Thread by @josie_huang

On the day rent’s due, protesters deliver eviction notice to Mayor Garcetti at the Getty House:

”You are hereby notified that you will be evicted from your mansion if you do not cancel rent within 3 days of receipt of this notice.”

Looks like a couple hundred here. Doubtful Garcetti is inside the mansion but he’d be treated to a live mariachi band performing La Bamba

About a dozen LAPD officers watching from across the street as mariachi music is interspersed with protesters testifying on need to cancel rent during pandemic

Protester RJ Dawson says:

“Not only would cancelling rent help all of us as a people, it would stop from adding to the covid crisis...if this doesn't work, then we're going to be asking for them to house us, because we’re now part of the unhoused population.

Protesters moving from Getty House to shut down part of Wilshire.
“What do we want?”
“Cancel rent!”

Reverberating down Wilshire: “F**k Garcetti!” chants

Drivers rolling with not being able to turn onto Crenshaw and Wilshire

9 LAPD officers standing off to the side in the shade with their bikes

Drivers on Wilshire greeted with these signs

This protester has been periodically dangling a cruller in front of officers. Someone else yells “feed the pigs”

Cluster of protesters confront officer about why LAPD is here, say police are creating unnecessary tension

Got caught up listening to eye-opening convo btw protesters & an LAPD commander who is Black and bridles against their criticism:

“Are you trying to tell me as a Black man I don’t care?...If I have 1 more person tell me how to be a Black man, I’m just going to laugh all night.”

The LAPD commander says: “You’ve never been Black, you never will be” to a protester who identifies as Mexican & indigenous.
She responds she’s a “f*cking woman,” she understands oppression.

The LAPD commander is asked what he would say to a Black person “who looks just like you and doesn’t feel safe.”
“Join the LAPD” he says to howls of laughter.

Haven’t seen an LAPD member engage this way and for this long with protesters before….(granted, I’m not omnipresent). In exasperation Commander Hamilton tells the group “Listen to the Black guy.” He eventually walks away.

Meanwhile the protest returned to Garcetti’s mansion and things have wound down. An organizer says police have been “pretty chill” compared to past actions drew thousands

“We’re reopening up the streets” officers on bikes say as they ride up and down Irving Bl and 6th

I spoke too soon— situation has quickly deteriorated

I don’t know why the man and woman were arrested but police minutes earlier grabbed and cited an 18-yo named Eillott “for being a pedestrian in the roadway.”

Protester asked why the teen Eliott was taken when there were 30 other protesters around.

Officer says: “Exactly. We can’t grab all you guys.”

Protesters promise to bail Elliot out and ask his birthdate and emergency contact

Was trying to get vid of the teen being taken away when an officer said “grab her and cite her.” I’ded myself as being with @kpcc. Strong guess they are not members.

Cordon of police moved protesters from mayor’s house to Wilshire. This was shortly after 5 pm

At 5:12 pm

And minutes ago. At least 40 officers outside the mayor’s mansion. The people in the green fluorescent caps are with the National Lawyers Guild.

Meant to post b4 everything went down.

I asked @nicole_d14 of @LATenantsUnion & @PplsCityCouncil why protesters are pushing for cancelling rent during the pandemic. She says some landlords are pressuring tenants into predatory payback agreements.

A great explainer from @onthatbombshell on the call to cancel rent around CA. Landlord group say this will bankrupt apt owners: laist.com/2020/07/24/can…