Immigration protesters arrested after blocking Los Angeles street for 4 hours

Immigration protesters arrested as street blocked

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police are arresting protesters who chained themselves together on a downtown street to protest Arizona’s new immigration law.

Protest spokesman Nelson Motto says 14 activists locked themselves in a circle Thursday and laid down on a street in front of a federal immigration detention center, blocking traffic for about four hours.

Dozens of helmeted officers surrounded the demonstrators before declaring an unlawful assembly and moving in. No injuries are reported.

Officer Gregory Baek says the protesters will be booked for delaying, resisting and obstructing officers.

The demonstrators oppose Arizona’s new law as well as local police cooperation with federal immigration restrictions. They favor legalization of illegal immigrants now in the U.S.