LOS ANGELES – On Thursday the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Division responded to a local protest that resulted in three arrests for felony vandalism. The “Urban Light” exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, (LACMA) was damaged and doused with a red liquid during a protest about abortion rights.
A spokesperson for the LAPD said that the group, ‘Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights’ gathered outside LACMA in the area of Wilshire Boulevard and Ogden Street at around around 12:00 p.m..
During the protest, two female protesters chained themselves to the light pole of an art exhibit, damaging the exhibit itself. One male protester threw an unknown red liquid substance on the art exhibit and surrounding area.
LAPD officers made multiple attempts to work the group of protesters, who refused to leave the area. Around 3:25 p.m., officers issued a dispersal order., which was followed at around 4:00 p.m. with a second dispersal order.
The crowd refused to leave the area and after a ten minute wait at 4:10 p.m., uniformed officers along with Metropolitan Division officers, effected the arrest of the two females and one male for felony vandalism.
At 4:30 p.m., the area was cleared of all protesters without incident the LAPD said.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the LAPD.
During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.
Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.
