State of Protest
It was like two screaming siblings fighting for attention...
While Glendale Mayor Dave Weaver's State of the City luncheon carried on inside the Hilton, about 100 sign-tolling picketers organized by Unite Here Local 11 staged in a peaceful "Shame of the City" rally outside to showcase their two-year effort to organize the hotel's workers and urge city officials to honor their boycott.
The gathering of civil and business leaders were starting their salad coruse when about 15 protesters stepped out onto Glenoaks Blvd. and sat down in a circle, prompting police to arrest them for blocking traffic in a carefully choreographed dance of civic disobedience.
The ones arrested _ some all smiles as police officers hauled them way in plastic cuffs _ included students, union volunteers and workers from other hotels, but no Glendale Hilton workers.
The actual Hilton employees were either inside or took time from their 15-miniute breaks to walk the line and talk to reporters.
By the time they served the main course _ some kind of chicken over rice _ the protesters have disbanded.