Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters briefly shutdown the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.
The protesters blocked site visitors as they held Palestinian flags and indicators studying “Cease the Genocide” and “Finish the Occupation Now!” and chanted “Eyes on Rafah!” in line with video posted to social media, together with by journalist Ben Camacho.
The protest got here a day after what seemed to be one of many deadliest assaults in Israel’s ongoing battle with Hamas.
On Sunday, an Israeli strike on a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah killed dozens. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday described the strike as a “tragic mistake” that was underneath investigation.
Tens of 1000’s of individuals — many civilians — have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its battle on Hamas after an assault by Hamas fighters in Israel in October. Giant parts of Gaza have been destroyed and lower off from support, spurring months of protests around the globe and throughout the U.S., together with on many school campuses.
The United Nations’ high court docket ordered Israel to halt its assault on Rafah final week.
A Los Angeles Police Division spokesman mentioned Monday that officers had been known as to watch a protest downtown about 3 p.m.
“We responded to some protesters strolling via the fast downtown space,” LAPD Officer Jeff Lee mentioned. “Initially they began blocking site visitors, however then they had been up on the sidewalk obeying site visitors legal guidelines — and that’s after they went down onto the freeway.”
California Freeway Patrol Sgt. Alejandro Rubio mentioned that LAPD alerted the CHP that about 50 protesters had moved onto the freeway close to Alameda Avenue at 4:48 p.m.
Nevertheless, by the point CHP officers arrived on the scene round 5 p.m., there have been not any protesters on the freeway, Rubio mentioned.
“They had been all on the floor streets,” he mentioned.
Lee mentioned LAPD officers continued to watch protesters within the downtown space afterward.
“We’re simply going to make sure public security and the well-being of all people,” he mentioned.
