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In a rain-soaked protest on Hollywood Boulevard, over 1,000 demonstrators demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Waving Palestinian flags and gripping signs reading "not in our name" and "let Gaza live," the impassioned crowd made their voices heard near iconic landmarks like Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and the Walk of Fame.
Organized by Jewish Voices for Peace Los Angeles and IfNotNow LA, the protest mirrored similar gatherings in Washington DC, New York, and Seattle earlier this month. Advocating not only for a ceasefire but also an end to US military aid to Israel, protesters passionately expressed their concerns amid a rising death toll.
The conflict, sparked by a Hamas attack on Israel in October, has left over 11,000 Palestinians dead, including 4,500 children, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Amid the grim statistics, 42 journalists and media workers have also lost their lives, as reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Karen Pomer, a longtime LA activist, labeled the civilian casualties as unacceptable, equating the situation to genocide. While some scholars and historians agree, others contend that war crimes are occurring. Pomer, haunted by her grandfather's survival of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, expressed her deep dismay: "It’s the first thing I think of when I wake up and the last thing I think about before I go to sleep."
The protest kicked off in De Longpre Park, featuring speeches from Jewish organizers, a representative from the Islamic Center of Southern California, and Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter. "We are not free until everyone of us is free," declared Cullors.
Amid rain and a haze of burning sage, demonstrators filled the park, with children playing under the watchful eyes of their parents. The rally continued its march towards Hollywood Boulevard, encountering a tense confrontation with a speeding car along the way. Despite obstacles, the crowd remained steadfast in their call for a ceasefire, echoing chants of "Rain or shine, free Palestine."
As Michael Wolfe, a JVP organizer, expressed grief for both Israeli and Palestinian lives lost, the protest sought to ensure the heart of Hollywood would no longer ignore the ongoing conflict.
[With information sourced from The Guardian]
