The Mayor on May Day Melee

Back from Mexico and El Salvador, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa held a press conference at 5 p.m. in City Hall on the May Day melee at MacArthur Park.

"We don't need a long and lengthy investigation to speak the truth," Villaraigosa said. "What happened was wrong and we will make it right."

The mayor's press room was jammed with reporters and television cameras. So many city hall staffers wanted to hear Villaraigosa's response that the Information Technology Agency opened the city council chambers and showed the press conference on big-screen TVs. More than 60 people watched.

Villaraigosa was joined by Speaker Fabian Nunez, Supervisor Gloria Molina, Council President Eric Garcetti, Councilmen Ed Reyes and Jack Weiss. Also present was Chief William Bratton, who said "I'm embarrassed for the department and I'm embarrased for the people we serve."