHAM]

Look for the union label, we want more money for almost no work. Loook for the union Label we'll slash your tires and beaaat you up. Look for the union label.......

[r bramlett]

may 1st commie holliday si? no?thank your vote hungary democrate s @ congress for selling the usa to millions of illegal aliens wake up america and take your country back vote these dud's out of office thank you bob b

[Sondra]

I am sick to death over usa worriying so much over these illegals. We need to worry about our own. If we were in their country we would get no special treatment. What about our people. We are allowing these illegals to destroy America. I do not work to make these people a better life. I work to make mine a better life.Let them go back to their own countries and do the same.
God Bless America