LAPD preparing for more anti-Trump protests during May Day rally in downtown
Leaders of the May Day rally gather on April 26 in Los Angeles to call on local residents to vote in the upcoming election to counteract anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant and anti-union rhetoric.
After intense anti-Donald Trump protests in both Orange County and Burlingame in recent days, Los Angeles authorities are bracing for May Day marches Sunday in downtown Los Angeles.
Organizers say the march will demand equality for immigrants and protest Trump’s controversial statements about Muslims and people from Mexico.
Sunday’s May Day event includes two marches. The first march by labor groups is scheduled to begin at noon at the corner of West 11th and South Figueroa streets. From there, participants will march up Los Angeles Street through downtown L.A. and end at La Placita on Olvera Street.
A second march by immigrant rights groups, with the theme “Build Bridges Not Walls,” will start at 12:30 p.m. at the intersection of Broadway and Olympic Boulevard. It will continue up Broadway and end at Grand Park.
More than 20 people were arrested during protests against Trump in Costa Mesa on Thursday and Burlingame on Friday. Several police cars were damaged during the Costa Mesa demonstrations.
LAPD Assistant Chief Michel Moore said he believed the Los Angeles demonstrations would be far more calm, but noted that the images from Costa Mesa were alarming.
To prepare for the May Day marches, Moore said, police have been meeting with organizers for several months to ensure a smooth march.
“We expect May Day to be peaceful,” Moore said. “We are always prepared for any eventuality were anything to happen. But we have nothing to suggest that will be the case.”
Typically, he said, problems come from outside agitators and not the organized marchers.
Here is a map that shows street closures for the May Day rally.
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