WESTWOOD - Westwood experienced a wave of antisemitic incidents on Friday night during a pro-Palestianin protest. The unrest included the defacement of several buildings, with messages like “Baby killers” and “Gaza.”
The protesters were voicing their opposition to U.S. financial support of Israeli military operations in Gaza. Some demonstrators labeled President Joe Biden a "mass murderer." President Biden was in Los Angeles for a fundraising event on Friday evening in Westwood, attended by donors including notable Hollywood actors who support his reelection campaign, as reported by the LA Times.
The protests led to the defacing of several Westwood businesses. Notably, graffiti messages such as "Free Gaza" were sprayed on an apartment building on Wilshire Boulevard opposite Sinai Temple. Others put up signs against the buildings reading, “LA says no to Genocide Joe,” “Ceasefire now!!! End the war crimes!” and “The blood of the innocent is on your hands.”
The demonstrations in Westwood were linked to a protest – which began in Beverly Hills – organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement, according to anInstagram postfrom the organization.Police declared an “unlawful assembly” during that demonstration. "At one point, an unlawful assembly and dispersal order was issued due to the protesters' actions, including throwing objects at officers and passing vehicles,'' Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore said in a statement. "The crowd slowly dispersed and no arrests were made, no use of force, and no officers were injured.''
Sam Yebri, a nonprofit leader, workers' rights attorney, and former LA City Council candidate expressed his concern over the events. "The chants and the vandalism do not call for peace or co-existence; they call for the genocide of the Jewish people and praise the 'martyrs' of Hamas," Yebri stated. "Angelenos should be outraged by these acts, including the painting of swastikas, attacks with smoke bombs, and other hate crimes, especially considering the lack of consequences for such actions."
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