latimes--2020-06-03--UC dropped the SAT. Should you take it anyway?

Marcy Zaldana , a college counselor at Washington Preparatory High School , had big news for her 11th-graders during a Zoom meeting last week : The University of California had just dropped SAT and ACT testing requirements for admission .
The students erupted in cheers , she said .
The South L.A. high school educates mostly low-income , black and Latino students who would be the first in their families to attend college — the youths who , research shows , face bias in standardized tests , potentially hurting their college admission chances .
But their elation evaporated with Zaldana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test anyway .
“ I told them you should consider taking the SAT if you want to have more options , ” the college counselor said .
“ They thought it was like a free ride and I said no , no , no.
” The recent decision by UC regents to drop the SAT and ACT requirements for admission to the nation ’ s premier public research university system reverberated across the nation , fueling expectations that other colleges would follow suit and strike a blow at the billion-dollar standardized testing industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — an industry disrupter , ” said Angel B. Pérez , a vice president at Trinity College in Hartford , Conn. , who is the CEO-elect of the National Assn .
for College Admission Counseling .
“ Many of us who are passionate about the test-optional movement … think it ’ s going to create more access for students , make the college application process simpler and might also diversify ” campuses .
But it ’ s far from clear how quickly such changes might come — if they do .
Like Zaldana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much altered their advice : Keep studying .
Take the exams .
And , unless they ’ re disastrous , submit your scores .
“ There are a whole lot of schools outside the UC system and a lot of them require the SAT , ” said Lynda McGee , a college counselor at Downtown Magnets High School .
Added Heather Brown , a counselor at Los Angeles High School : “ If you say you don ’ t need the test , you ’ re locking the kids into one school system.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid coronavirus-related suspensions of the requirement at the UC , California State University and other colleges throughout the country — remains high , causing trouble for the College Board .
It canceled March , May and June tests due to the pandemic , and testing officials said they may not be able to offer a test to all students who want to take it .
On Tuesday , they asked college admissions officers to hold harmless students who can ’ t take it in time for application deadlines .
The UC system began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , but many critics have long debated its value , expressing concern about consistent research showing that race , income and parental educational levels heavily influence the exam .
The ACT and College Board , which owns the SAT , argue that their exams offer a uniform and useful tool to help predict college success and that disparate test scores among students reflect inequities in access to quality education .
But the UC regents rebuffed those arguments and unanimously approved a five-year plan to phase out the testing requirement .
The exams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
The UC will go “ test-blind ” for California students in years three and four , meaning scores will not be considered for admission even if submitted .
By 2025 , the UC hopes to develop a new test .
The UC system , with 285,000 students on 10 campuses , is by far the largest institution to go test-optional .
They join more than 1,200 colleges that will not require standardized tests for fall 2021 applicants , although about 200 of them adopted the policy this year amid the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing research about the positive effects of test-optional policies , said Bob Schaeffer , public education director for FairTest , the National Center for Fair and Open Testing .
A 2018 study of 28 public and private colleges and universities found that test-optional policies increased applications and the diversity of applicants .
About one-fourth of applicants chose not to submit scores ; they were disproportionately female , low-income , first-generation and underrepresented minority students .
They were often admitted at lower rates than those who submitted scores but ended up graduating at equal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study by the national college admissions counseling group .
Most admissions experts say there is little if any downside to taking the test , particularly since the College Board offers two free SAT tests for low-income students .
Even Shaeffer of FairTest recommends that students at least see where they stand with a practice test , which the College Board and the online Khan Academy offer for free .
Lauren Cook of the Western Assn .
for College Admission Counseling suggests researching a school ’ s average SAT scores to help decide whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Downtown Magnets , said she encourages her students to submit scores below the average because colleges do use nuance and context in evaluating them .
UCLA , she said , has admitted her students with SAT scores in the 1300 range — about average for the bottom quartile of admitted freshmen but high compared with her high school ’ s average score of 1050 .
“ UCLA knows our school , ” McGee said .
“ They know our kids are not going to have money for test prep.
” Indeed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most important things students should do to figure out whether to submit scores , according to Youlonda Copeland-Morgan , UCLA vice provost of enrollment management .
Copeland-Morgan and several other UC admissions directors say there are no hard and fast rules about test scores but emphasize they will not look negatively at those who don ’ t submit them .
While many testing opponents openly call the exams racist , UC admissions officials mitigate the negative impact on disadvantaged students by admitting them at higher rates than more advantaged peers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a UC Academic Senate review found .
Olufemi Ogundele , UC Berkeley assistant vice chancellor and director of undergraduate admissions , said his campus considers test scores alongside 13 other factors in evaluating applications , as do other UC schools .
Half of Berkeley ’ s admitted students last fall hit SAT test scores in the 96 % percentile or above .
But Ogundele said the idea of a threshold qualifying score could be “ problematic.
” “ Students should submit all of the pieces of the application that they believe speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ If you are proud of your test score , no matter what that score is , you should submit it .
Admission officers are much more interested in students ’ showcasing their excellence both in and outside of the classroom rather than those seeking perfection on standardized tests.
” UC Santa Barbara admissions director Lisa Przekop said students should consider submitting test scores that help them tell their stories .
For instance , she said , those who are passionate about science , technology , engineering and math might explain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those fields and mention their math scores .
At UC Riverside , students should generally err on the side of submitting scores , according to Emily Engelschall , director of undergraduate admissions .
Even if a total score doesn ’ t reach a particular level , she said , strength in one area could add value to the application .
And scores that don ’ t help won ’ t be used in the admissions decision , she said .
UC admissions experts say application readers will be trained to avoid negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ submit scores .
Pérez learned firsthand not to make assumptions when he worked in admissions at Pitzer College and students told him they hit perfect test scores but chose not to submit them because they philosophically disagreed with standardized exams .
But “ people bring their own story ” to admissions work , he said , invariably leading to biases that must be recognized and neutralized through training .
And those biases can vary widely .
One application reader at a campus Pérez declined to name didn ’ t much like cheerleaders so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Extroverts are so favored by admissions officers that Pérez had his staff read “ Quiet : The Power of Introverts in a World That Can ’ t Stop Talking ” by Susan Cain to help them adjust their views .
Such assurances , however , don ’ t necessarily make the testing issue any easier for students .
Lizbeth Gallegos , a Washington Prep junior , said she was initially thrilled to learn that UC was dropping the SAT and ACT requirements .
But she ’ s going to take the SAT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her first try in March — scoring about 800 , the 10th percentile , an outcome that “ broke my heart , ” she said .
She spent weeks preparing for the exam through a USC tutoring program and online practice but was so nervous on test day that she mismanaged her time and finished only about 30 % of the questions before hastily guessing at the rest .
Lizbeth said she ’ s determined to keep at it because UC campuses aren ’ t the only ones on her college wish list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second time , I ’ ll try , ” she said , “ and if I don ’ t get the score I want , I ’ ll take it a third time .
”

UC is dropping the SAT and ACT as admission requirements but many students plan to take the tests anyway.
Marcy Zaldana, a college counselor at Washington Preparatory High School, had big news for her 11th-graders during a Zoom meeting last week: The University of California had just dropped SAT and ACT testing requirements for admission.
The students erupted in cheers, she said. The South L.A. high school educates mostly low-income, black and Latino students who would be the first in their families to attend college — the youths who, research shows, face bias in standardized tests, potentially hurting their college admission chances.
But their elation evaporated with Zaldana’s next words: Take the test anyway.
Advertisement
“I told them you should consider taking the SAT if you want to have more options,” the college counselor said. “They thought it was like a free ride and I said no, no, no.”
The recent decision by UC regents to drop the SAT and ACT requirements for admission to the nation’s premier public research university system reverberated across the nation, fueling expectations that other colleges would follow suit and strike a blow at the billion-dollar standardized testing industry.
“This is a huge moment — an industry disrupter,” said Angel B. Pérez, a vice president at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., who is the CEO-elect of the National Assn. for College Admission Counseling. “Many of us who are passionate about the test-optional movement … think it’s going to create more access for students, make the college application process simpler and might also diversify” campuses.
But it’s far from clear how quickly such changes might come — if they do. Like Zaldana, many college counselors haven’t much altered their advice: Keep studying. Take the exams. And, unless they’re disastrous, submit your scores.
“There are a whole lot of schools outside the UC system and a lot of them require the SAT,” said Lynda McGee, a college counselor at Downtown Magnets High School.
Added Heather Brown, a counselor at Los Angeles High School: “If you say you don’t need the test, you’re locking the kids into one school system.”
Advertisement
The demand for tests — even amid coronavirus-related suspensions of the requirement at the UC, California State University and other colleges throughout the country — remains high, causing trouble for the College Board. It canceled March, May and June tests due to the pandemic, and testing officials said they may not be able to offer a test to all students who want to take it. On Tuesday, they asked college admissions officers to hold harmless students who can’t take it in time for application deadlines.
The UC system began requiring the SAT for admissions a half-century ago, but many critics have long debated its value, expressing concern about consistent research showing that race, income and parental educational levels heavily influence the exam. The ACT and College Board, which owns the SAT, argue that their exams offer a uniform and useful tool to help predict college success and that disparate test scores among students reflect inequities in access to quality education.
But the UC regents rebuffed those arguments and unanimously approved a five-year plan to phase out the testing requirement. The exams will be optional for the next two years. The UC will go “test-blind” for California students in years three and four, meaning scores will not be considered for admission even if submitted. By 2025, the UC hopes to develop a new test.
The UC system, with 285,000 students on 10 campuses, is by far the largest institution to go test-optional. They join more than 1,200 colleges that will not require standardized tests for fall 2021 applicants, although about 200 of them adopted the policy this year amid the coronavirus crisis.
The momentum is fueled by growing research about the positive effects of test-optional policies, said Bob Schaeffer, public education director for FairTest, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing.
A 2018 study of 28 public and private colleges and universities found that test-optional policies increased applications and the diversity of applicants. About one-fourth of applicants chose not to submit scores; they were disproportionately female, low-income, first-generation and underrepresented minority students. They were often admitted at lower rates than those who submitted scores but ended up graduating at equal or higher rates, according to the study by the national college admissions counseling group.
Most admissions experts say there is little if any downside to taking the test, particularly since the College Board offers two free SAT tests for low-income students. Even Shaeffer of FairTest recommends that students at least see where they stand with a practice test, which the College Board and the online Khan Academy offer for free.
Lauren Cook of the Western Assn. for College Admission Counseling suggests researching a school’s average SAT scores to help decide whether to submit them. But McGee, at Downtown Magnets, said she encourages her students to submit scores below the average because colleges do use nuance and context in evaluating them.
UCLA, she said, has admitted her students with SAT scores in the 1300 range — about average for the bottom quartile of admitted freshmen but high compared with her high school’s average score of 1050.
“UCLA knows our school,” McGee said. “They know our kids are not going to have money for test prep.”
Indeed, working with high school counselors is one of the most important things students should do to figure out whether to submit scores, according to Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, UCLA vice provost of enrollment management.
Copeland-Morgan and several other UC admissions directors say there are no hard and fast rules about test scores but emphasize they will not look negatively at those who don’t submit them. While many testing opponents openly call the exams racist, UC admissions officials mitigate the negative impact on disadvantaged students by admitting them at higher rates than more advantaged peers and weighting grades more heavily than test scores, a UC Academic Senate review found.
Olufemi Ogundele, UC Berkeley assistant vice chancellor and director of undergraduate admissions, said his campus considers test scores alongside 13 other factors in evaluating applications, as do other UC schools. Half of Berkeley’s admitted students last fall hit SAT test scores in the 96% percentile or above. But Ogundele said the idea of a threshold qualifying score could be “problematic.”
“Students should submit all of the pieces of the application that they believe speak to who they are,” he said. “If you are proud of your test score, no matter what that score is, you should submit it. Admission officers are much more interested in students’ showcasing their excellence both in and outside of the classroom rather than those seeking perfection on standardized tests.”
UC Santa Barbara admissions director Lisa Przekop said students should consider submitting test scores that help them tell their stories. For instance, she said, those who are passionate about science, technology, engineering and math might explain what they’ve done to prepare for those fields and mention their math scores.
At UC Riverside, students should generally err on the side of submitting scores, according to Emily Engelschall, director of undergraduate admissions. Even if a total score doesn’t reach a particular level, she said, strength in one area could add value to the application. And scores that don’t help won’t be used in the admissions decision, she said.
UC admissions experts say application readers will be trained to avoid negative judgments about students who don’t submit scores.
Pérez learned firsthand not to make assumptions when he worked in admissions at Pitzer College and students told him they hit perfect test scores but chose not to submit them because they philosophically disagreed with standardized exams.
But “people bring their own story” to admissions work, he said, invariably leading to biases that must be recognized and neutralized through training. And those biases can vary widely.
One application reader at a campus Pérez declined to name didn’t much like cheerleaders so passed their applications to others to handle. Extroverts are so favored by admissions officers that Pérez had his staff read “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain to help them adjust their views.
Such assurances, however, don’t necessarily make the testing issue any easier for students. Lizbeth Gallegos, a Washington Prep junior, said she was initially thrilled to learn that UC was dropping the SAT and ACT requirements.
But she’s going to take the SAT again anyway, even though she bombed her first try in March — scoring about 800, the 10th percentile, an outcome that “broke my heart,” she said. She spent weeks preparing for the exam through a USC tutoring program and online practice but was so nervous on test day that she mismanaged her time and finished only about 30% of the questions before hastily guessing at the rest.
Lizbeth said she’s determined to keep at it because UC campuses aren’t the only ones on her college wish list.
“Even if I do bad the second time, I’ll try,” she said, “and if I don’t get the score I want, I’ll take it a third time.”


latimes--2020-06-03--L.A. Pride announces Black Lives Matter solidarity protest march for June 14

Fifty years ago this month , Los Angeles held its first Pride parade .
This year , plans for the annual festivities were put on hold because of the coronavirus .
But Wednesday morning , Christopher Street West — the organization that produces L.A .
Pride — announced another change of plans .
“ In 1970 , we gathered on Hollywood Boulevard to protest police brutality and oppression to our community , ” said Estevan Montemayor , the organization ’ s president .
“ We will do that again this year , where it began , in solidarity with Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to racial injustice is planned for Sunday , June 14 .
It will begin at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland boulevards and proceed to West Hollywood , where the parade normally takes place , ending at Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards .
“ We encourage all community members who believe that we must root out this racial injustice and stand in solidarity with the black community and fight for real reform and change in this country on all levels of government to join us in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice , ” Montemayor said .
Christopher Street West and the ACLU had to challenge the Los Angeles Police Commission in court to get the permit for the city ’ s first Pride parade , which itself was a commemoration of the uprising at Stonewall a year earlier , where Marsha P. Johnson and other members of the LGBTQ community fought back against police violence and oppression .
Montemayor said Johnson ’ s struggle , strength and courage were part of what inspired the Christopher Street West board to the unanimous decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trans person , as a black woman , as a member of this community , she had to deal with oppression on many fronts , ” Montemayor said .
“ I think it is our imperative to continue to fight the injustice and the oppression that we are currently witnessing.
” In light of concerns about the coronavirus , all participants are urged to wear face coverings and take other health precautions , such as bringing hand sanitizer or wearing gloves .
“ We have been told that it is safer at home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is safer at home during this health pandemic — and that unless it is absolutely necessary you should not leave your home , ” Montemayor said .
“ But as we reflect on what is occurring , I think it is very fair to say that it is absolutely necessary that we leave our homes and speak loudly and clearly about this injustice and peacefully protest .
”

Black Lives Matter protesters take a knee and raise their fists during a moment of silence to honor George Floyd at the Hermosa Beach Pier.
Fifty years ago this month, Los Angeles held its first Pride parade.
This year, plans for the annual festivities were put on hold because of the coronavirus. But Wednesday morning, Christopher Street West — the organization that produces L.A. Pride — announced another change of plans.
Advertisement
“In 1970, we gathered on Hollywood Boulevard to protest police brutality and oppression to our community,” said Estevan Montemayor, the organization’s president. “We will do that again this year, where it began, in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.”
A peaceful protest march in response to racial injustice is planned for Sunday, June 14. It will begin at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland boulevards and proceed to West Hollywood, where the parade normally takes place, ending at Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards.
“We encourage all community members who believe that we must root out this racial injustice and stand in solidarity with the black community and fight for real reform and change in this country on all levels of government to join us in this peaceful protest, in this march for justice,” Montemayor said.
Christopher Street West and the ACLU had to challenge the Los Angeles Police Commission in court to get the permit for the city’s first Pride parade, which itself was a commemoration of the uprising at Stonewall a year earlier, where Marsha P. Johnson and other members of the LGBTQ community fought back against police violence and oppression. Montemayor said Johnson’s struggle, strength and courage were part of what inspired the Christopher Street West board to the unanimous decision to hold this protest.
“As a trans person, as a black woman, as a member of this community, she had to deal with oppression on many fronts,” Montemayor said. “I think it is our imperative to continue to fight the injustice and the oppression that we are currently witnessing.”
Advertisement
In light of concerns about the coronavirus, all participants are urged to wear face coverings and take other health precautions, such as bringing hand sanitizer or wearing gloves.
“We have been told that it is safer at home — and that is absolutely true; it is safer at home during this health pandemic — and that unless it is absolutely necessary you should not leave your home,” Montemayor said. “But as we reflect on what is occurring, I think it is very fair to say that it is absolutely necessary that we leave our homes and speak loudly and clearly about this injustice and peacefully protest.”


latimes--2020-06-03--South L.A. is largely untouched by unrest. That is by design

In 1992 , the last time Angelenos ’ rage over police brutality boiled into an uprising , large swaths of South Los Angeles burned to the ground .
Angry mobs took to the street .
Some looted shops and torched buildings .
Fights broke out in the middle of the chaos .
More than 60 people were killed — by police , by other assailants or in accidents related to the unrest .
“ It looked like a war zone , ” recalled Inglewood resident Yolanda Davidson-Carter .
“ It was a real riot .
People were so angry they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence that occurred after a jury acquitted four white officers in the beating of black motorist Rodney King took decades for South L.A. to recover from , and some say the area has never fully healed .
Vacant lots still dot the landscape , a painful reminder .
But this time around , South L.A. has largely been spared , as protests have erupted across the city to condemn the killing by Minneapolis police of George Floyd .
Instead , demonstrators have descended on some of Los Angeles ’ most upscale , iconic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Santa Monica , Hollywood and the Fairfax District .
Looting has occurred in some of those locations , as some used the cover of what were largely peaceful protests to rob stores .
Organizers said this geography was deliberate .
“ We want to go to places of white affluence so that the pain and outrage that we feel can be put right in their faces , ” said Melina Abdullah , one of the leaders of Black Lives Matter .
The group wanted to bring its rage over the Floyd case and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in their own neighborhoods .
Its officials said their goal was not to cause looting but to send a message .
The impact of that decision became clear Saturday , when images of police cars on fire next to CBS Television City and looting at the Grove shopping mall were broadcast on live television .
Abdullah said this strategy of protesting in affluent communities was adopted early on .
The group was born on a night in July 2013 , when protesters gathered in Leimert Plaza Park after George Zimmerman , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of black Florida teen Trayvon Martin .
They waved signs that read “ Honk for Trayvon , ” and others chanted , “ No justice , no peace.
” As they marched out of the plaza , one demonstrator tried to lead the crowd south down Crenshaw Boulevard .
Abdullah shouted into her bullhorn to head north toward neighborhoods that were whiter and wealthier .
“ That was a lesson from ’ 92 , ” she said .
“ People got it .
Everybody knew why we were going north .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” LAPD officers had formed a line at Martin Luther King Jr. and Crenshaw boulevards and tried to push the protesters back south .
To Abdullah , this confirmed the effectiveness of disrupting the status quo .
In the wake of Floyd ’ s death , other protests across the country seem to be following the same tactics .
Demonstrators have marched through retail strips in New York , Chicago and Atlanta in the name of Floyd , a black man who died as former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine minutes .
On Friday , Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder in connection with Floyd ’ s death .
Three other officers who stood by and at times also tried to restrain Floyd have not been charged .
Video of the encounter has been seen by millions and has become a rallying cry , like that of King , whose beating by police was captured on camera and sparked five days of rioting after the officers ’ acquittal .
Najee Ali said he can relate to the rage and frustration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now .
He was on the streets after the King verdicts were read .
He marched to Koreatown and joined others in destroying businesses , in what he described as revenge for the death of Latasha Harlins , a black teen who in 1991 was killed by a Korean shopkeeper over a bottle of orange juice .
Harlins ’ death , following closely after the beating of King , contributed to the unleashing of fury in South L.A. 's black communities .
“ I went with great pride and joy , ” Ali @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my neighborhood had been executed ... and [ the shopkeeper ] didn ’ t serve any jail time .
I had the mindset that by damaging their property , they were getting everything they deserved.
” They smashed windows and spray-painted buildings .
He said he watched as others set buildings on fire .
The 1992 riots saw looting and violence across the city , including the mid-Wilshire district , Hollywood and Long Beach .
But nowhere was hit as hard as South L.A. For years , it bore the stigma of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Developers largely avoided building in the area until recent years .
And some parcels of land still bear the scars .
On Vermont Avenue and Manchester Boulevard , an area the size of four football fields remains vacant 28 years later .
Looking back , Ali said those actions were some of the biggest regrets of his life .
This time , he flew to Minneapolis to take part in the peace marches there and to clean up after they devolved into destruction .
Earl Ofari Hutchinson lived through the 1965 Watts riots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the current protests look vastly different .
The earlier events were mostly black people protesting in the streets .
“ The current civil unrest looks like a little United Nations , with more whites and other ethnic groups involved in the protests , and even the looting and burning , than blacks , ” he said .
“ The new equation that ’ s there today but absent in 1965 and 1992 is that young whites are feeling the same rage and willing to speak out , protest , demonstrate and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that rage.
” On social media , residents in some communities where the protests have raged complain of the destruction , the sound of helicopters and sirens and the thick smoke that hangs in the air .
The scene in the Fairfax district left dozens of shops shattered , many of them small businesses .
Some merchants — already reeling from coronavirus closures — said they supported the movement but could not understand why they were targeted .
“ We ’ re barely getting over the virus , ” said Ricky Flores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looted .
“ It hurts so bad .
And then to deal with this ?
” Crews Monday painted over the words “ RIP GEORGE ” scribbled in black spray paint on the tower of the Farmers Market .
Glass was swept up , and buildings were boarded , awaiting repair .
Elise Levine said she co-owns a commercial property in Van Nuys that was damaged in Monday ’ s rash of protests .
She ’ s saddened that her tenants , many of them people of color , had goods stolen and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be replaced , she said .
But human life can not .
“ I see the systematic racism and the injustice that has been going on since the 1600s , ” she said .
Davidson-Carter , who protested police brutality in 1992 , said her Inglewood neighborhood has been quiet and she has to turn on the TV to see what is happening a few miles away .
The Inglewood Police Department has long faced allegations of harassing and harming black and Latino people .
Davidson-Carter plans to hold a protest at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent out fliers , the response surprised her : “ Why bring the chaos to our neighborhood ?
”

In 1992, the last time Angelenos’ rage over police brutality boiled into an uprising, large swaths of South Los Angeles burned to the ground.
Angry mobs took to the street. Some looted shops and torched buildings. Fights broke out in the middle of the chaos. More than 60 people were killed — by police, by other assailants or in accidents related to the unrest.
“It looked like a war zone,” recalled Inglewood resident Yolanda Davidson-Carter. “It was a real riot. People were so angry they couldn’t see straight.”
Advertisement
The violence that occurred after a jury acquitted four white officers in the beating of black motorist Rodney King took decades for South L.A. to recover from, and some say the area has never fully healed. Vacant lots still dot the landscape, a painful reminder.
But this time around, South L.A. has largely been spared, as protests have erupted across the city to condemn the killing by Minneapolis police of George Floyd.
Instead, demonstrators have descended on some of Los Angeles’ most upscale, iconic retail areas, including Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Hollywood and the Fairfax District. Looting has occurred in some of those locations, as some used the cover of what were largely peaceful protests to rob stores.
Organizers said this geography was deliberate.
“We want to go to places of white affluence so that the pain and outrage that we feel can be put right in their faces,” said Melina Abdullah, one of the leaders of Black Lives Matter.
The group wanted to bring its rage over the Floyd case and so many others to L.A.’s elites, in their own neighborhoods. Its officials said their goal was not to cause looting but to send a message. The impact of that decision became clear Saturday, when images of police cars on fire next to CBS Television City and looting at the Grove shopping mall were broadcast on live television.
Abdullah said this strategy of protesting in affluent communities was adopted early on.
The group was born on a night in July 2013, when protesters gathered in Leimert Plaza Park after George Zimmerman, a neighborhood-watch volunteer, was acquitted in the killing of black Florida teen Trayvon Martin. They waved signs that read “Honk for Trayvon,” and others chanted, “No justice, no peace.”
Advertisement
As they marched out of the plaza, one demonstrator tried to lead the crowd south down Crenshaw Boulevard. Abdullah shouted into her bullhorn to head north toward neighborhoods that were whiter and wealthier.
“That was a lesson from ’92,” she said. “People got it. Everybody knew why we were going north. It didn’t have to be explained.”
LAPD officers had formed a line at Martin Luther King Jr. and Crenshaw boulevards and tried to push the protesters back south. To Abdullah, this confirmed the effectiveness of disrupting the status quo.
VIDEO | 06:58 South is LA largely untouched by unrest, that is by design. Metro reporter Angel Jennings discusses the strategy behind BLM protests in wealthy areas with LA Times Today host Lisa McRee.
In the wake of Floyd’s death, other protests across the country seem to be following the same tactics. Demonstrators have marched through retail strips in New York, Chicago and Atlanta in the name of Floyd, a black man who died as former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.
On Friday, Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder in connection with Floyd’s death. Three other officers who stood by and at times also tried to restrain Floyd have not been charged.
Video of the encounter has been seen by millions and has become a rallying cry, like that of King, whose beating by police was captured on camera and sparked five days of rioting after the officers’ acquittal.
Najee Ali said he can relate to the rage and frustration of the protesters who are acting out now. He was on the streets after the King verdicts were read. He marched to Koreatown and joined others in destroying businesses, in what he described as revenge for the death of Latasha Harlins, a black teen who in 1991 was killed by a Korean shopkeeper over a bottle of orange juice.
Harlins’ death, following closely after the beating of King, contributed to the unleashing of fury in South L.A.’s black communities.
“I went with great pride and joy,” Ali said. “A young child in my neighborhood had been executed ... and [the shopkeeper] didn’t serve any jail time. I had the mindset that by damaging their property, they were getting everything they deserved.”
They smashed windows and spray-painted buildings. He said he watched as others set buildings on fire.
The 1992 riots saw looting and violence across the city, including the mid-Wilshire district, Hollywood and Long Beach. But nowhere was hit as hard as South L.A.
For years, it bore the stigma of the riots. Some businesses never returned. Developers largely avoided building in the area until recent years. And some parcels of land still bear the scars. On Vermont Avenue and Manchester Boulevard, an area the size of four football fields remains vacant 28 years later.
Looking back, Ali said those actions were some of the biggest regrets of his life. This time, he flew to Minneapolis to take part in the peace marches there and to clean up after they devolved into destruction.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson lived through the 1965 Watts riots and the 1992 civil unrest. He said the current protests look vastly different. The earlier events were mostly black people protesting in the streets.
“The current civil unrest looks like a little United Nations, with more whites and other ethnic groups involved in the protests, and even the looting and burning, than blacks,” he said. “The new equation that’s there today but absent in 1965 and 1992 is that young whites are feeling the same rage and willing to speak out, protest, demonstrate and, in some unfortunate cases, destroy out of that rage.”
On social media, residents in some communities where the protests have raged complain of the destruction, the sound of helicopters and sirens and the thick smoke that hangs in the air.
The scene in the Fairfax district left dozens of shops shattered, many of them small businesses. Some merchants — already reeling from coronavirus closures — said they supported the movement but could not understand why they were targeted.
“We’re barely getting over the virus,” said Ricky Flores, whose Melrose Avenue clothing store was looted.
“It hurts so bad. And then to deal with this?”
Crews Monday painted over the words “RIP GEORGE” scribbled in black spray paint on the tower of the Farmers Market. Glass was swept up, and buildings were boarded, awaiting repair.
Elise Levine said she co-owns a commercial property in Van Nuys that was damaged in Monday’s rash of protests. She’s saddened that her tenants, many of them people of color, had goods stolen and property damaged.
Still, the stuff can be replaced, she said. But human life cannot.
“I see the systematic racism and the injustice that has been going on since the 1600s,” she said.
Davidson-Carter, who protested police brutality in 1992, said her Inglewood neighborhood has been quiet and she has to turn on the TV to see what is happening a few miles away.
To her, that’s a problem.
The Inglewood Police Department has long faced allegations of harassing and harming black and Latino people.
Davidson-Carter plans to hold a protest at a nearby park. But when she sent out fliers, the response surprised her: “Why bring the chaos to our neighborhood?”


latimes--2020-06-03--Hype and science collide as FDA tries to rein in 'wild West' of COVID-19 blood tests

“ Save your business while saving lives , ” reads the website of Because Health , a Seattle tech start-up selling two types of tests to employers willing to pay $ 350 a pop to learn whether their workers have been infected with COVID-19 .
The company ’ s “ Workplace Health ” plan includes not only nasal swab tests to detect infection , but also blood tests aimed at determining whether workers have developed antibodies to the virus — and , possibly , future protection .
“ There ’ s a tremendous consumer demand , ” said Dr. Lars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical director .
“ Can they return to work ?
Can they return to life ?
” What the website does not make clear , however , is that public health officials have explicitly warned that antibody tests should not be used to make decisions about workplace staffing .
“ This is a personal choice of the business , of the consumer , ” Boman said .
Across the nation , untold numbers of employers , employees and others are turning to a slew of sometimes pricey new COVID-19 blood tests .
Knowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have important implications for understanding the spread of the disease , scientists say .
But serious questions about the accuracy of some of the serology ( i.e.
, blood ) tests — and the usefulness of the results they provide — have prompted the federal Food and Drug Administration to try to rein in what several infectious disease experts described as “ the wild , wild West ” of antibody testing .
“ It does look as if companies sprang up overnight both importing these tests and distributing them , ” said Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vitalant Research Institute in San Francisco .
“ It ’ s outrageous that people were trying to make money off of this fear.
” More than 200 different tests have flooded the market in a matter of weeks , promising to detect antibodies , which are proteins that develop in the blood as part of the body ’ s immune response to an invading virus .
These are different from the molecular tests , typically done with nasal swabs , used to diagnose infection .
As of June 1 , only 15 antibody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” which allow tests that haven ’ t been fully vetted to be used in a crisis .
That standard has become a selling point for some large companies , such as LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics , which emphasize that they rely on tests that have received the FDA nod .
In late May , the FDA removed more than 30 serology tests from a list of commercially available kits , saying they “ should not be distributed ” for sale .
Removal could result from a manufacturer not submitting an emergency-use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time , ” or if the test shows “ significant problems ” that can not or have not been addressed in a timely manner , the agency said .
The manner of enforcement remains unclear .
Last month , the CDC issued new guidelines warning that , given the low prevalence of the virus in the general population , even the most accurate tests could be wrong half of the time .
“ Serologic test results should not be used to make decisions about grouping persons residing in or being admitted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dormitories , or correctional facilities , ” the guidelines state .
“ Serologic test results should not be used to make decisions about returning persons to the workplace.
” Such tests are most useful for understanding the epidemiology of the virus , not for making individual decisions , said Dr. Mary Hayden , director of the division of clinical microbiology at Rush Medical Laboratories in Chicago .
Even the best tests can ’ t yet answer the crucial question about whether antibodies confer immunity from future COVID infections , Hayden said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get infected and they have protective immunity for a long time , ” she said .
“ That would be awesome .
But we just don ’ t have [ evidence of ] that right now.
” But a plethora of tests being pitched to consumers explicitly promise results aimed at allowing a return to work , school and other social arenas .
The tests offered by Because Health are among hundreds churned out since March from a variety of commercial labs , academic research centers and small developers seeking a toehold in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Because Health is using two antibody tests in tandem , one of which received emergency-use authorization on May 29 ; that authorization for the other is still pending .
Anders Boman , the son of the medical director and co-founder of Because Health , said that until the COVID-19 crisis occurred , the company that launched in Seattle last year was focused on “ a niche of integrative care and sexual health , ” including hormone treatments for men and women .
“ Consumers are not concerned about sexual health right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the change in focus .
“ They ’ re concerned about how to get back to work , how to return to normal and are they safe ?
” The FDA normally follows a stringent approval process for tests to detect diseases , often a costly effort that can take months or years .
That typically requires independent validation of the accuracy of the tests .
But after being criticized for the fumbled rollout of diagnostic tests during the start of the current pandemic , the FDA swung hard in the other direction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firms rush self-validated tests onto the market .
“ They sort of relaxed all regulatory oversight , ” Hayden said .
Several experts interviewed by Kaiser Health News said the FDA faced tremendous political pressure to make antibody tests available .
“ It was really a single pressure — and that was the fact that the original inability to get a [ diagnostic ] test on the market in the U.S. as the outbreak escalated means they were trying to do basically everything they could to get these out , ” said Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota .
The relaxed rules drew concern from Congress , where a subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform detailed the FDA ’ s failure to “ police the test market.
” Groups such as the Assn .
of Public Health Laboratories also raised questions .
Scott Becker , the APHL ’ s chief executive , said he spoke to top officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in early April .
“ We just let loose and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad policy , ’ ” Becker said .
“ ‘ We ’ re going to get flooded and we ’ re going to lose control of quality .
We ’ re not going to know what to do with the results.
’ ” That ’ s exactly what has happened , said Osterholm .
“ The FDA needs to bring much more discipline to this area and they need to articulate it clearly , ” he said .
A key issue is the accuracy of the tests , which rely on measures known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sensitive test will capture all true positive results .
A highly specific test would identify all true negative results .
In April , researchers at UC San Francisco , led by immunologist Dr. Alexander Marson , analyzed 14 COVID-19 serology tests on the market and found that all but one turned up false-positive results , indicating that someone had antibodies to the coronavirus when they actually did not .
False-positive rates reached as high as 16 % in the study , which has not yet been peer-reviewed .
Unreliable results worry Dr. Jeff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seattle and King County , where the first surge of COVID-19 cases emerged in the U.S. A person who tests positive for antibodies that don ’ t exist may mistakenly believe he or she is free to ignore guidance about preventing infection , potentially spreading the disease .
“ Regardless of whether you test positive or negative , the workplace still needs to take steps , ” he said .
“ They shouldn ’ t think a testing program in any way relieves them of that responsibility.
” FDA officials said they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute to independently validate serology tests on the market .
Until that list is public , users must rely on the relatively few that have received the emergency-use authorizations to date .
More than 190 others have asked for that authorization , pending FDA review .
But consumers may have little control , because they are most likely getting tests from their employers or doctors , with little understanding of why those products were chosen .
“ There isn ’ t a national standard , there isn ’ t a one-stop shop or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Becker said .
“ I don ’ t expect a member of the public is going to be able to figure this out.
” Even savvy physicians can have trouble .
US Acute Care Solutions ( USACS ) , a physician-owned medical services group , was trying out a Chinese-made test supplied by Minneapolis-based Premier Biotech , with plans to test its staff of more than 3,500 doctors and employees , said the group ’ s chief medical officer , Dr. Amer Aldeen .
That test has been widely used , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stanford University and USC .
When USACS used it , the Premier test failed to detect antibodies in several employees who had been ill and tested positive for the coronavirus on diagnostic tests , Aldeen said .
The false-negative results could have been caused by faulty instructions rather than flaws in the test itself , he said .
Still , the Premier test has not received FDA authorization and the results gave him pause .
“ It does no good to select a test that isn ’ t FDA-approved , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said they anticipated exceeding FDA standards , which call for tests that are at least 90 % accurate in identifying positive antibodies in a sample and 95 % accurate in identifying samples that contain no antibody .
Some might ask why the FDA didn ’ t just identify several reliable antibody tests and require their use to avoid the chaos ?
An FDA official said that making that type of choice would be outside the scope of the agency ’ s responsibilities .
“ FDA ’ s lane is to review these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe and accurate for the American people , ” said agency representative Emma Spaulding .
“ It wouldn ’ t be within our lane to say which test must be used.
” Although health officials understand the desire for a definitive test , Duchin advised employers and consumers to wait a little longer .
“ There are costs to testing with unvalidated tests that might outweigh the benefits of satisfying your curiosity , ” he said .
Aleccia and Barry-Jester write for Kaiser Health News , a nonprofit news service covering health issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Kaiser Family Foundation that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

“Save your business while saving lives,” reads the website of Because Health, a Seattle tech start-up selling two types of tests to employers willing to pay $350 a pop to learn whether their workers have been infected with COVID-19.
The company’s “Workplace Health” plan includes not only nasal swab tests to detect infection, but also blood tests aimed at determining whether workers have developed antibodies to the virus — and, possibly, future protection.
“There’s a tremendous consumer demand,” said Dr. Lars Boman, the firm’s Boston-based medical director. “Can they return to work? Can they return to life?”
Advertisement
What the website does not make clear, however, is that public health officials have explicitly warned that antibody tests should not be used to make decisions about workplace staffing.
“This is a personal choice of the business, of the consumer,” Boman said.
Across the nation, untold numbers of employers, employees and others are turning to a slew of sometimes pricey new COVID-19 blood tests. Knowing who’s already been infected could have important implications for understanding the spread of the disease, scientists say. But serious questions about the accuracy of some of the serology (i.e., blood) tests — and the usefulness of the results they provide — have prompted the federal Food and Drug Administration to try to rein in what several infectious disease experts described as “the wild, wild West” of antibody testing.
“It does look as if companies sprang up overnight both importing these tests and distributing them,” said Dr. Michael Busch, director of the nonprofit Vitalant Research Institute in San Francisco. “It’s outrageous that people were trying to make money off of this fear.”
More than 200 different tests have flooded the market in a matter of weeks, promising to detect antibodies, which are proteins that develop in the blood as part of the body’s immune response to an invading virus. These are different from the molecular tests, typically done with nasal swabs, used to diagnose infection.
As of June 1, only 15 antibody tests had received FDA “emergency-use authorizations,” which allow tests that haven’t been fully vetted to be used in a crisis. That standard has become a selling point for some large companies, such as LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, which emphasize that they rely on tests that have received the FDA nod.
Advertisement
In late May, the FDA removed more than 30 serology tests from a list of commercially available kits, saying they “should not be distributed” for sale. Removal could result from a manufacturer not submitting an emergency-use authorization request within a “reasonable period of time,” or if the test shows “significant problems” that cannot or have not been addressed in a timely manner, the agency said. The manner of enforcement remains unclear.
Last month, the CDC issued new guidelines warning that, given the low prevalence of the virus in the general population, even the most accurate tests could be wrong half of the time.
“Serologic test results should not be used to make decisions about grouping persons residing in or being admitted to congregate settings, such as schools, dormitories, or correctional facilities,” the guidelines state. “Serologic test results should not be used to make decisions about returning persons to the workplace.”
Such tests are most useful for understanding the epidemiology of the virus, not for making individual decisions, said Dr. Mary Hayden, director of the division of clinical microbiology at Rush Medical Laboratories in Chicago. Even the best tests can’t yet answer the crucial question about whether antibodies confer immunity from future COVID infections, Hayden said.
“The best possible scenario is that people get infected and they have protective immunity for a long time,” she said. “That would be awesome. But we just don’t have [evidence of] that right now.”
But a plethora of tests being pitched to consumers explicitly promise results aimed at allowing a return to work, school and other social arenas.
The tests offered by Because Health are among hundreds churned out since March from a variety of commercial labs, academic research centers and small developers seeking a toehold in the lucrative market spurred by the global pandemic. Because Health is using two antibody tests in tandem, one of which received emergency-use authorization on May 29; that authorization for the other is still pending.
Anders Boman, the son of the medical director and co-founder of Because Health, said that until the COVID-19 crisis occurred, the company that launched in Seattle last year was focused on “a niche of integrative care and sexual health,” including hormone treatments for men and women.
“Consumers are not concerned about sexual health right now,” Boman said, explaining the change in focus. “They’re concerned about how to get back to work, how to return to normal and are they safe?”
The FDA normally follows a stringent approval process for tests to detect diseases, often a costly effort that can take months or years. That typically requires independent validation of the accuracy of the tests. But after being criticized for the fumbled rollout of diagnostic tests during the start of the current pandemic, the FDA swung hard in the other direction, waiving its usual requirements and letting firms rush self-validated tests onto the market.
“They sort of relaxed all regulatory oversight,” Hayden said.
Several experts interviewed by Kaiser Health News said the FDA faced tremendous political pressure to make antibody tests available.
“It was really a single pressure — and that was the fact that the original inability to get a [diagnostic] test on the market in the U.S. as the outbreak escalated means they were trying to do basically everything they could to get these out,” said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
The relaxed rules drew concern from Congress, where a subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform detailed the FDA’s failure to “police the test market.” Groups such as the Assn. of Public Health Laboratories also raised questions. Scott Becker, the APHL’s chief executive, said he spoke to top officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in early April.
“We just let loose and we said, ‘This is a really bad policy,’” Becker said. “‘We’re going to get flooded and we’re going to lose control of quality. We’re not going to know what to do with the results.’”
That’s exactly what has happened, said Osterholm. “The FDA needs to bring much more discipline to this area and they need to articulate it clearly,” he said.
A key issue is the accuracy of the tests, which rely on measures known as sensitivity and specificity. A highly sensitive test will capture all true positive results. A highly specific test would identify all true negative results.
In April, researchers at UC San Francisco, led by immunologist Dr. Alexander Marson, analyzed 14 COVID-19 serology tests on the market and found that all but one turned up false-positive results, indicating that someone had antibodies to the coronavirus when they actually did not. False-positive rates reached as high as 16% in the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed.
Unreliable results worry Dr. Jeff Duchin, the public health officer for Seattle and King County, where the first surge of COVID-19 cases emerged in the U.S. A person who tests positive for antibodies that don’t exist may mistakenly believe he or she is free to ignore guidance about preventing infection, potentially spreading the disease. “Regardless of whether you test positive or negative, the workplace still needs to take steps,” he said. “They shouldn’t think a testing program in any way relieves them of that responsibility.”
FDA officials said they’re working now with the National Cancer Institute to independently validate serology tests on the market. Until that list is public, users must rely on the relatively few that have received the emergency-use authorizations to date. More than 190 others have asked for that authorization, pending FDA review.
But consumers may have little control, because they are most likely getting tests from their employers or doctors, with little understanding of why those products were chosen.
“There isn’t a national standard, there isn’t a one-stop shop or a Consumer Reports for antibody tests,” Becker said. “I don’t expect a member of the public is going to be able to figure this out.”
Even savvy physicians can have trouble. US Acute Care Solutions (USACS), a physician-owned medical services group, was trying out a Chinese-made test supplied by Minneapolis-based Premier Biotech, with plans to test its staff of more than 3,500 doctors and employees, said the group’s chief medical officer, Dr. Amer Aldeen. That test has been widely used, including in recent controversial serology surveys conducted by Stanford University and USC.
When USACS used it, the Premier test failed to detect antibodies in several employees who had been ill and tested positive for the coronavirus on diagnostic tests, Aldeen said. The false-negative results could have been caused by faulty instructions rather than flaws in the test itself, he said. Still, the Premier test has not received FDA authorization and the results gave him pause.
“It does no good to select a test that isn’t FDA-approved,” he said.
In a statement, Premier Biotech officials said they anticipated exceeding FDA standards, which call for tests that are at least 90% accurate in identifying positive antibodies in a sample and 95% accurate in identifying samples that contain no antibody.
Some might ask why the FDA didn’t just identify several reliable antibody tests and require their use to avoid the chaos? An FDA official said that making that type of choice would be outside the scope of the agency’s responsibilities.
“FDA’s lane is to review these tests and make sure that they are safe and accurate for the American people,” said agency representative Emma Spaulding. “It wouldn’t be within our lane to say which test must be used.”
Although health officials understand the desire for a definitive test, Duchin advised employers and consumers to wait a little longer.
“There are costs to testing with unvalidated tests that might outweigh the benefits of satisfying your curiosity,” he said.
Aleccia and Barry-Jester write for Kaiser Health News, a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.


latimes--2020-06-03--LAPD tactics get more aggressive as arrests soar

After days of looting and vandalism and a barrage of criticism for failing to stop it , Los Angeles police have significantly increased their presence in affected neighborhoods and deployed more aggressive tactics to arrest those responsible for burglarizing businesses .
Police also have enforced overnight curfews to sweep streets clear in startling , militaristic shows of force , at times without any apparent effort to distinguish between passive bystanders and those engaged in crime .
“ When violence escalates , including assaults on officers , arson , widespread looting ... the department needs to resort to a stronger message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the civilian Police Commission on Tuesday .
“ We are not going to stand for looting , ” said Asst .
Chief Robert Arcos , in a separate interview .
“ We are doing all we can to make arrests immediately.
” The shift in strategy , as witnessed by those who have broken curfews in recent nights , contrasts with what was seen earlier in the weekend , when officers allowed looting downtown and in the Fairfax area to go unchecked for hours as they squared off with protesters .
The new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with officers in riot gear chasing down looters with their arms full of merchandise as protesters and neighborhood residents rushed to avoid the fray .
But only time will tell whether the crackdown reduces the amount of looting .
One thing is clear : It ’ s contributed to an ongoing surge in nightly arrests .
Since Friday , nearly 3,000 people in Southern California have found themselves in handcuffs amid the protests of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the use of excessive force by police against black people across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrests have taken place in Los Angeles , where authorities took about 2,500 people into custody between Friday and Tuesday morning after a mix of peaceful protests and property destruction in downtown , the Fairfax District , Van Nuys and Hollywood .
Given the department had confirmed upwards of 1,600 arrests had taken place over the weekend , that suggested more than 800 people were arrested Monday night , the most yet for a single night of unrest .
Santa Monica and Long Beach police arrested an additional 475 people during largely peaceful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday .
Booking records reviewed by The Times show the vast majority of those arrested in Los Angeles County for looting , vandalism and burglary offenses are from here , seeming to refute perceptions of “ outside agitators ” coming in to fuel unrest .
Police leaders say their more aggressive tactics in recent nights were made possible by the National Guard ’ s presence and the LAPD ’ s decision to mobilize its entire force , giving them more manpower .
They also say the shift has prevented what would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger posed to surrounding residents and business owners .
The get-tough tactics have been demanded by many residents and merchants , who said they were shocked at watching unchecked looting both in person and on live television without police anywhere in sight .
Anastasia Azaryan , 39 , on Tuesday was painting the words “ we are open ” along with her family restaurant ’ s phone number in big lilac letters on the wooden boards covering the front of Kebab and Pizza Time in Van Nuys .
Her business was looted Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peacefully .
Some people had come to her asking if they could have drinks .
“ Are you a protester ?
” She asked .
When they said yes , she allowed them to take free drinks from her fridge .
But then , the situation became more aggressive .
A group took almost her entire inventory .
Others then shoved and smashed tables and chairs .
She delivered five boxes of her hamburgers to police officers in Van Nuys and North Hollywood and returned to the restaurant to paint her sign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ We are all proud of them.
” Protesters , however , have alleged widespread abuses and wrongful detentions .
Kath Rogers , executive director of the National Lawyers Guild in L.A. , said her office had received 110 requests for legal assistance from people arrested since Friday , with many claiming police were unprepared to process the number of people they were putting in handcuffs for violations of dispersal and curfew orders .
People complained of being held in “ flex cuffs ” or left on buses for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , only to be cited and released for minor violations , Rogers said .
Some said they had not heard a dispersal order or were unaware of curfews that had been hastily announced late in the day .
“ One arrestee told us they were thrown to the ground and kicked in the head .
Many said they were hit by rubber bullets , ” Rogers said .
“ Some people have specified that despite no violence or instigation by the protesters … .
they were struck by batons.
” In one incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went viral online , a person walking down Hollywood Boulevard filming looters late Monday was suddenly confronted by armed officers with their guns drawn .
“ Get on the ground !
” the officers screamed .
“ I ’ m sorry , I swear .
I swear I didn ’ t do anything , ” said the person filming .
“ Shut the f -- - up , ” screamed an officer .
“ Don ’ t f -- -ing move … Hands behind your back !
” “ I swear I didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ m not … I ’ m just letting you know because I ’ m scared , ” said the person filming , dropping to the ground at gunpoint .
On the officer ’ s radio came the voice of a commander : “ Units on Hollywood Boulevard , you should not be driving past anyone .
Stop where you are and take someone into custody.
” The person , streaming again from home later , said they were eventually given a citation .
Attorneys , legal observers and some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend decried the tactics of responding officers , who they say seemed more focused on rounding up peaceful protesters than disrupting those looting or damaging buildings .
Steve Doaty , 22 , said he traveled from Woodland Hills to Santa Monica to take part in peaceful demonstrations on Sunday .
But he and a group of about 30 demonstrators said they found themselves surrounded by police at 6th Street & Colorado Avenue , where Doaty says there were looters damaging property nearby .
“ I pointed at the rioting and I pointed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hey , what are you gon na do about this ?
’ And they said nothing , ” Doaty said of the officers .
Doaty said he never heard a dispersal order and was unaware of the county ’ s hastily ordered 6 p.m. curfew .
Doaty says he was arrested for a curfew violation , but never read his Miranda rights .
He was placed on a bus and taken to the Santa Monica airport , where he said he was held for almost three hours before being released .
The police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keys , but a police officer told Doaty he would have to pick them up at Santa Monica police headquarters the next day .
Santa Monica police did not respond to repeated calls and emails seeking comment .
Police officials across the region have released only general information about who was arrested , and why .
The Times has requested specific information about arrests from each city where looting and protests have occurred , and received only a partial response from the LAPD .
Long Beach officials promised to provide information “ shortly.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to The Times shows 575 people have been arrested between Friday and Tuesday on suspicion of crimes likely related to violence during the protests — including looting , robbery , vandalism , burglary and attacking police .
The records do not provide figures for people arrested on curfew violations or for failing to disperse , meaning those arrestees were cited and released by police on the same day .
In addition to crimes like looting , Moore said the department will investigate every complaint of police misconduct .
Already , internal affairs officers @ @ @ @ @ @

James Queally, Kevin Rector, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, Richard Winton

LAPD officer Decote watches for people tossing debris from tall buildings as dozens of protesters are arrested for curfew violations on Broadway on Tuesday.
After days of looting and vandalism and a barrage of criticism for failing to stop it, Los Angeles police have significantly increased their presence in affected neighborhoods and deployed more aggressive tactics to arrest those responsible for burglarizing businesses.
Police also have enforced overnight curfews to sweep streets clear in startling, militaristic shows of force, at times without any apparent effort to distinguish between passive bystanders and those engaged in crime.
“When violence escalates, including assaults on officers, arson, widespread looting ... the department needs to resort to a stronger message,” LAPD Chief Michel Moore told the civilian Police Commission on Tuesday.
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“We are not going to stand for looting,” said Asst. Chief Robert Arcos, in a separate interview. “We are doing all we can to make arrests immediately.”
The shift in strategy, as witnessed by those who have broken curfews in recent nights, contrasts with what was seen earlier in the weekend, when officers allowed looting downtown and in the Fairfax area to go unchecked for hours as they squared off with protesters.
The new approach has been hard to miss, with officers in riot gear chasing down looters with their arms full of merchandise as protesters and neighborhood residents rushed to avoid the fray. But only time will tell whether the crackdown reduces the amount of looting.
1 / 82 A protester dances on top of Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during a demonstration by members of Refuse Fascism who are calling an end to the Trump administration on June 20, 2020. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 82 Deborah Jay Winams cries after singing a song at a Black Lives Matter Los Angeles rally to call for justice in the fatal shooting of Kenneth Ross Jr. by Gardena police in 2018. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 3 / 82 People participate in the All Black Lives Matter march in West Hollywood on Sunday, June 14. Thousands of demonstrators marched for racial justice and LGBTQ rights. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 82 A protester waves a rainbow flag on Sunset Boulevard during the All Black Lives Matter march on Sunday. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 82 Thousands hold up signs and march in the All Black Lives Matter solidarity protest on Hollywood Boulevard. The procession started at Hollywood and Highland and moved into West Hollywood. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 82 Jason De Puy of West Hollywood wears a mask that reads “Black Trans Lives Matter” as people fill Hollywood Boulevard during a solidarity march called All Black Lives Matter on Sunday, June 14. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 82 Protesters hold up signs at the All Black Lives Matter march, which was organized by Black LGBTQ leaders and organizations in place of a previously planned event by the group behind LA Pride. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 82 Protesters march, raising fists and signs in the air, on La Brea Avenue in Hollywood on Sunday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 82 The Compton Cowboys ride horseback down South Tamarind Avenue, joining thousand of protesters Sunday during the Compton peace ride, which ended at City Hall. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 10 / 82 Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook speaks to the crowd of protesters and the Compton Cowboys at the end of a peace walk at Compton City Hall on Sunday. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 82 Elijah Estrada, 6, holds up his fist for 8:46, the length of time George Floyd was held down by Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, at the conclusion of a peace ride and walk with the Compton Cowboys at Compton City Hall on Sunday. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 12 / 82 A family member of Breonna Taylor, right, is hugged by another woman after speaking to protesters in Beverly Hills Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 13 / 82 A woman tries to get between Black Lives Matter protesters and pro-Trump counter protesters during a demonstration at the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 14 / 82 Los Angeles Police Deputy Chief Regina Scott takes knee next to Johnathan Jasper, brother of slain teen Anthony Weber, during a rally in front of LA City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson’s office Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 15 / 82 A protester yells in front of a Black Lives Matter mural with the names of victims on Fairfax Ave. during a march Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 16 / 82 David Blackgold hugs Huntington Beach police officer K. Wood during a Black Lives Matter protest in Huntington Beach Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 17 / 82 A National Guardsman holds a rose given to him by a protester along Fairfax Ave. during a march Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 18 / 82 A Black Lives Matter protester blows bubbles by a police line in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 19 / 82 A protester lies on the ground under his horse with his hands behind his back as demonstrators including some on horseback rally in front of LA City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson’s office in Los Angeles Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 20 / 82 Tempers flare between Black Lives Matter demonstratiors and pro-Trump counterprotesters in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 21 / 82 Black Lives Matter demonstrators raise clenched fist in Huntington Beach on Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 22 / 82 Mek Bitul held up a sign with the words, “This Is The Tipping Point!!!” in front of City Hall, joining nearly 1,000 people gathered to protest the death of George Floyd and in support of Black Lives Matter, in downtown Los Angeles. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 23 / 82 Katyana DeCampos, a citizen of France visiting California, marched with a sign with the words “Anti Racism,” joining nearly 1,000 people gathered to protest the death of George Floyd and in support of Black Lives Matter, in downtown Los Angeles. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 24 / 82 Zoe Perkins, 4, of Glendale and her mother brought flowers to the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles to protest the death of George Floyd. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 82 LAPD Chief Michel Moore, left, talks with community leaders outside police headquarters after a candlelight vigil for George Floyd on Friday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 82 A man lays a rose at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 82 Braydon Deauce White, 4, fist-bumps a National Guardsman at LAPD headquarters Thursday morning. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 82 Allison Bracy of Fontana hugs daughter Brielle Bracy, 10, while attending a rally in Riverside on Thursday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 82 A protester drapes himself with a flag during a demonstration in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 82 Gustavo R. Ramirez of Pomona kneels in front of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. statue in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 82 Protesters at Moonlight State Beach in Encinitas. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 82 Crowds gather in downtown L.A. to protest the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. At 9 p.m., for exactly 8 minutes and 46 seconds, protesters shone lights into the sky. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 82 Protesters dance on Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles as a march attracted thousands of people. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 82 Thousands of protesters gather at the Los Angeles Civic Center. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 82 Thousands of protesters gather at the Los Angeles Civic Center. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 82 Thousands of protesters gather at the Los Angeles Civic Center. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 37 / 82 Stephen Chang, 32, left, of Silver Lake, with an American flag draped over his head, joins other demonstrators at the intersection of Spring and Temple streets in downtown Los Angeles, as they protest against L.A. Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey and also demand justice in the death of George Floyd. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times) 38 / 82 Miles Miles, 8, left, and Memphis Miley, 6, center, of Newport Beach, join protest against racism in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 39 / 82 Protester Vailing high-fives National Guardsmen as they march through Hollywood to demand justice for the killing of George Floyd in Hollywood. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) 40 / 82 Protesters march through a residential neighborhood in Hollywood. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) 41 / 82 Protesters walk through a residential neighborhood in Hollywood. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) 42 / 82 A L.A. Sheriff’s deputy watches as protester Annik Chung holds a sign while cheering on marchers along La Brea Ave. in Hollywood. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) 43 / 82 Mustafa-Ali, 27, from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, joins other demonstrators as they protest on Spring St. in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times) 44 / 82 Paul Villalobos, 28, from Oakland, joins other demonstrators as they protest on Spring St. in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times) 45 / 82 A huge crowd gathers in downtown Los Angeles to protest the death of George Floyd and in support of Black Lives Matter. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 46 / 82 Protestors march through downtown Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 47 / 82 Protestors march through downtown Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 48 / 82 Protestors march through downtown Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 49 / 82 Riverside County Sheriff Lt Chris Durham tries to calm nerves after hundreds of demonstrators that marched to the police station protest the death of George Floyd in Moreno Valley. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 50 / 82 In a sign of peace, protesters reach out to Riverside County Sheriff deputies, who were there to enforce an 8pm curfew during a demonstration to protest the death of George Floyd’s in Moreno Valley. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) 51 / 82 Hundreds of demonstrators block traffic as they march down both sides of Balboa Blvd. to protest against racism in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 52 / 82 Protesters march through West Hollywood to demand justice for the killing of George Floyd during march on Wednesday. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) 53 / 82 Protesters march through West Hollywood to demand justice for the killing of George Floyd during march on Wednesday. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) 54 / 82 Protestors rally on the steps Anaheim City Hall steps against last week’s in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 55 / 82 Protestors rally on the steps Anaheim City Hall steps against last week’s in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 56 / 82 Protestors rally on the steps Anaheim City Hall steps against last week’s in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 57 / 82 Protestors rally on the steps Anaheim City Hall steps against last week’s in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times) 58 / 82 Bando Kev prays along Hollywood Blvd. in front of the National Guard and near TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 59 / 82 A couple promote peace on Highland Ave. in Hollywood as protesters continue to demonstrate. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 60 / 82 Makenzie Anderson, 2, rides on her father, Shawn’s shoulders as they join hundreds of protesters marching throughout downtown. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) 61 / 82 Marcus Owen, yells out chants for George Floyd as hundreds of protesters gather outside City Hall in a daylong protest. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) 62 / 82 Hussain Sharif, left, Mari Drake, and Thomas Rosado chant as they ride along with hundreds of protesters at a downtown demonstration. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) 63 / 82 Hundreds of protesters march throughout downtown ending with many arrested for curfew violations. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) 64 / 82 “Hands up. Don’t shoot,” say hundreds participating in a march against the of George Floyd on Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice onTuesday. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 65 / 82 Members of the California National Guard flash peace signs after protesters had marched by in support of Black Lives Matter in Venice. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 66 / 82 Protesters shoot hoops while taking a break from marching against the death of George Floyd by police on Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice on Tuesday. The basketball hoop was attached to the front of a bus that followed the protest for a while. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 67 / 82 Several hundred protesters take a knee and hold their fists in the air during a moment of silence to honor George Floyd during a peaceful protest march from Manhattan Beach to Hermosa Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 68 / 82 A woman stands next to an image of George Floyd as hundreds participate in a march against the in-custody death of Floyd in Venice. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 69 / 82 Terrence Burney, 36, left, and Commander of the LAPD Operation West Bureau Cory Palka, right, talk together peacefully in front of Getty House in Hancock Park. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times) 70 / 82 Protestors gather outside Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Hancock Park house as they continue to demonstrate against police brutality. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times) 71 / 82 Jessica Jordan takes a knee as she joins other protesters at Sunset & Vine in Hollywood on Tuesday. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) 72 / 82 A young woman reacts to a group chant, while gathered with a couple hundred people to protest the death of George Floyd and in support of Black Lives Matter, near the Manhattan Beach Pier. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 73 / 82 Jayse Garcia, 27, of Los Angeles takes part in a demonstration in Hollywood. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times) 74 / 82 Protesters sit in front of National Guardsmen closing Sunset Blvd at Vine Street in Hollywood. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) 75 / 82 Mira Ercingoz,16, from Palos Verdes, center in red hat, holds a poster with an image of George Floyd alongside protesters in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 76 / 82 Demonstrators take a knee during protests in Hollywood on Tuesday.
(Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times) 77 / 82 A mother and daughter pass protestors in Hollywood. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) 78 / 82 Several hundred protesters gather to demand justice for George Floyd at the Manhattan Beach Pier Plaza Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) 79 / 82 Janie Hill,15, from Lawndale, receives a hug from a friend, following an emotional discussion with a Manhattan Beach Police officer, at the conclusion of a protest in Manhattan Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times) 80 / 82 LAPD Cmdr. Gerald Woodyard takes a knee with clergy members from the Los Angeles area as they participate in a march and demonstration outside LAPD headquarters in Los Angeles. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 81 / 82 L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti walks out to address protesters and clergy members outside LAPD headquarters on Tuesday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 82 / 82 Several hundred protesters take a knee and hold their fists in the air during a moment of silence to honor George Floyd during a peaceful protest march from Manhattan Beach to Hermosa Beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
One thing is clear: It’s contributed to an ongoing surge in nightly arrests.
Since Friday, nearly 3,000 people in Southern California have found themselves in handcuffs amid the protests of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the use of excessive force by police against black people across the country.
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The bulk of those arrests have taken place in Los Angeles, where authorities took about 2,500 people into custody between Friday and Tuesday morning after a mix of peaceful protests and property destruction in downtown, the Fairfax District, Van Nuys and Hollywood.
Given the department had confirmed upwards of 1,600 arrests had taken place over the weekend, that suggested more than 800 people were arrested Monday night, the most yet for a single night of unrest.
Santa Monica and Long Beach police arrested an additional 475 people during largely peaceful protests that were also overshadowed by looting on Sunday.
Booking records reviewed by The Times show the vast majority of those arrested in Los Angeles County for looting, vandalism and burglary offenses are from here, seeming to refute perceptions of “outside agitators” coming in to fuel unrest.
Police leaders say their more aggressive tactics in recent nights were made possible by the National Guard’s presence and the LAPD’s decision to mobilize its entire force, giving them more manpower. They also say the shift has prevented what would have been much wider damage and reduced the danger posed to surrounding residents and business owners.
The get-tough tactics have been demanded by many residents and merchants, who said they were shocked at watching unchecked looting both in person and on live television without police anywhere in sight.
Anastasia Azaryan, 39, on Tuesday was painting the words “we are open” along with her family restaurant’s phone number in big lilac letters on the wooden boards covering the front of Kebab and Pizza Time in Van Nuys.
Her business was looted Monday. She said a protest nearby started peacefully. Some people had come to her asking if they could have drinks.
“Are you a protester?” She asked. When they said yes, she allowed them to take free drinks from her fridge.
But then, the situation became more aggressive. A group took almost her entire inventory. Others then shoved and smashed tables and chairs.
She delivered five boxes of her hamburgers to police officers in Van Nuys and North Hollywood and returned to the restaurant to paint her sign.
“The police did excellent job,” she said. “We are all proud of them.”
Protesters, however, have alleged widespread abuses and wrongful detentions.
Kath Rogers, executive director of the National Lawyers Guild in L.A., said her office had received 110 requests for legal assistance from people arrested since Friday, with many claiming police were unprepared to process the number of people they were putting in handcuffs for violations of dispersal and curfew orders.
People complained of being held in “flex cuffs” or left on buses for up to six hours at a time, only to be cited and released for minor violations, Rogers said. Some said they had not heard a dispersal order or were unaware of curfews that had been hastily announced late in the day.
“One arrestee told us they were thrown to the ground and kicked in the head. Many said they were hit by rubber bullets,” Rogers said. “Some people have specified that despite no violence or instigation by the protesters …. they were struck by batons.”
In one incident that was aired live on Instagram and went viral online, a person walking down Hollywood Boulevard filming looters late Monday was suddenly confronted by armed officers with their guns drawn.
“Get on the ground!” the officers screamed.
“I’m sorry, I swear. I swear I didn’t do anything,” said the person filming.
“Shut the f--- up,” screamed an officer. “Don’t f---ing move … Hands behind your back!”
“I swear I didn’t do anything. I swear. I’m not … I’m just letting you know because I’m scared,” said the person filming, dropping to the ground at gunpoint.
On the officer’s radio came the voice of a commander: “Units on Hollywood Boulevard, you should not be driving past anyone. Stop where you are and take someone into custody.”
The person, streaming again from home later, said they were eventually given a citation.
Attorneys, legal observers and some of those arrested in Santa Monica over the weekend decried the tactics of responding officers, who they say seemed more focused on rounding up peaceful protesters than disrupting those looting or damaging buildings.
Steve Doaty, 22, said he traveled from Woodland Hills to Santa Monica to take part in peaceful demonstrations on Sunday. But he and a group of about 30 demonstrators said they found themselves surrounded by police at 6th Street & Colorado Avenue, where Doaty says there were looters damaging property nearby.
“I pointed at the rioting and I pointed at the looting and I said, ‘Hey, what are you gonna do about this?’ And they said nothing,” Doaty said of the officers.
Doaty said he never heard a dispersal order and was unaware of the county’s hastily ordered 6 p.m. curfew. Doaty says he was arrested for a curfew violation, but never read his Miranda rights. He was placed on a bus and taken to the Santa Monica airport, where he said he was held for almost three hours before being released. The police had taken his wallet, phone and keys, but a police officer told Doaty he would have to pick them up at Santa Monica police headquarters the next day.
Santa Monica police did not respond to repeated calls and emails seeking comment.
Police officials across the region have released only general information about who was arrested, and why. The Times has requested specific information about arrests from each city where looting and protests have occurred, and received only a partial response from the LAPD. Long Beach officials promised to provide information “shortly.”
A review of booking records available to The Times shows 575 people have been arrested between Friday and Tuesday on suspicion of crimes likely related to violence during the protests — including looting, robbery, vandalism, burglary and attacking police.
The records do not provide figures for people arrested on curfew violations or for failing to disperse, meaning those arrestees were cited and released by police on the same day.
In addition to crimes like looting, Moore said the department will investigate every complaint of police misconduct. Already, internal affairs officers are working around the clock.