Today the ACLU of Southern California sent a letter to the Los Angeles Police Department’s deputy chief commanding officer of LAPD’s Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau, Michael P. Downing, to express its grave concerns about efforts by the LAPD to map Muslim communities in the Los Angeles area as part of its counter-terrorism program.

The letter, co-signed by the Islamic Shura Council, the Council on American Islamic Relations, and Muslim Advocates comes just after Downing’s testimony in front of the US Senate in which he described the department’s efforts to identify and counter violent extremism, in part by identifying who the city’s Muslims are and where they’re located.

“Singling out individuals for investigation, surveillance, and data-gathering based on their religion constitutes religious profiling that is just as unlawful, ill-advised, and deeply offensive as racial profiling…[ ]…While preventing violence and terrorism is a goal we all share, it must be pursued in a manner respectful of the rights of the hundreds of thousands of Muslim Americans living in the Los Angeles area” writes Peter Bibring of the ACLU-SC.  The letter goes on to request a meeting among the parties to engage on this important safety and civil liberties issue.

Commander Dowling reportedly got the idea of mapping while visiting West Yorkshire England during a brief stint with Scotland Yard in late 2006.

You don’t see this kind of a report from a government agency  every day.

In a scathing self-critique, the LAPD on Tuesday blamed the May 1 MacArthur Park melee involving officers, immigration protesters and journalists on a series of fateful decisions by police commanders that escalated hostilities and resulted in a widespread breakdown in discipline and behavior by officers.

The findings, contained in a long-awaited report by top police officials, come as Police Chief William J. Bratton announced that at least 26 officers participating in the incident are under internal investigation and could face discipline for using excessive force.

The report is the latest effort by Bratton and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to quell widespread outcry over the incident, in which TV news footage showed officers swinging batons and firing less-than-lethal rounds at journalists as well as immigration rights protesters gathered at the park for an afternoon rally.

The melee left 246 journalists and protesters as well as 18 officers with injuries, and more than 250 legal claims have been filed against the city. Los Angeles County prosecutors and the FBI are continuing to investigate the case.

The LAPD is far more given to whitewash than this.  You actually have to hand it to both Bratton and Villaraigosa so far for talking this straight.  Now comes the hard part.  There has to be real disciplinary action taken against those who decided to take up arms against the protesters.  Individual officers must be held accountable.  Some of the higher-ups, like Deputy Chief Lee Carter, were demoted (he eventually resigned).  And Bratton has accepted responsibility, saying “I, as chief of police, regret deeply that this occurred on my watch.”  But that statement has to have some force behind it.

Video is below the fold.  It is extremely troubling.  From LA Observer:

The Radio and TV News Association has called for an investigation. Chief Bratton will speak at a 3 pm news conference. Daniel Hernandez checks in on his blog with the coverage in Spanish-language and ethnic media.

Also: KPCC’s Patricia Nazario was treated at a hospital for injuries to her hand, ribs, and ankles from a police baton, the station reported.

Todd has more at Courage Campaign.

An AP story is out.  The more news that comes out the worse it is and Nunez is speaking out.

Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, who represents the park district, suggested that marchers’ race played a role in the police response. He said police deliberately led troublemakers back to the peaceful marchers before beginning their assault.

“The only logical conclusion I can come to is that somebody wanted it to bleed into the march so that they can do some target practice on some of the immigrants that were marching,” Nunez said.

Bratton said the police order to disperse had been in English from a police helicopter, a tactic he said was likely ineffective because of the noise and because many at the protest were Spanish-speakers.

Many caught in the melee were journalists.

KTTV reporter Christina Gonzales suffered a separated shoulder, while camerawoman Patti Ballaz had a broken wrist and possibly a broken hand, said Fox Television Stations spokeswoman Erica Keane.