Patricia Nazario, a KPCC-FM (89.3) radio reporter, said she watched as officers marched slowly in a single-file line.
"They had their batons crossed over their chests," she said. "Some came across Wilshire shooting their bullets."
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Chief vows full inquiry into violence
Bratton questions LAPD tactics in sweeping protesters out of MacArthur Park during May Day rally.
The State
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Friday May 04, 2007 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 3 inches; 111 words Type of Material: Correction
MacArthur Park melee: A photo caption on Thursday's front page accompanying an article about the melee in MacArthur Park during an immigration rights rally stated that a Los Angeles police officer "picks up KCBS cameraman Carl Stein to move him out of the way." Stein said that he was videotaping the rally when police knocked him down. The image showed Stein, who was on his knees, being grabbed from behind by police officers who were forcing him forward. Also, another article about the melee in Thursday's Section A incorrectly referred to the USC Annenberg Institute for Justice in Journalism. The correct name is the USC Annenberg Institute for Justice and Journalism.
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Some in the crowd, she said, retaliated by throwing bottles and cans. Still, at that point, Nazario said, she did not feel unsafe. Within minutes, though, the perimeter closed in around her. As she tried to walk away, she said, an officer struck her in the back with a baton.
Nazario said she went to St. Vincent Medical Center's emergency room where she was treated for her injuries.
Deeper into the park, other reporters were preparing to go live for 6:30 p.m. broadcasts, including Telemundo anchor Pedro Sevcec. He said he watched a confrontation develop between protesters and police, with about a dozen people whose faces were covered throwing water bottles at officers. Then he heard weapons being fired and saw people running and screaming.
But the area where he stood with about 40 others remained calm. He went on the air.
"The next thing I heard was the shotguns, and they were firing in our direction," he said. "Suddenly I started seeing people falling on the ground.... It was completely ridiculous."
Sevcec said a police officer took a camera and threw it about 15 or 20 feet. Then the police started hitting reporters and cameramen with their batons.
"Police ran us over," he said. "Lights were flying, monitors were on the floor."
At one point, a police officer pointed a weapon at his face. Sevcec said he was struck by a baton three times on his neck and back.
Taking notes
In addition to journalists with press credentials, others in the park carried still and video cameras and appeared to be taking notes as they walked backward ahead of the police line.
Maritza Alvarez, 36, a filmmaker, watched police from the northwest corner of the park.
"I can tell you they were just shooting indiscriminately," she said. "I saw them beat up an elderly man, they knocked his knees down, children were crying."
Alvarez said she and two others tried to help an old man get up as about five riot police officers kicked him after hitting his knees with a baton to knock him down.
"I'm telling you, it was military style, there was a commander there saying '1, 2, shoot,' and we were trying to duck behind trees, running," Alvarez said.
