The Citizen's Congregation

The spring and summer of 2020 saw massive social unrest all over the United States. In Los Angeles, the intersection between 1st and Spring is especially of political importance. Between City Hall and the LAPD Headquarters, this corner wields great significance to Los Angeles. When citizens rise and voice their opinions, they take their protests to the intended audience’s location. 1st and Spring, therefore, ceases to function as vehicular infrastructure and undergoes a functional transformation during times of unrest. Designed initially only for vehicular traffic, both 1st and Spring Streets temporarily suspend their original function for transportation and assume the new role of infrastructure for a civic congregation. Not unlike Rome’s forums, the 1st and Spring crossing becomes a political space that allows City Hall and LAPD to hear the people’s voices. Unlike the platforms or piazzas designed as spaces that anticipate citizens’ congregation, traffic engineers did not design 1st and Spring crossing as a space that doubles as a civic forum. This chapter looks at how the 1st and Spring crossing assumes the responsibility of nearby public spaces like Pershing Square.

On a typical day, the 1st and Spring crossing sees mostly vehicular traffic. Upon the vacant zones nearby, one can also find wanderers who find refuge on the streets.

However, during times of upheaval, cars disappear. Instead, temporary booths, soapboxes, banners or street art, and protesters on foot replace the vehicles.

Similar to the 1st and Spring crossing, vehicular traffic typically surrounds Pershing Square. Upon the square itself, there are ordinarily sparse events happening.

Like the 1st and Spring crossing, cars are replaced by protesters on foot. However, Pershing Square, a space designed for the civic congregation, becomes secondary to its peripheral streets.

This heat map traces public political chatters during times of unrest in DTLA.

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