Immigration Protest Ends in Scuffle Again

Insults were hurled and fists flew Saturday as demonstrators on both sides of the immigration issue clashed once again outside the Federal Building in Westwood.

But unlike an Independence Day skirmish five weeks ago that bloodied demonstrators and frightened motorists on busy Wilshire Boulevard, no one was injured and altercations this time were brief.

A line of Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies--some on horseback--and federal police officers separated some 500 supporters of stiffer immigration policies from a group of about 150 noisy opponents.

As was the case July 4, Saturday’s confrontation came during a pro-Proposition 187 rally organized by members of Voices of Citizens Together, a group that supports tougher sanctions against illegal immigrants.

Also returning were pickets organized by the Progressive Labor Party, a Communist group that opposes implementation of Proposition 187.

Parading along the Wilshire sidewalk and waving red flags and placards with such slogans as “Power to the worker” and “Fight for Communist Equality,” the pickets taunted and yelled at those attending the rally.

The Citizens Together group answered back with their own taunts and with signs reading “English Only” and “Close the Border.” Many waved American flags.

Deputies and federal officers took two Progressive Labor pickets into custody when punches were allegedly thrown across concrete freeway barriers that have lined the front sidewalk of the Federal Building since last year’s Oklahoma City bombing.

But a sheriff’s spokeswoman said late Saturday that no one was arrested.

The most serious altercation came an hour after the start of the lunchtime rally. Some participants tried to follow as pickets moved away from the front of the building.

At the edge of the Federal Building property--outside the police line--several pro-Proposition 187 rally participants confronted the pickets.

In a shoving match that followed, rally participant Aubrey Ford of Los Angeles and several picketers tumbled into Veteran Avenue.

When other pickets rushed into the intersection, several dozen LAPD officers who had been standing several blocks away rushed to the scene in patrol cars with sirens blaring.

Police followed the Progressive Labor members several blocks to Westwood Boulevard, where their group dispersed.

Back at the Federal Building, the Citizens Together group finished its rally without incident.