Another federal lawsuit was filed Wednesday over the May 1 police sweep of a pro-immigration rally in MacArthur Park, with the plaintiffs including a coalition that organized the rally.
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VideoThe suit by the Multi-Ethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network seeks class-action status, alleging an announcement from a police helicopter ordering the protesters to disperse was "inaudible to most of those in the park" and only given in English.
The coalition and other plaintiffs, including individuals who attended the rally, also allege officers "used their batons to shove anyone in their path and to hit people with batons, indiscriminately."
The suit accuses the Los Angeles Police Department of over-reacting to a small group of protesters who the suit states were throwing plastic water bottles and oranges at police in response to the presence of officers in riot gear and an incident earlier in the rally when police rode their motorcycles into a group of Aztec dancers.
"With approximately 600 officers on hand, the LAPD outnumbered this small group of protesters nearly 15 to 1, yet no attempt was made to isolate the group and permit the lawful assembly to continue," the suit states. "Instead, the LAPD used an unwarranted and unlawful show of force against peaceful participants to intimidate them into foregoing the lawful exercise of their First Amendment rights."
The suit also takes issue with the LAPD's decision to fire foam bullets - - a type of weapon law enforcement calls "less-lethal" -- into the crowd.
"It was sheer luck that no child was struck with a projectile given the indiscriminate deployment of more than 140 rounds of less-lethal munitions at a peaceful, fleeing assembly," the complaint states.
The Multi-Ethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network includes the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles, the Garment Workers Center, the Korean Immigrant Workers Alliance, and the Pilipino Workers Center.
Other plaintiffs include about a dozen individuals who say they were hit by foam bullets, struck by police batons, or fell during the rush to exit the park.
A representative for the City Attorney's Office, which defends the city of Los Angeles in lawsuits, declined to comment on the suit, which alleges civil rights violations and excessive force.
The suit follows a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday by a man whose jaw was allegedly broken by a baton-wielding officer, and one brought Friday by three Los Angeles residents who claim they were beaten by officers dispersing the crowd.
In addition to the lawsuits, a KTTV camerawoman who says she was knocked down by a baton-wielding officer filed an administrative claim against the city. Attorney Luis Carrillo said he is preparing claims from 11 other people who said they were beaten by police during the melee.
Administrative claims are often precursors to lawsuits.
NBC Spanish-language station Telemundo has filed formal complaints registering, "serious concerns over the conduct of the LAPD" toward the station, according to a report by NBC4's Robert Kovacik. Four employees were among those struck by an officer and hit with rubber bullets, Kovacik said.
Another class action lawsuit related to the May Day police action was scheduled to be announced by 12 lawyers in Mcarthur Park on Thursday morning.
The day before the May 1st rallies, NBC4 reported on the number of complaints and lawsuits against the LAPD during police chief Bratton's first term.
Roughly 5700 complaints were recorded in 2001, compared to 6700 in 2006, Kovacik reported.
When it comes to settling lawsuits, the LAPD paid out approximately $58 million in 2001, and $20 million in 2006, according to Kovacik.
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