Legal News

Settlement negotiations start between city over 2007 May Day melee

By Jason Siegel

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund entered settlement negotiations with the city over the 250 claims regarding the violence by police at the 2007 May Day demonstration for immigrant rights, the Associated Press reported.

The AP reports that a small group of people threw objects at officers, leading to police sweeping the park, hitting protesters and journalists with batons and firing over 150 "non-lethal" rounds.

Last October, an internal probe by the LAPD apologized and laid blame on commanders for failed planning, underestimating the size of the rally, refusing to bring more officers to MacArthur Park and failure to make clear who was in charge as well as misconduct by individual officers - that believed they could use a baton or rubber bullets to make someone move when they were peaceably standing and disregarding police orders.

At the time, it was reported that at least 26 officers were under investigation for misconduct. The highest ranking officer at the scene, a deputy chief, was demoted and later resigned.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on May 02, 2008 (boomark / email).