Police Detain Five Women Over Protest at Holden Office

Police handcuffed and detained five women outside the Los Angeles City Council chambers Tuesday at the request of Councilman Nate Holden’s office, moments after they made emotional appeals for an investigation of sexual harassment allegations against Holden.

The women, all members of a group called the Women’s Action Coalition, were arrested on charges of disturbing the peace during a protest four days earlier outside Holden’s office.

Los Angeles police and City Hall security officers briefly questioned members of the feminist group while the City Council meeting continued. The women were told that their cases will be referred to the city attorney’s office for possible prosecution.

The incident represented the latest escalation in what has been an ongoing feud between Holden, a candidate for mayor, and feminists over allegations he sexually harassed three women members of his staff.

The protesters accused Holden of ordering the arrests as an intimidation tactic and said they will continue to press the City Council to investigate the sexual harassment accusations.

“This is supposed to have a chilling effect on our First Amendment rights,” said Gloria Barrios, one of those arrested. “If you speak out against Nate Holden, you are going to be threatened with arrest.”

Holden accused members of WAC of disrupting his office.

“If they agree to stop harassing me, I will consider dropping the charges,” he said.

Women’s Action Coalition members confronted Holden in his office last year and protested again outside his Wilshire Boulevard campaign office recently. They returned to City Hall last Friday but, after waiting several hours to speak to the council, they were turned away when Holden left, breaking a quorum and ending the meeting.

They responded by chasing Holden down one floor to his office, chanting, “Stop sexual violence! Break the code of silence!”

Holden raced the dozen women to his office. His staff bolted the door and turned out the lights--hoping the protesters would leave.

The women stood outside, pounding on the door, chanting and calling Holden a coward, before being dispersed by police.

When they returned to the City Council chambers Tuesday, many of the same feminists demanded to know why Holden was not being investigated as was City Clerk Elias Martinez, whom Mayor Tom Bradley recommended for firing after allegations of sexual harassment.

“You think we will simply forget and go away,” Weba Garretson told the council. “How dare you! If you walk away from this, you will give the city the message that you will cover up and protect a man in power.”

Holden sat through the demands silently, although Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky asked that council President John Ferraro enforce a rule against personal attacks on council members.

As the women prepared to leave, Councilwoman Ruth Galanter told them that the City Council is powerless under the City Charter to investigate one of its own members. The protesters suggested the charter should be changed.

As soon as they stepped outside the chamber’s heavy double wooden doors, the five women and several supporters were greeted by about half a dozen police and security officers. The five identified by Holden’s staff from the prior week’s protest were handcuffed and led away as three Holden staffers watched.

Arrested along with Barrios, 42, and Garretson, 36, were Janice Pemberton, 25, Ann Summa, 42 and Laleh Soomekh, 25.

Holden said the action was necessary because members of his staff had been frightened by the protest. He said he may request a restraining order to keep the women away from his office.

“I don’t want them to be bursting into this office,” Holden said. “I don’t want a confrontation with them.”

But Barrios said the group does not plan to leave Holden alone.

“We are going to think of something very creative and come back,” she said. “This is not over.”

Times staff writer Robin Abcarian contributed to this story.