FC: Los Angeles police move in on protesters, break up concert

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

About half an hour ago Los Angeles police moved in on an activist-concert 
that was taking place just outside the Democratic convention. Using horses 
and motorcycles, a massive group of police successfully broke up the crowd 
of thousands.

The excuse was that protesters were setting (small) campfires on pavement 
in the designated protest area without permission, but the real reason 
seems to be that President Clinton was about to finish his speech inside 
the Staples Center. Delegates would then presumably want to walk to their 
nearby hotels without hassles.

According to a preliminary report from an LAPD spokesman, police used 
beanbag rounds, pepper powder in paintball rounds, and "stinger" rounds 
that are essentially plastic pellets that skip along the ground. Foam 
rounds in metal canisters and flash-bang grenades were also apparently used.

Photo of one of the nonlethal guns used:
http://www.mccullagh.org/image/950-12/dem-protests-5.html

Another nonlethal gun, with (apparently) foam bullets in metal canisters:
http://www.mccullagh.org/image/950-12/dem-protests-7.html

I also have some photos from a march and police preparations 
earlier:
http://www.mccullagh.org/theme/dem-protests-00.html

I'll be here in LA through late Friday.

-Declan