Protest Central : Westwood: Home to UCLA and the Federal Building, the area is a magnet for those who want to voice their opinions.

It is a curious mixture of business high-rises and tourist boutiques, a place where activism and capitalism cross paths almost daily.

Business goes on, but not always as usual. With the outbreak of the Gulf War, Westwood, the home of one of the world’s best-known universities, is emerging once again to reclaim its title of Protest Central for Southern California.

This past weekend, nearly 10,000 demonstrators gathered at the Federal Building to protest the bombing of Iraq. As groups in neighboring cities mass in smaller numbers to voice their opinions on the war, this corner of Los Angeles serves as a veritable magnet for old radicals and young Republicans alike.

A protest there takes many forms. Last week, thousands protested against the war, while hundreds of others demonstrated in support of President Bush’s call to arms. Still others used the opportunity to send individual messages: “Let Jesus Guide the Way,” urged the banner of one church group enlisting new members. Each Saturday is likely to bring more of the same.

“It doesn’t take much to get people out here,” said one federal police officer on hand at the anti-war rally. “And when it’s something big, it doesn’t take much to get a lot of people out here.”

Almost since its opening 22 years ago, the 17-story steel box of a building has been a magnet for action among groups of every size and sentiment. Its location next to UCLA makes it a natural draw for demonstrators, as does its symbolic nature as the Los Angeles offices of the FBI, the IRS and other federal agencies. And since the Westside has always been associated with the “left side” of the political spectrum, it is often seen as protest-friendly.

Vietnam War demonstrators, pro- and anti-Shah Iranians, parents opposed to toy guns--just about every group with an ax to grind has held forth there.

But there is also a calculated reason why Westwood is the protesters’ site of choice. For though the whole world may not be watching when activists gather there, a sizable portion of Los Angeles is. The corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue is the busiest intersection in the city, with an average of 128,000 cars passing by each day. Two neighboring intersections are also in the top 10. Only in Los Angeles could gridlock be used to provide a protest message to a captive audience.

“It’s cool; it’s like the ‘60s,” said Cynthia Johnson, an 18-year-old freshman at UCLA who attended Saturday’s rally. “I’m glad it’s all happening here because it gives us a chance to voice our opposition to war. It’s not like Pasadena. They only march there for the Rose Bowl.”

The UCLA campus has had its share of demonstrations. Last week, a group of about 250 UCLA students occupied the campus administration building one night, and when 113 refused to leave the following morning, they were arrested by UC police. It was the first organized sit-in on campus since the anti-apartheid rallies several years ago. A “teach-in” is scheduled for Friday.

Outside the campus, the protest scenes often seem more surreal. When peace supporters gather on the grass for daily vigils next to the Federal Building, professionals disappear into their glass boxes to conduct their daily affairs. Outside, buildings bear signs such as Oppenheimer Tower; the signs of protest carry slogans such as “Wall Street Loves This War.”

The Veteran’s Administration Medical Center complex, which includes a sprawling cemetery filled with memorials for fallen soldiers of other wars, sits directly across from the campus and the Federal Building. Statues of soldiers there often serve as a backdrop for televised scenes of the anti-war rallies nearby. The cemetery is occasionally targeted for demonstrations, but protesters generally keep off the grounds, preferring instead the more visible areas nearby.

Although the assemblies often take place without incident, there has been friction among the neighborhood’s populace. When activists gathered to oppose U.S. military aid to the Contras during the Reagan Administration, federal officials closed the parking lot, forcing thousands to park their cars far from the site, clogging traffic, upsetting residents and sparking verbal exchanges with police.

But generally, the demonstrations have been an accepted part of the West Los Angeles political landscape. When there’s some thing to protest, there’s usually only one place to be.

“I’ve come here many times because I’ve supported peace practically all my life, and that’s a very long time,” said 86-year-old John Day, who bused to the Westwood rally with others from the Sunset Hall home for seniors in Hollywood. “I’m sure I’ll be back. I have to. If we give up, who’s going to fight for humanity?”