UPDATE: LAPD now says four people were arrested during Saturday night’s protests that resulted in a tactical alert across the city.
Three protesters were arrested for assault on a police officer. One was arrested for possessing a machete and causing riots. A total of four officers and three protesters were treated for minor injuries.
Police concerns increased at 5:30 PM, when people in the protesters “began directing physical assaults on deployed officers to facilitate the demonstration, destroy property and walk on a busy highway,” according to LAPD.
“The Los Angeles Police Department is committed to ensuring that Angelenos can exercise their First Amendment rights peacefully, and we cannot allow violence and destruction of property to jeopardize the safety of anyone, since be they officers, protesters or passers-by, “said Police Chief Michel Moore.
EARLIER: Los Angeles was under a citywide tactical alert Saturday night when police responded to a “Reject Fascism” rally organized in support of the protests in Portland and Seattle.
The protests in Los Angeles were less intense than the Portland and Seattle battles, which were declared “riots” by police in those cities.
In LA, a tactical alert releases additional resources and brings more officers on board to handle the situation that caused the alert.
LAPD reported isolated incidents of vandalism, broken windows, and graffiti in the United States Court. Several arrests were made, but no specific number has been released.
The protest ended at 9:30 pm
