Protesters force center shutdown

But the fact that the property is owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and leased by the city complicates the enforcement of trespassing laws, he said, and he acknowledged that there are issues of the protesters' free speech rights that must be considered.

"But this is not going to happen much longer, and we are looking to develop some guidelines for Catholic Charities as far as what we can or cannot do to assist them in keeping the protesters out," Howard said.

"Even in labor disputes like a supermarket strike, you can't have people inside the supermarket disrupting business. They can picket outside, with signs."

But Silva of Save Our State said that since the land the center is located on is leased by the city, he and his supporters have a right to enter freely.

"California law says you cannot post a no-trespassing sign in a public access area, so I don't think they have a leg to stand on," he said.

As for Saturday's disruption of business at the center, even if it was only for a few minutes, Silva was elated.

"We think we are taking the right approach here," he said.

"We are a group of people that are very frustrated with the total breakdown of our laws, and we are reacting to this. It is a very American thing to do."