LAPD Officer Injured, Cruiser Window Smashed at Abortion Rights Protest

By Quinn Wilson

Source Daily Breeze, Torrance, Calif.

Los Angeles police issued a city-wide tactical alert in response to a large protest in Downtown Los Angeles where an officer was injured Tuesday evening, May 3, authorities said. The alert was later canceled.

The protest took place in the Pershing Square area in response to a leaked draft that suggested the Supreme Court may be overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that guaranteed a federal constitutional right to an abortion. Organizers called for a mass protest to take place downtown.

A group of about 250 protesters marched from Broadway and First Street, near Los Angeles City Hall to Pershing Square area just after 8 p.m., according to Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore.

Around 9 p.m., a segment of protesters occupied an intersection and police attempted to disperse them, Moore said. The group then began throwing rocks and bottles at the LAPD officers, and one officer was injured, according to Moore.

It wasn't immediately clear what the extent of the officer's injuries were, Moore said.

Video from independent news service RMG News showed a smashed out window on an LAPD cruiser as well as protesters toppling barriers and tagging graffiti outside of the U.S. Courthouse at 350 W. 1st St.

A tactical alert is utilized to ensure resources are available for other calls for service while many resources are dedicated to a particular incident. The alert was deactivated before 11 p.m., Los Angeles Police Department Officer Drake Madison said.

Officers were attempting to get the group to disperse from the area as of about 9:20 p.m. The LAPD asked that people avoid the Pershing Square area for a couple of hours.

City News Service contributed to this story.

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