Fighting broke out between anti-Israel protesters and pro-Israel supporters and the Jewish community during a demonstration against a land expansion event held in a Synagogue. Video below.
It started with pro-Palestine supporters waving Palestine’s flag and demonstrating outside Adas Torah synagogue in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, chanting “Free, free Palestine – from the river to the sea,” and “Long live intifada”.
The protest was organized by Palestinian Youth Movement LA and Code Pink LA against an Israeli real estate event in the Synagogue and promoted by a company called My Home in Israel Real Estate.
“Our land is not for sale,” the pro-Palistine group posted on Instagram, announcing plans to protest the event and disclosing the Synagogue’s address in LA. “Stand against settler expansion at Sunday’s real estate event selling homes to build ‘Anglo neighborhoods’ in Palestine.”
“Racist settler expansionists are not welcome in Los Angeles!” the account wrote in the caption. “This blatant example of land theft is operating in our own backyard. The Nakba is ongoing and must be confronted!”
The cause of the violence could not be ascertained at this time. Both sides – the anti-Israel group and the Jewish community and the pro-Israel group, trading blames on each other. Videos online show both sides engaged in physical brawl.
Some eyewitnesses said that some of the anti-Israeli protesters might have prepared in advance for the fighting as some came wearing ski goggles, and that Jews were sprayed with bear mace and pepper spray.
“People who aren’t antisemitic don’t show up to a synagogue in a Jewish neighborhood with bear spray and other weapons to fight people,” Journalist Cam Higby who was at the scene quoted.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in a statement said that security in the Jewish community will be heavily beefed up, and that he will discuss with interim Los Angeles Police Chief Dominic Choi on public safety.
“Today’s violence in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood today was abhorrent, and blocking access to a place of worship is unacceptable,” he said.
“I want to be clear that Los Angeles will not be a harbor for antisemitism and violence. Those responsible for either will be found and held accountable. I will be joining Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, the Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation Los Angeles Rabbi Noah Farkas, and other law enforcement and faith leaders in a community meeting as we talk about steps forward, together.”
Responding to the violence, President Biden on X said he was “appalled by the scenes outside of Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles”. Intimidating Jewish congregants is dangerous, unconscionable, antisemitic, and un-American”. “Americans have a right to peaceful protest. But blocking access to a house of worship – and engaging in violence – is never acceptable.”
