LOS ANGELES - An immigration group agreed to postpone a downtown rally until April 7 to avert a potential confrontation with police, officials said.

Before the agreement, Latino Movement USA had wanted to hold its rally this Saturday.

But the Police Commission denied a permit because it had already given its OK to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to hold the downtown Golden Dragon Parade.

Some activists said their free speech rights were being violated and threatened to go ahead with the rally without a permit. Police warned they would arrest people if a large crowd gathered without city permission.

Organizers finally agreed to reschedule the event that's expected to draw more than 50,000 people.

"I think when the dust settled, none of us wanted to be in a confrontational mood with the authorities," group member Juan Jose Gutierrez said.

The Police Department has agreed to the new date, but the commission still had to sign off on the permit.