Hundreds of people - made up of children and parents, Hispanics and Caucasians, students and workers - gathered on the steps of the Humboldt County Courthouse, marched and expressed support for the rights of immigrants and workers. The rally and march was marked by a peaceful display of flags, signs and a celebratory mood.

A separate march from Arcata to Eureka along the Highway 101 corridor resulted in three arrests and a scuffle between police and a photographer of a local daily newspaper. The May Day march marks the second time a physical altercation broke out between police and activists on the 101 corridor in the last six months.

Activists crowded into the office of Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos to demand the release of the three arrestees and to air concerns of what many perceive as escalating heavy-handed tactics by police. The amount of force used by police is a hot topic in Humboldt since the April 14, 2006 killing of a mentally distressed Eureka woman who was shot nine times by a SWAT team after a two-hour stand-off with police.

READ MORE.