Mike LaChance recently reported that 26 people face charges for their antics in anti-Israel protests that shut down San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
Now, a group of anti-Israel goons decided to take the party down to Southern California by staging a sit-in along Los Angeles’ busy 405 freeway (a true transportation lifeline of the region), demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
Interestingly, the group organizing this inanity targeted the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the Democratic National Convention (slated for next week) in its statement.
Protesters from the group IfNotNow Los Angeles walked onto the southbound 405 Freeway near Venice Boulevard around 9 a.m. PT Tuesday creating an instant traffic jam.Video from Fox 11 showed the group walking along the highway carrying posters as piles of cars began mounting behind them.California Highway Patrol were seen arresting the dozens of protesters and sitting them along the road barrier.’American Jews and allies have shut down the 405 freeway in West Los Angeles in protest of U.S. support for Israel’s assault on Gaza,’ the organizers said in a statement to KABC.’With one week to go before the Democratic National Convention, protesters are coalescing around three demands for all elected officials: call for a lasting ceasefire, reject the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and legislate an arms embargo.’
Legal Insurrection readers may recall that AIPAC spent $8.5 million through its super PAC United Democracy Project to oust Squad member Cori Bush. Toward the end of last year, anti-Israel activists threw red paint and smoke bombs at the home of the AIPAC president.
The demonstrators from IfNotNowLA claim the group is “a movement of anti-Apartheid American Jews working to end our community’s support for the Israeli occupation of Palestine.”
The demonstration comes on Tisha B’av, an annual fast day in the Jewish religion and considered “the saddest day on the Jewish calendar.”A total of eight arrests were made, CHP confirmed to KTLA, adding that there were around 40 protesters, most of whom left on foot when police arrived.IfNotNowLA is part of the larger IfNotNow movement. More information about the group can be found here.
The California Highway Patrol dispatched the demonstrators quickly when they arrived. The officers ended this dangerous traffic disruption within 20 minutes thanks to their hard work.
While no potentially life-threatening issues were reported because of the traffic backup, many went on X to mock and deride the event.
While LA seems to have smartly dealt with this band of lunatics, I suspect this may be a warm-up for Chicago. I suspect the DNC next week is going to be lit.
Perhaps this experience may offer some valuable lessons for Chicago’s convention organizers and security personnel there.
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