The ACLU of Southern California asked L.A. Police Chief William Bratton to conduct a complete and open investigation of the shocking police action that ended a mostly peaceful May 1 protest for immigrant rights. Local television news showed police using batons, rubber bullets, and tear gas on marchers and members of the media.

"L.A. police officers bullied marchers and media in an ugly show of force," wrote ACLU/SC Executive Director Ramona Ripston. "By all reports, including those from police, the daylong demonstration was largely peaceful. Yet police brought a day of hope for thousands of immigrants to a shocking end."

The ACLU/SC supported Chief Bratton's call for investigation. The letter also recalled the ACLU/SC's lawsuit in 2000 on behalf of members of the media attacked by police during the Democratic National Convention.

"As in 2000, we will investigate all claims of civil liberties violations during Tuesday's march and work to end a history of police actions that threaten to silence the hopeful message of thousands and damage the integrity of a free media," the letter stated.

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The ACLU of Southern California asked L.A. Police Chief William Bratton to conduct a complete and open investigation of the shocking police action that ended a mostly peaceful May 1 protest for immigrant rights. Local television news showed police using batons, rubber bullets, and tear gas on marchers and members of the media.

"L.A. police officers bullied marchers and media in an ugly show of force," wrote ACLU/SC Executive Director Ramona Ripston. "By all reports, including those from police, the daylong demonstration was largely peaceful. Yet police brought a day of hope for thousands of immigrants to a shocking end."

The ACLU/SC supported Chief Bratton's call for investigation. The letter also recalled the ACLU/SC's lawsuit in 2000 on behalf of members of the media attacked by police during the Democratic National Convention.

"As in 2000, we will investigate all claims of civil liberties violations during Tuesday's march and work to end a history of police actions that threaten to silence the hopeful message of thousands and damage the integrity of a free media," the letter stated.

A federal judge has ruled that some of the searches conducted by Los Angeles Police Department officers of Skid Row residents are unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson found that police officers question, and sometimes search, parolees and probationers when they have no evidence to indicate that a crime has been committed. The judge ordered the department to stop the illegal searches and change its policies.

In 2003, the ACLU of Southern California won a court order prohibiting Los Angeles Police from randomly stopping and searching the residents of Skid Row. That order was set to expire last December when the ACLU of Southern California found the illegal searches were still being conducted and returned to court to get the order extended.

On April 20 Pregerson granted a four-month extension finding that the LAPD's own testimony, "admitted to an unconstitutional policy" that violated the rights of Skid Row residents.