The situation seems to be de-escalating. Two police helicopters are hovering over the convergence center. Several hundred are inside the convergence center and the attendent parking lot which is fenced in. The situation is rapidly escalating. The American Civil Liberties Union issued a press release this evening about their filing suit against the LAPD for the police targetting media at the protest on Monday evening.
Riot cops continue to surround.
PST - A dozen police cars full of riot cops are parked at the intersection of 18th and Flower, a half block from the Independent Media Center. The reporters were eventually released. Police are surrounding the citizens, but there is free movement in and out of the square. More heavily armored riot police arriving. Some citizens have dispersed to the north.