On May 1, 2007, members of the Los Angeles Police Department used force against innocent protesters, journalists and news broadcasters that were present at the time. Officers claimed that their intentions were to clear the area of the protesters, although the assembly of people had a permit to be there until 9p.m., the officers never took this into consideration.

Not only were their requests made in a brutal manner but they were only requested in English. Since the majority of protesters were Latinos, many of whom did not speak English, there was a lack of communication and an inability to comprehend the orders from the officers. This perhaps was a reason that caused officers to become aggravated with the crowds, however, it gives them no real reason to react in the violent manner that they responded.

Not only were innocent protesters’ rights violated, journalists and camera personnel were attacked and evacuated which goes against their first amendment rights. Despite the officers’ intentions, whether good or bad, everything ended in a violent disaster.

What was the real reason behind the violent reactions of the officers? Obviously, the police were in opposition to the protest but the press had the right to be present at the event and the police had no right whatsoever to harm anyone in the manner in which they did. Why is it, that in past protests, the outcome has been effective and dealt with in a positive manner, leaving a great impact as a result of the protest? Was the purpose to leave the image of violent Latinos? If it was, all that the police officers accomplished was to leave a negative image of the department. With the LAPD’s already tarnished reputation, this is just one more scar on the open wound that has already been infected.

Speaking of violation of rights, the press has the first amendment right: “freedom of the press” which allows them to cover any and all events in a public space. The protest took place in MacArthur Park which is a public park. The journalists and camera personnel were solely covering a story, not acting in a raucous manner. Some of the journalists were pushed, shot at with rubber bullets while camera personel had their equipment thrown to the ground. According to video coverage, they were even donning their press passes and staying out of the way. It is time that the government takes into consideration the “freedom of the press” that journalists have and protect their rights while punishing the officers who were involved.