On June 23, over 500 people pushed back a small group of 40 anti-immigrant bigots in South Los Angeles. It was a
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The ANSWER Coalition and the Party for Socialism and Liberation mobilized for the action and played significant roles in pushing back the bigots. The counter-protest was called by the May Day Defense Committee.
The anti-immigrant forces were from groups like the Minuteman Project, Save Our State and the California Coalition for Immigration Reform, neo-fascist organizations that are racist to the core.
The groups have been working in alliance with Ted Hayes, a vicious right-winger masquerading as an African American homeless and civil rights activist. Hayes has created a pro-Minutemen group misleadingly called “Choose Black America”—its sole purpose is to whip up anti-immigrant bigotry in the Black community and divide the two oppressed communities. His group’s divisive slogans for the June 23 rally included, “Amnesty replaces reparations for Blacks.”
This political line comes from and helps only the ruling capitalist class in the United States. The Minutemen are racist and do not want civil rights for anyone, Black or Latino. This message of hate and division was strongly repudiated by the African American community and Los Angeles activists.
Showdown in South L.A.
The anti-racist protesters massed on the corner of Crenshaw and Martin Luther King boulevards in the heart of the
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As soon as the anti-immigrant crowd gathered at the corner for their permitted street march, the pro-immigrant forces took the street as well, defying the Los Angeles Police Department. They chased the bigots up to historic Leimert Park, a traditional gathering place for African American artists, activists and families.
Hayes and his cronies attempted to enter the park for a rally, but could not, despite the fact that the city had allowed them a permit for it. The 500 activists and community members formed a long line stretching across the entire park and chanted, “Hold the line!” and “Who’s park? Our park!” People locked arms to keep the bigots out of the park.
Other popular chants included, “Minutemen, KKK, racists out of South L.A.!” and “Racists say get back, we say fight
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Hundreds of community members and passersby came out throughout the day to support the protest against the anti-immigrant bigots. The progressive crowd was overwhelmingly African American.
Large numbers began signing civil rights-era songs; many wanted to chant in Spanish and English to show unity in the face of racism. They saw the need to unite in struggle against a racist enemy. People held signs reading, “No to racism: Immigrant rights are civil rights!” and “Unity against racism: No to KKK/SOS/Minutemen!”
After a four-hour standoff, the bigots had to be escorted out of the area by the cops. Their leader, Hayes, was arrested after throwing a tantrum in the street. The anti-immigrants were forced out of South L.A. by the people.
This was a great victory for all anti-racists and progressives. It provided a boost to the pro-immigrant march in Hollywood on June 24, one day later.
All anti-racist organizations should continue to combat the racist, anti-immigrant Minutemen and ruling-class lackeys like Ted Hayes. The capitalists will not stop their attempts to divide and conquer the working class. But a united and militant fight back can defeat any reactionary tactics and win much-needed rights for African Americans, immigrants and all oppressed people.
