Los Angeles City Attorney Rockard Delgadillo has given amnesty to over 90% of the demonstrators arrested at the street blockage at Los Angeles International Airport on September 28, 2006.  Only 20 out of the approximately 300 arrested sit-down protesters have been prosecuted.   Demonstrators were supporting labor unions for hotel workers many of whom are believed to be illegal aliens.  The demonstration blocked busy Century Boulevard during the evening rush hours impairing thousands of motorists and disrupting smooth airport operations.

             City Attorney Delgadillo indicated before the illegal demonstration that the participants would receive amnesty.  According to the September 28 Los Angeles Times story about the upcoming demonstration, “[Labor union attorney Erika] Diaz said the city attorney had indicated that arrestees will not have to go to court and will not be prosecuted as long as they are not arrested again in the next 12 months.  (A spokesman for the city attorney said that although that is the general practice in such cases, there is no agreement with the union.)”

             Counter-protesters had asked for the illegal demonstration be prevented.  According to the Los Angeles Times article, “In addition, Tony Dolz, a Republican Assembly candidate who is active with the Minutemen, said late Wednesday that he had obtained a permit for a counter-protest by the group, which opposes illegal immigration.  Dolz said he considered the union protest, because of its proximity to the airport, ‘an act of domestic terrorism.’”

             The 20 arrestees who the city attorney is prosecuting at the Los Angeles Superior Court West District Airport Courthouse are Peter Laarman, Elizabeth Hamilton, Jonathan Zerdnick, Walter Johnson, Kevin Norton, Maria Durazo, Margaretam Lindgren, Raul Ripoll, Elbert Newton, Victoria Vergara, Henry Casas, Gregory Akili, Joshua Kamensky, Flavio Jaurequi, Paul Engler, Helen Campbell, Nurg Martinez, Madeline Janis, Bridie Roberts, and Antonio Sanchez.