Aleph, UCLA Undergraduate Research Journal for the Humanities and Social Sciences

Over the course of its 140-year existence, Macarthur Park in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles has witnessed a range of diverse phases, from a luxurious recreation area to a locality grappling with issues of crime and poverty. Through the lens of local news coverage, this paper explores the changing landscape of community, politics, and policing in the park and how it has shaped identity and revitalization efforts. By critically analyzing policing initiatives and community-oriented efforts aimed at mitigating crime, the paper outlines the park’s evolution into a vibrant, safe space while shedding light on the challenges posed by racism and immigration status. The focal point of the paper revolves around immigrant political activism in Macarthur Park, focusing on multiple case studies, including the May Day Rally in 2007. This rally, disrupted by LAPD violence, becomes an example of infringement on the First Amendment right to speech and assembly of immigrants. The study concludes by reflecting on the role of park politics in creating a venue for democracy, refuge, and community for Central American immigrants.