The Shadow Convention is already outside. A crowd is on the sidewalk. Arianna Huffington is behind him, looking flawless. Behind the truck, more carloads of riot-equipped police are taking up positions. Now there are at least three dozen police blocking Figueroa Street to the north.
More deployments arrive, and a double line of riot-equipped cops blocks the street to the west.
A double line of flak-jacketed cops takes position across Figueroa Street to the south. Patriotic Hall is now completely closed off. More police cars are arriving. These are unmarked, new Lincolns, each carrying four men. They turn on the cross street, stop, open the trucks to take out equipment.