Thread by @ACatWithNews

Good afternoon! I’m OTG in the Exhi Park Lake area. Things are still developing, but I was able to interview Selena who is an unhoused resident and is on her way to a hotel room provided by Hotel Room Key. She stated all of her things are now lost and her phone is broken.

A gathering has begun which was described by attendees as a “vigil for the community” of Echo Park Lake by the City District Office. About 100 are gathered here.

Well, it’s no longer breaking but I now have a chance to release some of the footage from yesterday after some... interruptions due to being arrested.

At 5:15PM An LAPD car arrived and via loudspeaker told the group to get on the sidewalk “for their safety.”

After announcing several times over the loudspeaker, the police vehicle turned in the adjacent parking lot(and back entrance to the district office), made a 3 way turn so that the front of the vehicle was pointed toward Lemoyne. The vehicle then moved forward.

When the vehicle was facing several of the protestors, they refused to move. The LAPD vehicle turned on its siren and began moving forward at I’d estimate 5MPH.

The car and protestors remained stationary for several minutes: protestors placed several nearby traffic cones on the hood of the vehicle.

Eventually, the vehicle began moving forward at a slightly faster pace: I’d estimate 15-20MPH while one protestor laid and walked while it went forward. The vehicle accelerated forward towards a police line which had been established in front of the park.

Opinion: I’m a bit perplexed as to why the vehicle did not move down the opposite direction instead of the 3-point turn.

After the LAPD vehicle drove away towards the police line, several protestors walked in the same direction and verbally confronted the line. LAPD officers began pointing at several of the protestors.

As Captain Rick Stabile of LAPD monitors the situation and is heckled by the crowd, a perpendicular police line shifted several times from left to right.

Things began to calm for a bit- one person began handing out pizza amongst the protestors.

Activists began chanting “permanent housing now,” while more arrive from the much larger group north and more officers join behind the line.

As one protestor begins to address the crowd about law enforcement, the few remaining unhoused residents which were still in the park looked past the police line and watched the scene. At one point, one of them yelled “Echo Park Rise Up!”

A few protestors responded with “yeah!” while the unhoused residents shouted “echo park rise up,” and the police and protestors continued the confrontation.

One woman during all this approached the line, looking for her uncle who she says was living in Echo Park Lake.

An announcement was made via loudspeaker at this point- it’s unclear to me what the announcement was exactly.

Meanwhile, there were two separate groups. One stayed in the intersection of Lemoyne and Sunset: some stayed sitting and some posted signs on the District office. Another group marched down Sunset and then back.

Meanwhile, the confrontation between Sunset and Park on Lamoyne continued. Lots of time here that looks much like this video with the sun going down, and more and more beginning to trickle into this area. (~7:15 yesterday)

Chants became noticeably louder after nightfall. A few of the protestors began playing drums.

*note- lots of flashing lights in the next posts**

CW :// Flashing Lights ://

The lights, which LAPD stated “in an attempt to blind officers and prevent them from performing their duties” began not long after nightfall (timeline of first I see them is 7:40)

One protestor could be heard yelling “how do you like them on you?”

One man in the crowd in the front yelled “you guys, we’re not here to agitate. We are here for a reason. Do you guys not remember BLM?” then has a conversation with an officer. What I *think* after reviewing several times is a warning about potential dispersal order is given.

://// CW: flashing lights ://///

This actually happened before the previous post, and it appears as though the officer walks up to the line and either attempts to grab an item or make physical contact with one of the protestors.

://// CW: flashing lights ://///

While one member of the crowd urges the crowd to get back, a PA system announcement is made.

://// CW: flashing lights ://///

More PA announcements, while the crowd continues yelling.

One man with a megaphone suggests the protestors move backwards while an unlawful assembly is officially called.

Here’s the initial push forward by LAPD not long after.

Here’s the moments directly after that. Protestors at this point has their arms linked. One mentions that several officers don’t have bodycams on: I can confirm that several earlier in the day but did not have the ability to check in that moment whether they remained.

Protestors linked arms once more- several photogs are still up front while they announce an unlawful assembly in Spanish. For reference, the media viewing area was placed ~one block around the corner on the right side of the frame.

Things get quiet as LAPD announces that media and @NLG_LosAngeles @NLGnews “must disperse immediately,” protestors are still linking arms and the space became very tight. One protestor yells “give us back our park!”

CW :// Flashing Lights ://

One protestor yells “don’t hurt us, we won’t hurt you” as the space continues to be right mad unlawful assembly notices continue.

The crowd begins backing away while linking arms and shortly after LAPD announces the crowd is “no longer free to leave.” Behind the crowd you can see LAPD officers arriving. @joeyneverjoe has a conversation with LAPD.

LAPD officers on the back end begin to move forward. One man who was in a recessed part of a gate falls after an officer places his hand on him. Less lethal guns are in ready position.

Protestor arrests as LAPD commands the crowd to not resist. Several on one side of the building, then @JamesQueallyLAT is detained, @chip_nooo is arrested (whose credentials are clearly visible in this video) as LAPD told media to back away from “skirmish line”

As the “front” line moves forward again, LAPD begin yelling “leave the area” while the “back” line remains stationary. They make an arrest of someone with a lanyard. “Less lethal” munitions pointed at less than 8 foot distance as people attempt to explain the situation.