In many instances the strike became violent when strikers would verbally and physically assault their coworkers who did not join the strike. The strikers would throw tomatoes to those who did not participate. Due to the violence the Los Angeles Police Department got involved and tried to put the strike into a halt by arresting 50 of the strikers.:157The women who got arrested were charged for unlawful picketing and battery assault. The police claimed that they were protecting the workers, but in reality the "Red Squad" was trying to end the strike.
