Many May Day Marches Set to Confuse Downtown

By Eric Richardson
Published: Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at 01:47PM

Eric Richardson [Flickr]

Protestors on Figueroa call for immigration reform during an April 4 march.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — On Friday, five different marches will make their way through Downtown, all calling for changes in federal immigration policy. Three will make their way up Broadway, at 1pm, 3pm and 4:30pm.

It's safe to assume the Downtown streets will be just as confused as you are.

250,000 marchers took to Downtown streets on Monday, May 1, 2006. The day carried off the momentum of the massive half-million person protest on March 25 of that year.

In the two years since, none of the "May Day" marches have come close to the numbers of that initial year. The third anniversary of the March 25 affair brought out only a few thousand marchers.

Friday's marches are more likely to disrupt with their logistics than with their numbers.

The "Full Rights for Immigrant Workers" march will kick things off, gathering at 10:30am at Olympic and Broadway. The march is scheduled to start moving north at 1pm, ending up at Temple and Broadway.

Next is "Immigrant Rights/Legalize LA," assembling outside the American Apparel factory at 3pm. It is scheduled to travel west to Central, north to 5th, then west to Broadway before turning north and finding other marchers.

The "March for Immigrants" will assemble at Broadway and 11th at 1pm. It's slated to head north at 3pm, ending up at Los Angeles and Temple.

They'll apparently pass right through the beginning of the "May First Annual Boycott March," which will gather at Broadway and Olympic at 3pm and head north at 4:30pm. It will wrap over to City Hall on 1st and Spring before ending at Temple and Broadway.

The "International Workers Day March to MacArthur Park" will break rank, or pick up participants, by assembling at 1st and Spring at 4:30pm. Route goes west on 1st, south on Broadway and then west on 7th to MacArthur Park.

Finally, the "May First Day of Action in Support of Workers Rights" will assemble at Echo Park and Park avenues in Echo Park. At 2pm it will move east on Sunset to Downtown, then head south on Spring to Temple, east to Los Angeles and then north to Olvera Street.

Got it? The test is Friday.

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Photos: Saturday's Immigration March
April 07, 2009
Small in Numbers, Large in Color
May 01, 2008
May Day Marches Join Forces
April 30, 2008

This story belongs to the following topics:

Topic:
May Day Marches

11 stories

A Look at May Day Traffic
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L.A.'s May Day Marches Peaceful, but Small
May 02, 2009
Buses Bear Brunt of May Day Traffic Impacts
May 01, 2009

Comments

Matt Nelson writes:

Took me a while to rezlize that banner says "FULL" rights... and not something else

# on Apr.29.2009 AT 02:52 PM

Louie Cuevas writes:

1st the word ^ Illegal^ was inappropriate. Now the word ^undocumented^ has been omitted. This is very misleading

# on Apr.29.2009 AT 02:56 PM

Tim writes:

^ Huh? Where is the word "illegal"? Eric, did you make changes in the article and omit the word "undocumented"?

# on Apr.29.2009 AT 04:12 PM

Sarcasm writes:

I object to the use of the term "different" in the first sentance. Aren't they really "separate" marches for the same cause.

# on Apr.29.2009 AT 04:18 PM

Eric Richardson writes:

Tim: I think Louie was upset that neither word was used in the mention of the marchers' cause ("rights for illegal immigrants" or "rights for undocumented workers"). This story is about the Downtown impacts, not their politics. There are plenty of other places for people to debate that.

# on Apr.29.2009 AT 04:20 PM

Downtowner writes:

Someone please tell me what is so magical about Broadway that things like this always have to use that street. Can we not march on Main Street, or Spring, or Hill or Grand? Is it wider or something?

# on Apr.29.2009 AT 09:34 PM

Veronica M writes:

Good Question... I would like to volunteer Flower St., I bet that street feels left out of all the festivities!

# on Apr.30.2009 AT 10:01 AM

Dana Gabbard writes:

Metro has even issued an alert:

http://www.metro.net/news_info/press/Metro_056.htm

# on Apr.30.2009 AT 10:27 AM

downtowner writes:

the more march they do in downtown, the less popularity they will have from the residents.

# on Apr.30.2009 AT 06:07 PM

are they clueless? writes:

Um. these marches are inappropriate.

Do illegals not read newspapers? There is a pandemic stemming from Mexico....and a bunch of mexicans (who are proud of the fact that they broke the law to come to this country) are going to form a large public gathering and create an unprecedented health risk to downtowners?

wow. im closing my windows, and not going outside.

# on Apr.30.2009 AT 06:40 PM

LittleBrownGirl writes:

Wow is all I can say to are they clueless...you sure do eat up all the hysteria the media feeds you don't you?I'm sure Fox news was chock full of info in how those filthy Mexicans are bringing their diseases....and beans.... I'm sure you will see me walking down the street and run for fear of your life at the dark Mexican girl carrying her dirty virus but fear not. I have never even been to Mexico and my family is all American born but I simply look illegal. I hope you get coughed on this week.......

# on Apr.30.2009 AT 11:57 PM

Steve writes:

I think we need a map of all these logistics...

# on May.01.2009 AT 09:51 AM

Eric Richardson writes:

Steve: Ask you and you shall receive, but I think the maps are even more confusing than the write-up:

http://trafficinfo.lacity.org/html/2009MayDay.html

LADOT's traffic info site feels hammered this morning.

# on May.01.2009 AT 09:54 AM

Mike writes:

The arrogance of these third world pests just astounds me. Why the hell do we put up with this, people? Tens of thousand of ILLEGAL stinkin' aliens marching in OUR streets, snarling up traffic and generally being a pain in our butts. What other country would allow such nonsense from foreign invaders? This just blows my mind. We need to start banding together as citizens to counter this madness. If it were up to me I would send the National Guard down there to round up all these parasites and toss them out of the country.

# on May.01.2009 AT 10:22 AM

Downtowner writes:

Mike:

AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!!

This is by far the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of...illegals marching for their rights...what the hell alternate universe did I wake up in???

Go back to Mexico and learn a valuable skill (aside from cutting grass and housekeeping), then MAYBE the USA will want to make you a part of our society...otherwise, take your lazy butts back to the homeland and be a drain on THEIR economy!!!

# on May.01.2009 AT 11:56 AM

Downtowner writes:

I post on this blog from time to time under the moniker of Downtowner, but i did NOT write the above posts.

# on May.01.2009 AT 12:02 PM

Eric Richardson writes:

Downtowner(s): I might suggest a less generic pseudonym, or, even better, a real name. You can create a user account that will at least offer folks some assurance that you're the same you.

# on May.01.2009 AT 12:05 PM