Plan ahead for May Day marches

Saturday expects to find at least 100,000 people marching through downtown as part May Day rallies and protests in support of immigrant rights. Another rally is planned for Westwood. “Although nothing is planned for MacArthur Park, a traditional rallying point, spontaneous gatherings may occur, as well as at Echo Park,” said Lt. Wes Buhrmester with the LAPD Rampart Division. The LAPD will be sending out public text messages (mobile phone users can sign up by texting the word MAYDAY to 888-777) that will track the marches and events. Also, the MTA warned bus riders that 47 lines that run through downtown will be detoured on Saturday. “Metro customers are encourage to use the Metro Purple and Metro Red lines to get to the march and rally exiting on Pershing Square and/or Civic Center Metro Rail stations closest to Broadway,” the agency said.