L.A. riot police clash with protesters near Art Walk

A unidentified man is arrested by Los Angeles police on Fourth Street and Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles late Thursday, July 12, 2012. An officer was injured as police in riot gear broke up a crowd of about 200 protesters who filled Los Angeles streets during downtown's monthly Art Walk. / AP Photo/Grant Hindsley

(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - Police clashed with scores of demonstrators Thursday evening near the downtown Art Walk, resulting in several arrests and injured officers.

Police in riot gear used batons and non-lethal projectiles to break up a crowd of about 200, in a clash that went on for about three hours. CBS Los Angeles reports one woman was reportedly hit with a skateboard. Four officers suffered minor injuries.

The LAPD said 20 people were arrested, 10 of which were due to suspicion of vandalism. At least some of the protesters were associated with the Occupy LA movement, which had promoted a "Chalk Walk" via Twitter.

According to posts on the @OccupyLA Twitter account, the incident began after police confronted people drawing on the sidewalks with chalk.

A woman who said she is part of the Occupy movement told The Los Angeles Times that protesters were demonstrating their support for people previously arrested for using chalk on the sidewalk. She said the protesters were "handing out free chalk for freedom of speech."

KCBS correspondent Amanda Burden spoke to one witness who said, "People were just drawing on the ground. And then riot police moved in. A girl was drawing hopscotch. A guy next to her wrote 'I want peace.' The next thing, they started arresting people."

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Police department spokeswoman Karen Rayner said some protesters were throwing rocks, bottles and other objects at officers, and police were put on citywide tactical alert for several hours. Postings on Occupy LA's Facebook page told of people injured by rubber bullets.

Chris Spinder, a witness and downtown resident, told KCBS, "There was some organized shouting," but he wasn't entirely sure what the demonstrators were asking for.

Downtown L.A. Art Walk takes place on the second Thursday of each month with galleries, bars and restaurants remaining open late.

[lephuntz12]

Let me see if I understand the incident. A group of people were drawing on a sidewalk. A pedestrian path beside a road. This group of individuals were hindering or preventing other individuals from utilizing what the path was designed for. The Police asked the 'artist' to obey the law and allow the sidewalk to be used as designed.
Now how did such a thing escalate to 200 people rioting?

[shylove2]

It is easy to have agent provocateurs at demonstration just like at the '68 democratic convention... once the fuse is lit the whole thing explodes...

[LostNTime]

It is called Graffiti and is a state wide problem,

"People were just drawing on the ground"

What is so hard to understand you cannot draw on City property nor private or public otherwise the whole city would have streams of vandals tagging the entire city.

Who is going to clean up all these random drawings like kiddy hopscotch peace signs Jac WoZ Here etc. How would these people like it if they woke up one morning and someone had graffiti-ed their front path driveway house etc??

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Chalk is not the same as spray paint - it washes off with the next rain or a little water!

[TurboMopar05]

I'm sorry that you are to dumb to understand what chalk is.....you serf.

[LostNTime]

It is called Graffiti and is a state wide problem,

"People were just drawing on the ground"

What is so hard to understand you cannot draw on City property nor private or public otherwise the whole city would have streams of vandals tagging the entire city.

Who is going to clean up all these random drawings like kiddy hopscotch peace signs Jac WoZ Here etc. How would these people like it if they woke up one morning and someone had graffiti-ed their front path driveway house etc??

[TurboMopar05]

I will translate this guys moronic post..."I'm stupid"

[john92021]

it should be an "un-occupy" movement. When there are no more marks sitting at the table the game will fold.

[vsmit]

Paragraph 3: "protesters were associated with the Occupy LA movement." How about titling the article "OCCUPY LA movement AGAIN shows violence of members". I'm sure if Obama had a son, he'd want them to be just like Occupy LA.

[bilrobi1]

First. Have you ever heard of Freedom of Assembly. There is nothing illegal about protesting. You have to admit that the L.A. police force has a bit of a track record in terms of, shall we say, over-reacting.I wasn't there and neither were you so my speculating is as valid as your's.

[audemus]

The LAPD probably has an equally "appropriate " punishment for chewing gum as well.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

A 14-year-old- was one of the victims of police brutality in downtown Los Angeles. CBS News blatantly lied as did police about people throwing rocks and bottles at police. We have the Ustream below to prove the testimony of the people. This is proof how CBS news and LAPD working together to falsify inccidences with the people to justify the use of deadly force on its unarmed citizens. officer Indrelend of LAPD fired four shots. this was not a protest it was the Art walk. If your not outraged by this we have no hope for a better world! ~G~

[credibility2]

...oh boo-hoo...police brutality, my eye...all you malcontents got what you deserved for vandalism and disobedience and obstructionism...you're a blight to civilized society...

[tressag5]

If they were using "deadly force", you would be dead.

[test43]

Good Job Mr Obama on uniting our country ; Blacks against Whites, Rich against Poor, Dem against Rep, Cats against Dogs

You have done more damaged then good,

[bilrobi1]

Really. Some how this is Our President's fault? Exactly how is that?Also exactly what effort has been made on the part of the right to "unify the country'? The country feels polarized to me also but I'm not sure Our President bears the blame. I'm now sorry I've even bothered to address such drivel.

[test43]

bilrobi;

who should we blame, my kids, my pets , my employer , my neighbor. "MR Obama" is the leader, if he does not know how to lead then he should step aside. Stop blaming everybody else. The Bucks stops at the Whitehouse.

And no, you didnt have to address this comment, But you chose too,


Remember one thing, OBAMA is weak and history will show how he destroyed this country. Cash for Clunkers is not a policy but a debt our children will need to pay back.

Obama should have played for the NBA like his other friends

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Funny they left out the police shooting rubber bullets at 14 year old kids for drawing on the sidewalk with chalk!!!

CBS - you may need to investigate a bit further than what the police tell you!