musicNEWS:LAPD
bust up RATM protest concert.
8-14-00
10:30 PM PST antiGUY
The Los Angeles Police broke up the crowd
following the Rage Against the Machine concert on Monday night across the
street from the Staple Center where the Democratic National Convention
was taking place. (see: Rage Against
Al Gore)
According to LAPD spokesperson CMDR. David
Kalish, the police were forced to declare the gathering an unlawful
assembly due to violent outbreaks in the crowd attending the concert. Kalish
stated at a press conference Monday night that concert goers and protesters
were throwing rocks, bottles, pieces of asphalt at police on the scene.
He also reported that several fires were started near the protest site
and several individuals were attempting to breach the security fence around
the Staples Center. It has been reported that is was approximately 300
of an estimated crowd of 8000 who resorted to violent behavior during the
protest concert.
At 8:00 the police declared the protest
concert an unlawful assembly, pulled the power from the stage while the
second band, Ozomatli , was playing. At that time the police asked those
present to leave the area. At 8:20, 400 LAPD officers were sent in using
pepper spray and rubber bullets to break up the remaining crowd.
CMDR Kalish reported that 10 individuals
were arrested as a result of the incident bringing the total arrest for
Democratic National Convention related protest up to 38. Kalish told
reporters that many of the protest around the convention have gone off
peacefully and lawfully and that the police were forced to break up this
gathering when the attendees became violent. CNN reports that at least
four people were injured during this incident.
No statement was available from Rage Against
the Machine or the protest concert organizers at Press time.
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