A transgender rights protest outside Wi Spa in Koreatown ended in dozens of arrest Saturday, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
Protesters were supporting the spa which protected the rights of a transgender woman who allegedly disrobed there earlier this month infuriating another customer.
“We came on defense of this spa, who is being unfairly protested because they were just following state law to allow trans person use their facilities,” said Jamie Penn, a transgender rights demonstrator.
This is the second protest outside this spa this month. On July 3, another protest was held in that same area when demonstrations over transgender rights sparked clashes between protestors and counter-protestors.
The intersection of Wilshire and South Rampart boulevards was declared a protest zone. “All corners except the southwest corner of Wilshire Blvd and Rampart Blvd have been designated protest zones for this incident,” the LAPD tweeted.
Smoke bombs and projectiles were thrown at officers and a dispersal order was issued, LAPD said. At around 11 a.m. LAPD declared the scene an unlawful assembly and ordered protestors to clear out.
Although some left voluntarily, many others refused to leave the area and were arrested for “failure to disperse.”
Several weapons including a stun gun, pepper spray, knives and mace were found on the ground in the area where the arrests were made, LAPD tweeted.