Immigration-rights protesters close down Wilshire Boulevard

Immigration-rights protesters blocked Wilshire Boulevard in a protest over Arizona's controversial immigration law.

About 200 demonstrators laid down on Wilshire at Highland Avenue at about 10 a.m., blocking traffic on both major streets.

The Los Angeles Police Department was on scene, but it was unclear whether officers were going to arrest the demonstrators.

The protest is the latest in L.A. to criticize Arizona's immigration law. Last month, demonstrators blocked traffic in downtown L.A. and in Westwood.

Organizers from Todos Somos Arizona released a photo showing the Wilshire Boulevard protest.

-- Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Protesters with the group We Are All Arizona lay in the street blocking traffic at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

RELATED:

Arizona activists take to the streets to protest immigration policy

Comments

[rom calrk]

protesting is one thing,but doing the things like laying down in a busy intersection of those 2 streets,2 things should happen 1.arrested and then ask what their status is or 2. get ran over looking for my keys...

[Richard Long]

YOUR RECONQUISTA WILL NOT SUCCEED!

[BLM]

Somebody...give those that are legal in this protest a job...the others..back to where they came from. Can't wait for the Arizona law to be upheld in court, then we can do the same here in California. Look how many left Arizona even before the court hearing. They can take all the bleeding hearts with them as well.

[alphabeta]

Very impressive

All 12 of them

This is newsworthy?

[Paul Green]

So, what's the point of protesting in Los Angeles where the city council took the controversial position to boycott Arizona? Why hold up traffic here where we oppose SB1070? Why boycott afte r the federal judge placed an injunction yesterday on the most controversial parts of the bill?

You guys need some serious public relations counsel!

[yikes!]

This is so stupid. We are in California. If you want to stop traffic, go do it in Arizona. We can't do anything about Arizona laws here. All this does is make everyone mad that you are doing this. It only draws negative attention to your cause.

People with way too much time on their hands...

[Duped Tax Payer]

Criminals helping fellow criminals.

[Patrick Goldstein]

Where is the compassion so generously doled out to illegal immigrants by those seeking "social justice" for our native-born working poor of every race, creed and color?

[quatidion]

Fox News wins the prize for giving us details of the provisions of the law that ARE going into effect:

1. No sanctuary cities
2. Requiring cooperation with federal authorities
3. Permitting civil suits for sanctuary cities
4. Human smuggling crimes
5. Crime to pick up day laborers
6. Knowing/intentional employment of illegal immigrants
7. Employee verification
8. Funding for gang / immigrant enforcement

From http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07/28/quick-analysis-arizona-immigration-law-ruling/

[Lily]

Wow.. I am sitting here thinking we only got racist people in Arizona, I guess you people are everywhere.

[Carol]

So where are the agencies and activists hooking up US citizens with the jobs that the undocumented do now? I'm just not hearing a lot of clamoring by the long term or generational unemployed that they want those jobs in the fields, or cleaning people's houses or hotel rooms.

If the undocumented leave, someone has to do those jobs. Who? Are we just going to turn right around and import guest workers?

[DTS-Republican Ballot]

That's right-keep pissing off CA commuters over a law passed by ANOTHER STATE! Rather then do this in AZ, you did it in CA, which ALSO HAS SUCH A LAW (its in the Penal Code!), but DOES NOT ENFORCE IT! (I think we will NOW though!).

[DOT]

it must be nice, other people have to WORK to pay taxes to PAY FOR ILLEGALS. Lay down in the middle of the street and disrupt people trying to get to and from WORK(you wouldn't know about that.) Another law broken, oh, forgot, you believe breaking the law is ok.

[shooter]

West Covina man assaulted, robbed
Posted: 07/29/2010 11:58:59 AM PDT

WEST COVINA - An 18 year-old West Covina resident was assaulted and robbed of his iPod by two Spanish-speaking men Wednesday.

Two men between the ages of 25 and 29 jumped out of their green compact car on La Puente Road at 3:20 p.m. and demanded money in Spanish from a pedestrian, Lt. Ron Mitchell with the West Covina Police Department said.

The man understood Spanish and told them he did not have money, Mitchell said.

One robber punched the victim in the face, and they took his iPod and fled in their car, Mitchell said.

The victim did not request any medical attention.

http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_15631413#ixzz0v6LTx08G

[KenD]

@ Paul Green Absolutely! What they did is just a good way to tick people off who may already support their point of view and/or had nothing to do with the drafting and passage of the Arizona law. The "protesters" are absolutely clueless when it comes to public relations. Officials in Arizona and judges ruling in the case are not effected. Instead they jammed up a bunch of innocent people trying to get to work, to school, maybe a doctor's appointment, etc.

[miguel algrete]

I dare them to do this this on Whittier Blvd and Arizona.

[justinmac]

Are the protestors trying to win friends and influence people here? Win sympathy for their cause? Why don't they go protest in the state that has gone renegade instead of shutting down traffic here. Not very shmaat.

[quatidion]

Fox News wins the prize for giving us details of the provisions of the law that ARE going into effect:

1. No sanctuary cities
2. Requiring cooperation with federal authorities
3. Permitting civil suits for sanctuary cities
4. Human smuggling crimes
5. Crime to pick up day laborers
6. Knowing/intentional employment of illegal immigrants
7. Employee verification
8. Funding for gang / immigrant enforcement

From http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07/28/quick-analysis-arizona-immigration-law-ruling/

[savvydude]

Every driver delayed by these leftist nuts will end up voting Republican. I guess they can't get their point across by standing on the sidewalk.

Keep it up, 'protesters'. The worm is turning.

[Daniel]

Funny how city hall decided to boycott Arizona all by themselves. Don't you think actions like that on a city's behalf should be put to the people? Now remember, illegals can't legally vote. Blocking traffic is a safety concern and the protesters should be arrested, have their immigration status checked, and deported if need be. Illegal immigrants do not have Constitutional rights.

[Ray]

Maybe these protesters should move to Mexico, then see how their immigration law is to illegals.

[Gabrielle]

they protest because that is the only way they will be heard. they did stop some part of the law but they didn't cancel it. gov still wants to appeal. if the law passes everyone will end up going to cali, and it will get worse there.and for you BLM they have jobs job doing what a lot of Americans don't do for a small wage..

[Shell]

This is ridiculous. It's a law, you cannot be here illegally. It's not racial profiling. Go back and come here the legal way if you want to stay here. They say they come here for a better life but they don't pay taxes, get medical care for free and mess up cities. Way to go ARIZONA I hope California follows the same path and sends them all back.

[chris broms]

These fools are creating the animosity they seemingly seek to quash. Things will simply get worse and worse for The Invaders as rational Americans began to close avenue after avenue.

People have completely had it with The Invasion, as well as its treasonous
supporters.

If the treasonous continue to thwart the will of the people, you may be
assured civil war will be the result.

[John]

This whole deal has nothing to do with race & has everything to do with status.