DNC protesters 'take back' L.A. park
LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- About 100 people representing various groups that are planning to protest during next month's Democratic National Convention gathered at a downtown park to symbolically "take it back."
Pershing Square has been a coveted location in an ongoing tug-of-war between protest groups and the city of Los Angeles in recent weeks.
Last month, the Los Angeles City Council voted to designate the park as an "official" gathering spot for convention demonstrators. But two weeks later, at the behest of the Los Angeles Police Department and after an uproar from people who live and work near the park, the council reversed itself.
The council's about-face outraged protest organizers, who then took a different approach: They went to court.
Demonstrators said that because Pershing Square is public property, it can still used for protests, provided proper applications are made with the Department of Parks and Recreation.
Organizers said the city has not been cooperative in granting those permits. Last week, a federal judge agreed.
"Pershing Square has been given the perception that it's off-limits to protesters,"said Don White, a spokesman for D2KLA, a protest group planning to march at the August 14-17 convention. "We're here to say, not only is it on-limits, but a federal judge says so."
Singers, dancers, banner-wavers and puppeteers participated in Tuesday's event. They included representatives of activist groups involved in the environment, Native-American rights, immigrant and minority rights, youth organizations, the elderly and the homeless.
Seven uniformed officers of the Los Angeles Police Department monitored the event.
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