LA Immigration Rally: City Prepares For Massive Demonstration

Charlie Beck made it clear that the LAPD has no intention of straying from its current policies regarding immigration status.

"Because of the ongoing issues in Arizona, I wanted to make something perfectly clear," Beck said. "Special Order 40 is the mandate of this department. ...That is how I will police this city as long as I am the chief of police."

Beck was referring to the agency's long-standing policy that prohibits officers from initiating contact with someone solely to determine whether he or she is in the country legally. It has drawn the periodic ire of critics who argue for a tougher stance against undocumented immigrants.

KPCC reports on Mayor Villaraigosa's call for a boycott of Arizona:

Surrounded by immigrant rights activists, the mayor said immigration enforcement is the federal government's job, and he echoed warnings that Arizona's law would lead to racial profiling. Villaraigosa supports legislation that provides a path to citizenship for the country's estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants.

The mayor called on people to participate in an immigrant rights march tomorrow, and he endorsed a proposal by several City Council members for an economic boycott of Arizona.

"Our goal is not to hurt the local economy of Los Angeles, but to impact the economy of Arizona. Our intent is to use our dollars, or the withholding of our dollars, to send a clear message."

LAist has all of the street closures, for information on transit service changes check MTA's website.