In the Path of Protest

Much of downtown Los Angeles was deserted during the May 1 immigration rights protest, which began in the Fashion District, when an estimated 250,000 people gathered in the morning and peacefully marched up Broadway to City Hall.

A second protest, beginning at MacArthur Park in the late afternoon, drew about 400,000 people, including some from the morning protest.

The “Day Without Immigrants” protests were organized to voice opposition to federal immigration legislation. Many businesses near the demonstration routes opted to close for the day, either in support of the protesters or in anticipation of large crowds.