2007 MacArthur Park rallies facts for kids

The 2007 MacArthur Park rallies were two large gatherings held on May 1, 2007. They took place at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, California. People gathered to ask for better rights for immigrants who didn't have official papers.

When the protest grew very big, some people spilled into the city streets. Police officers on motorcycles rode through the crowd. They then told everyone to leave the area. Some people started throwing plastic bottles and rocks at the officers.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) used batons and rubber bullets. Later, investigations by the LAPD and courts found that the police used too much force. After this, the community spoke up, and the Mayor put pressure on the police.

LAPD Chief William Bratton said he was sorry for what happened. The officer in charge was moved to a lower position. Seventeen other officers faced consequences. The LAPD also paid over $13 million to people who were hurt.

What Happened at the Rally?

Organizers had permission to hold the rally at MacArthur Park until 9:00 PM. Around 5:15 PM, some protesters started blocking the street. This was against the rules of their permit.

The police repeatedly asked the protesters to move off the street. They wanted them to follow the permit rules. But the protesters did not listen and gathered in bigger numbers on the street.

When police could not get the crowd to move, they announced it was an "unlawful assembly." This meant the gathering was no longer allowed. The order to leave was given in English from a police helicopter, police cars, and megaphones.

Many people in the crowd spoke only Spanish. They did not understand the order and stayed. Police officers then formed a line and slowly moved forward to clear the area. They moved about 50 feet at a time, giving people a chance to leave. Most protesters left, but some stayed and threw rocks and bottles at the officers.

Injuries and Complaints

About 600 police officers were there. They fired 146 foam-rubber projectiles. Twenty-seven protesters and nine members of the media were hurt. Five people were arrested.

At least 50 civilians complained to the LAPD about how they were treated. It is not fully clear if all injuries were from direct police contact. Some might have been from people pushing, falling, or trampling each other. Seven to fifteen police officers were also injured.

Reporters Were Also Hurt

The event got a lot of attention from news reporters. This was because several reporters were pushed and injured. Christina Gonzalez from Fox 11 News was hurt. Pedro Sevcec from Telemundo was also injured.

Reporter Mark Coogan and his cameraman Carl Stein from CBS 2/KCAL 9 were also attacked. Stein was hit on the ribs by police batons. Patricia Nazario, a reporter for KPCC, was beaten on her ribs and back. She was also hit on the head with a baton.

ABC 7 reporter Sid Garcia was hit by a rubber bullet, but it bounced off him. Patti Ballaz, a camerawoman for KTTV, was injured. She later asked for money from the city and police department for her injuries.

How the Incident Was Investigated

Four different investigations were started to look into what happened. One was a special group created by city council president Eric Garcetti. This group had five council members. It was led by Los Angeles city council members Ed Reyes and Jack Weiss.

The FBI also looked into the events. They wanted to see if anyone's civil rights were violated.

Legal Actions and Findings

On May 17, the American Civil Liberties Union asked a judge to review the incident. They wanted to know if it broke a 2001 agreement. This agreement was made after the Rampart scandal. If the judge found the LAPD broke the agreement, federal oversight of the LAPD could last longer.

On May 29, Chief Bratton shared early findings of an internal police investigation. He told the civilian police commission about it. The next day, he shared it with the Los Angeles City Council.

Bratton said the main reasons for the chaos were problems with "command and control." He explained that issues started in the planning stages. These problems then grew throughout the event itself. On October 9, five months later, the LAPD released the full results of its internal investigation.

What Happened After the Rallies?

On May 7, 2007, Chief William J. Bratton announced changes in the police department. Cayler "Lee" Carter was a deputy chief and the highest-ranking officer at the scene. He was moved to a lower position and sent home. On May 17, Carter said he would leave the LAPD on June 6.

Bratton also announced that Carter's deputy, Louis Gray, would be moved to a different department. About 60 officers involved in the incident were taken off street duty. This was while the investigations were ongoing.

Lawsuits and Settlements

On May 9, a group called the Multi-Ethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network filed a lawsuit. They sued the Los Angeles Police Department and the city. In November 2008, it was revealed that the city was talking about paying up to $13 million. This money would settle the lawsuits.

On May 30, Chief Bratton announced a new bureau. It was called the Incident Management & Training Bureau. Deputy Chief Michael Hillmann was put in charge of this new group.

Over a year later, on July 8, 2008, the LAPD announced punishments. They said 17 officers and two sergeants should be punished. These officers were from the department's special Metropolitan Division. The exact punishments were not made public. They could range from a simple warning to being fired. Some people criticized this, saying only officers caught on video were recommended for punishment.