14 Arrested in Demonstration at Berman’s Office

Fourteen protesters were arrested Wednesday because they ignored police orders to leave the Panorama City office of Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City), where they were demonstrating against continued U.S. aid to El Salvador, Los Angeles police reported.

The action followed the arrests earlier Wednesday of 14 protesters at the West Los Angeles office of Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.), authorities said. Demonstrators also protested outside the office of Rep. Mel Levine (D-Los Angeles) in southeast Los Angeles.

The protesters arrested in Panorama City were being held on suspicion of trespassing, Sgt. Bruce Blake said. He said several demonstrators identified themselves as members of a group called the Wednesday Morning Coalition to Stop the War in El Salvador.

The protesters met with Berman aides for more than an hour before the aides ordered them to leave about 6 p.m., police said.

Catherine Suitor, spokeswoman for the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, which sponsored the protests at Wilson’s and Levine’s offices, said the protests were aimed at legislators who refused to back proposals to limit or end U.S. aid to El Salvador.