Immigration protesters arrested after locking selves together, blocking LA street for hours

Immigration protesters block Los Angeles street

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police have arrested more than a dozen 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 afternoon and lay down in front of federal immigration detention center, blocking traffic for about four hours.

Dozens of helmeted officers surrounded the demonstrators before declaring an unlawful assembly and making arrests. No injuries were reported.

City attorney spokesman John Franklin says the 14 demonstrators will be charged with interfering with police work and failure to disperse.

The demonstrators oppose Arizona’s new law and say illegal immigrants now in the U.S should be legalized.