Chief William J. Bratton of the Los Angeles Police Department said Thursday that the episode here in which police officers clashed with demonstrators and journalists on Tuesday at an immigration rally was the “worst incident of this type I have ever encountered in 37 years” in law enforcement. After a request by Mr. Bratton, the F.B.I. announced Thursday that it would open a civil rights inquiry into the incident,

Whatever went on in L.A. on Monday it sounds like it wasn't your standard police/protestor clash. (Of course, when the cops are beating down professional journalists they tend to be more willing to admit error than when they are beating down college students who can be accussed of lying or baiting.) (On the other hand, I really, deeply wish people on the left would tell the "black bloc" fucks that throwing rocks at the cops is not constructive. Its possible to have a peaceful protest on any issue that you want. You guys can't do it because you're not peaceful, and not because the police are involved in some sort of right wing conspiracy with the man.)