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

[Thinline72]

too bad some little old lady wasn't crusing thru the intersection. Cruuuuunch.

[Sean Chen]

12 people held up traffic for 5 hours? LAPD should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen. It's our fault that we allow the courts to neuter our law enforcement to this point- see AZ law.

Looking at the picture, had 5 people shown up with medium sized wall mirrors (about 2 feet square) and directed a little more sunlight toward these protestors who are obviously trying to tan on the Wilshire Blvd...

maybe they would've felt a little more heat and gotten up voluntarily.

[Sean Chen]

These protesters want to protest a STATE LAW that enforces FEDERAL LAW by breaking the law and inconveniencing everyone that travels down Wilshire?

Why would anyone side with these selfish people?

They seem to support criminals that break our laws and protest by breaking the law themselves.

Arrest and jail them.

Jail for their sentence, then deport any protesters that are illegal.

There is a difference between free speech and breaking the law.

[Annette]

So you lay on the street waiting for Arizona Law makers to change their minds?

Really!!!!!!!!!

Exactly how many unemployed Legal Americans’ are there in this country and you’re only concerned about a large mass of ILLEGALS, who by the way, are only looking for a “free ride?”

Seriously!!!!!!

[zaglossus]

Good grief. It was unclear whether the police would arrest these disrupters? What a corrupt and useless local government has L.A. become plus they're clearly in bed with the illegal immigrant lobby.

[cooper]

They all should have been arrested-obstruction of traffic. We needed a sheriff like Arizona's who did a sweep during the protest.

[Jagexxx]

I would like to have seen these protesters lay down until they got major sunburns or had to pee.

[Dave-O]

The article is flawed. 20o protesters did shut down traffic on Wilshire blvd for a short amount of time but when declared an unlawful assembly and threatened with arrest, the majority of the protesters disbanded. The real problem was the dozen or so protesters who had chained themselves together and laid down in the middle of the street (see photo above). The problem came about when the police refused to handle the situation. The protesters should have been dragged off of the street and then their being chained together could have been dealt with later. However, the police were made impotent by the fear of their Chief Charlie Beck and Mayor Villaraigosa of the press and "civil rights" lawyers poised all around with cameras. And now the citizens are supposed to believe that this police department can handle a natural disaster (earthquake) or terrorist attack when the whole police department falls apart and does not know what to do when faced with twelve unarmed, loser protesters. Pathetic.

[Barry Davis]

Well, its the job of LAPD to enforce the law and allow citizens to enjoy liberty and go about their business. ANy rational LAPD officer would remove these jerks from the street post haste. Who thinks LAPD will be allowed to do their job by their political masters

[Travis]

I have no problem with people protesting, that is your right as an american.. But please please... don't lay in the street when I need to get to work.. it's just mean.. I dont see how making me late to work is going to help the "Cause" in Arizona, go there.. lay in any street you want.. but why do it in California, i support what you are doing but to a point.. If you keep doing this you are going to loose support from allot of people..

[Bob Sumner AFSCME3299]

What are those black tubes they are using to connect themselves? Those are cool! Good luck to the protesters. All the complainers should go back to Europe or wherever they came from.

[JoeS]

We are really stupid people to allow these thugs to block the traffic of law abiding citizens.

[David]

When ponies ride men and grass eats cows;
When spring is summer and the other way around;
That's when the world is upside down.

Illegal immigration is devasting to the blue collar working citizens of California. It has effectively knocked the bottom rung off the economic ladder. Why on earth do protestors put so much effort into protecting those who are putting our citizens out of work and drowning our state in red ink? Why on earth won't our leaders do something to stop the madness? I've never been so disappointed in CA and the USA. Our priorities are truly upside down. What's happened to the Golden State? I think I'm going to cry.

[juan illegal]

Time to break out the chain saws... buzz...buzz....buzzz.....buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...........

[BLACKONE]

THIS IS ALL SO CRAZY!
At this moment I could afford to fly to France, Switzerland, any country I want. However, there will be definite limits to how I am able to navigate around there, and how long I can stay.

[Angos Winke]

The name of this nation does not stand for "United States of the continent of America". The name of "United States of America" stands for a sovereign nation north of the Rio Grand, that cannot accommodate all the misery of the world.

[Jay D., Los Angeles]

(corrected)

One of the points of this action was to disrupt traffic in front of the offices of Wackenhut Corporation, which apparently does business supplying deportation buses and other infrastructure to the federal government and therefore profits big from xenophobia and its legislation like SB 1070. It seems you all were not thorough in speaking with the organizers and reporting the context and decision-making around this event, as evidenced by Paul Green's question. Talk to the organizers at these things people and give some context please!

[Markus]

WHY in LA?
A quick search of the address sees that they protested in front of the Los Angeles offices of G4S Wackenhut Corp, an international security consulting firm. The company transports immigrants out of the country once they've been detained. That it started at 10AM was not a fluke as they waited until all of the people were there before doing their demonstration....Hahahaha. Hilarious reading the comments here...it's very me, me, me...I couldn't do such and such...oh well. But Hey, they fully knew that they would be arrested, check out those tubes over their wrist. Protesting is part of America's DNA...If you don't like it go drink your tea and move to Russia.

[Ste-phon]

Idiots! Why is it that I am suppossed to feel guilty or ashamed that I support becoming a citizen through the legal process. If you are here illegally you are breaking the law, I AM NOT!

[Los Claus]

Try laying down in the street in Phoenix this time of year. You'll find another way to protest very quickly, as soon as your bare skin starts to bubble. Idiots.

[Jonathan]

Are the protesters serious? Protest in Arizona, not in California. California can't do anything about it and all the protesters are doing now is just blocking traffic. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and just say they didn't know California couldn't do anything about a law in another state.

[JCM]

i would have driven my car as close as possible without touching them, then layed in on the horn.. full blast...

[Edward]

Illegal is Illegal.

Instead of running away from the problems of their corrupt nation why don't they stay and make a difference.

Selfish Imbeciles.

[Rosee]

Racism is alive and well with the illegals...they and their supporters/family apparently think that because it's their people it's ALL GOOD to come here illegally...abuse the system and protest and claim racism when they don't get their way! It's just so easy to call American's racist when we don't want you coming here illegally!

As far as they do the jobs that Americans won't...ummm...there are many jobs that they do that Americans would do..jobs at plants, hotels, etc...if they were given the chance. But for those "slave" labor jobs...NO...this country fought hard to stop those practices and thanks to the illegal population...it continues.

IIllegals are big money..for those that support the cause and their organizations who support and feed these people with incorrect information.

These organizations / professional protesters need to be investigated...there's a story for you LA Times!

[Song]

Come here for better life? I do not like people to sneak into my home uninvided. Do you? I don't think anyone would say they do not mind if other people get their home illegally.

If I discovered someone sneak into my home, I'd call the police. I do not care how long the illegals are here and for any reason. They have no rights in my home!