MacArthur Park immigration riot: "safe spot" for journalists

Los Angeles, home of sun-baked people and half-baked ideas, is truly a magical place:

While [LAPD Chief William Bratton] met with journalist groups, [Antonio Villaraigosa] was speaking at Cathedral Our Lady of the Angels downtown where Cardinal Roger Mahony was celebrating a Mass of consolation and healing.

In other news, Bratton continues throwing his employees under the bus, including threatening to move some officers from the "elite" Metro Division elsewhere ("Some of this will be career-impacting"). This is also the first time I've heard of this:

Journalist organizations asked why officers ignored LAPD policies toward the news media worked out after reporters were assaulted during the 2000 Democratic National Convention... A 2002 agreement with media organizations and the American Civil Liberties Union called for, among other things, designation of a safe spot for reporters covering news events. LAPD spokeswoman Mary Grady acknowledged reporters were not given "a designated safe spot" at MacArthur Park.

Once again: I'm no great fan of what the LAPD did, and they have a history of doing things like this. But, perhaps Bratton should consider not completely going over to the side of loons like Villaraigosa and Mahoney.

Immigration2007a · Sun, 05/06/2007 - 14:58 · · Importance: 1