Our debates over tactics should be framed by goals. LA organizers repeatedly explained that confrontation with the police has different consequences depending on who you are. For people who have a criminal record, the punishment could include another strike in a '3 strikes and you're out' state or longer jail time. For people who are transgendered, the LAPD deny you the ability to define your own gender and sexuality and tell you what gender they think you are and put you in jail accordingly. Furthermore, for people of color, the experience with the police is different from what largely middle class white activists experience.
Police violence is a major way that racial oppression impacts communities of color.
White people, generally speaking, are not assumed by police to be criminals when walking into a store or when driving in a 'nice' neighborhood - this is how white privilege operates. White radicals who don't challenge their white privilege, will not be able to see what is profoundly radical about communities of color mobilized, regardless of whether or not the march is legal. In Los Angeles it wasn't just about how to bring out immigrants, trannies and queers, and people of color into the actions. In many instances, these were the people actively involved in the organizing. Helen Luu, an anti-global capitalism organizer, explained how she sees white privilege operating in the movement.