Oscars 2024: LAPD issue dispersal order against pro-Palestine protest
Ahead of the Oscars 2024 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hundreds of pro-Palestine protestors gathered outside of the ceremony, leading to a dispersal order being issued by local authorities.
The protestors included members of groups such as US Palestinian Community Network, Centro CSO, National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression, Black Lives Matter LA, the Free Democratic Palestine Movement and the International League of Peoples’ Struggle.
They state the aim of their march was to “disrupt the Academy Awards” and expose “retaliation against anyone in the film industry who speaks out against Israel’s atrocities and war crimes,” according to CBS.
The protestors also claimed they were denouncing an “active support of U.S.-funded Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza” by Hollywood. Additionally, a separate protest was held by the Los Angeles branch of Jewish Voice for Peace on Sunset Boulevard earlier in the day on March 10th.
In response to the protest by the Dolby, the Los Angeles Police Department issued a dispersal order at 2:45pm local time and warned the general public there would be an increase in traffic.
Additionally, The Hollywood Reporter’s Chris Gardner posted on X: “Hearing reports that protestors are now blocking Oscars traffic and keeping guests from arrival. I’m told by a source that golf carts are being used to shuttle guests from blocked area. And traffic is now being rerouted.”
Pop star Ariana Grande took to her social media platforms to reveal that she had been caught up in traffic while on her way to the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Poor Things star Ramy Youssef and Billie Eilish were among the artists expressed their support for a ceasefire in Gaza on the red carpet by wearing pins bearing a Artists4Ceasefire symbol. The collective is comprised of more than 400 individuals and are calling for “an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost.”
Youssef told Variety on the red carpet of his decision: “We’re calling for immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We’re calling for peace and lasting justice for the people of Palestine. It’s a universal message of, ‘Let’s stop killing kids. Let’s not be part of more war.’ No one has ever looked back at war and thought a bombing campaign was a good idea.”
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