Wilshire Boulevard traffic jammed amid big immigration-rights protesters

Traffic on Wilshire Boulevard around Hancock Park and the Miracle Mile was severely jammed after more than 200 protesters blocked traffic for hours.

The Los Angeles Police Department was moving in and arresting the demonstrators, who were protesting Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigration.

The activists chained themselves together with plastic pipes and handcuffs, prompting the LAPD to use electric saws to separate them.

At least 10 people have been arrested so far, and it's unclear when Wilshire Boulevard and Highland Avenue will reopen.

Motorists were urged to use Olympic Boulevard and La Brea Avenue as alternative routes. Wilshire is closed between La Brea and McCadden Place.

--Andrew Blankstein

Photo: LAPD officer take a protester into custody after the group blocked traffic at the intersection of Wilshire and Highland. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Paul Revere]

Lemmings of the world unite!

[Paul Revere]

They should have handcuffed themselves to the buses that went to Arizon ttoday

[Ed]

Illegal immigrants. Illegal protests (in a state which has yet to pass AZ type legislation).

Clearly the only losers are law-abiding, tax paying, legal citizens. I'm becoming increasingly unsympathetic to the cause.

[Jon American]

Arrest everybody that is here illegally. They are breaking the law. Make a better live for yourself in your own country.

[tw]

making idiots of themselves....arrest the bums..

[Pedro Gambino-Gotti]

What this party needs is a little more ICE!!!
Si Se Puede!!!
Viva Arizona!!!

[Paul Revere]

Too bad the lemmings did not handcuff themselves to the buses that went to Arizona

[Jon American]

I'm tired of them calling us Americans racists for not wanting give them a free ride anymore. They steal our identities, get free health care, free babysiting at our public school with lunches and rob us in our house! They feel entiltle because the government has been letting them do it for years.

[Doug Korthof]

Those who agitate against "illegals" should answer the following: ARE you willing to pay FAIR WAGES to farm workers, enough to draw Citizens to do the job? Conversely, how many unemployed are now clamoring to work in the fields, with no overtime (due to Arnold and exploitative farmers), stoop labor, run in the hot sun, for $5/hour??

After all, there's no SIGN saying "no U.S. Citizens allowed to work in the fields", the reason it's done by "illegals" is because it's SLAVE WAGES. So if you are one of those POSTURING against "illegal immigration", just ask yourself: Would I be willing to pay 4 or 10 times the cost of produce, if only Citizens could work the fields?? LOL!

But you don't have to go to Bakersfield! Look at the cooks and busboys, next time you go to your posh restaurant, MAKE A SCENE demanding that only Citizens can cook your food or clean up the shop. LOL again!

Consistency is not one of the right-wing posers big assets, IS IT??

[ricotubbs]

Great idea! Penalize the people who are trying to get from point A to point B. How is blocking an intersection supposed to make me support their (illegal) brethren?

[Tornadoes28]

Let's get ICE down there ASAP.

[Tom]

Legislation has to be passed to make this type of behavior a felony because it is DANGEROUS. Sure, people have their first amendment rights, but just as one yelling "fire" in a crowded, darkened theater constitutes a crime because it is a threat to public safety, so is this activity. What if paramedics were delayed in an emergency call where one's life is in the balance, and that person loses their life due to their late arrival due to these protestors? The same if Edison can not get through to restore power in the event someone loses their power and medical equipment necessary to a patient's survival fails. Events like this are carefully coreographed: A larger group takes control of the intersection, enabling a smaller group to sit in the intersection. Another group then assists them by binding them together and attaching the pipes, as well as placing pillows or mats under the protestors for comfort. This is not first amendment protest as the founders of our country and constitution may have envisioned but mob mahem leading to potential tragic consequences.

[Vague...]

Welcome to the new America where you aren't responsible for your actions and the laws are little more than a guideline...

I need a barf bag...

[Edward]

Illegal is Illegal.
They should just be glad they're not illegals in France!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/world/europe/30france.html

[Mcgibby]

Only in L.A.--a sesspool that doesn't enforce basic laws--would this be allowed to go on for more than 2 hours without everyone being arrested.

[Jamie]

So people protesting a law in AZ that is an exact mirror of the law that the federal government is derelict in enforcing hurt business and drivers in downtown LA by blocking a major road for hours.
And this makes us not want to deport people that are in the country illegally?
Am I missing something?

[Ted]

Where are all the Toyotas with jammed accelerators when you need them?

Wonder how much these morons cost this already broke, toilet of a city, not to mention those of us who actually have jobs and were late to work.

Idiots. Lemmings. Sheep. However, this protest was, in the grand scheme of things, an important protest. It's gotten more and more people to support Arizona and show what unchecked illegal immigration is turning this country into. Too bad this was not the protesters aim. =)

[Joe]

If all of these illegals came here to work how do they find the time to protest all day long? I wish I could just hop on a bus to Arizona and spend a week in the sun but I have a job to do and taxes to pay.

[Edge]

Doesn't anyone work anymore? I thought they all came here to work and not disrupt or break laws.

[Sean Chen]

AGAIN, the criminals here illegally are making our lives worse!

[chris]

I bet the Native American Indians wish they had border control when you whiteys came over. I don't mind white people I just hate the racist ones. I don't understand how some of you can have the nerve to tell someone to go back to their country when your not from here either. The only true Americans are the Native Indians. Always.

[kuruc]

morons of the thurd world will lead us. yea, inmigration rights. revolution is comming!

[Randy]

Just wondering if Tea Party activists would be given the same impunity to block a major intersection for hours.

[Bonny]

Arrest, check immigration status, deport if illegal.

[fanta]

It's nice to see LA getting a taste of these charming illegals and their supporters....oh yeah...America REALLY needs these folk don't it ?