Sandy MaloneLos Angeles, CA – Activists pushed Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers out of Echo Park when the city tried to tear down a homeless encampment there on Wednesday.
Protesters began gathering at about 7 a.m. on March 24 to protect the tent city that has popped up in the area and grown dramatically in recent months, KTLA reported.
The homelessness problem in Los Angeles worsened during the pandemic.
LAPD began blocking off streets at about 10 p.m. and pushing back protesters who were still in the area.
But videos posted to social media showed the tide quickly turned on the police as hundreds of protesters chanting “move back” pushed officers out of the area.
Videos showed LAPD vehicles backing up as protesters marched toward them.
Overnight, #antifa & far-left groups in Los Angeles were responsible for preventing police from responding to a growing encampment at Echo Park. Using social media strategies popularized by Portland antifa, they called for comrades to swarm law enforcement.pic.twitter.com/7HNGRwLmDk
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) March 25, 2021
LAPD staging near Echo Park Lake. Under the direction of the city of Los Angeles and @MitchOFarrell, the cops are going to raid the Echo Park Lake encampment and evict hundreds of residents of the park.
We can see what the city is doing. ALL EYES ON ECHO PARK TONIGHT pic.twitter.com/YgZKNRhshW
— People's City Council – Los Angeles (@PplsCityCouncil) March 25, 2021
KTLA reported that LAPD deployed gas to disperse the crowd.
Officers in riot gear armed with batons formed a line that started at Sunset Boulevard and moved south down Glendale Boulevard, KTLA reported.
There was another skirmish line on the opposite side of the park with dozens of police cars on site.
Probably close to 400 LAPD officers spread out all throughout Echo Park Lake, over 100 police cars (packed w/ 4 cops each), 3 busses, 2 helicopters, & other city departments getting ready to throw people's belongings, etc. Tax dollars spent to criminalize poverty.#EchoParkRiseUp pic.twitter.com/ADjD4LBKxh
— Kenneth Mejia (@kennethmejiaLA) March 25, 2021
Things got more violent around 11 p.m., KTLA reported.
LAPD announced two unlawful assemblies at about 11:20 p.m. and issued “dispersal orders were issued at Santa Ynez Street and Glendale Blvd due to officers being assaulted with rocks, bottles and smoke bombs.”
YALL ITS GOING DOWN IN ECHO PARK pic.twitter.com/T1zUDUoBkE
— People's City Council – Los Angeles (@PplsCityCouncil) March 25, 2021
Please at least share what is going on in Echo Park tonight. The excessive force used by the city is comically evil and truly sickening.#EchoParkRiseUp pic.twitter.com/DnVHskDGN2
— taeleetaelee (@taeleetaeleetae) March 25, 2021
At 11:42 p.m., LAPD Chief Michel Moore announced that protesters inside the park would be allowed to stay overnight, KTLA reported.
“No one else may enter. 24 hr notice for those in the park to leave. Housing resources are being provided to everyone,” Chief Moore tweeted.
For clarification, the fencing is being installed tonight and people currently in the park will be allowed to stay overnight, but will not be allowed to come and go.
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) March 25, 2021
LAPD said police were setting up fencing and that officers would stay on the scene overnight, KTLA reported.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell released a statement that said more than 120 people living in the park had already been moved into transitional housing.
The Los Angeles Police Department was asked to support community safety efforts during installation of the fencing to assist in the rehabilitation of Echo Park.
Department personnel are deployed in that area so that those efforts can begin in a safe and unimpeded manner. pic.twitter.com/9V1lsXpZAC
— Mitch O'Farrell (@MitchOFarrell) March 25, 2021
O’Farrell said his office has been worked with the city for months to find alternative housing for the homeless living in Echo Park and the said the shutdown of the encampment would allow the city to make much needed repairs and improvements, KTLA reported.
Echo Park Lake residents have been trying to get a meeting with @mitchofarrell for over a year but instead of connecting with his constituents like a real leader, he’s getting LASAN and LAPD to evict them. Stop the sweep, Mitch! #EchoParkRiseUp
— Samwise (@samberrie) March 25, 2021
The councilmember is caught in the middle between activists who want to keep the homeless encampment and residents who actually own homes in his voting district.
Holly Matkin
