Hundreds attend pro-Palestinian rally in Westwood

Hundreds of demonstrators have gathered this afternoon for a noisy, pro-Palestinian rally near the Federal Building in Westwood. They marched to Westwood Village and by 3 p.m. were returning to the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue.

Earlier, protesters crowded on the sidewalks at the intersection, some carrying signs reading, “Free Palestine" and “Shame on Israel.” One group chanted, "Intifada."

A man climbed up a traffic signal and began to unfurl a banner reading, “Freedom” and “We Are All Gaza.” As he climbed down, police moved in to arrest him. Demonstrators began to chant, “Let him go,” crowding into police. Officers pushed demonstrators back and at one point a woman in a head scarf was shoved by police.

Some demonstrators began to angrily react, throwing cans and other objects. Eventually the man was taken into custody, and a demonstrator used a bullhorn to calm tempers and get people marching east on Wilshire and then north on Gayley Avenue.

Three people, including the man who unfurled the banner and another person who climbed a flag pole on the Federal Building grounds, have been arrested.

Most of the protesters were peaceful and included women pushing children in strollers and Aztec dancers pounding on drums. Some people were agitated and carried signs and posters showing graphic photos of dead Palestinian children.

A much smaller contingent of pro-Israel demonstrators gathered on the northwest corner of Wilshire and Veteran.

Because of the sensitive location near the Federal Building, a unified command post was established, including Los Angeles police, Homeland Security federal police, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the L.A. Fire Department. Southbound traffic on Veteran Avenue was blocked by authorities.

The rally was organized by two groups, the Free Palestine Alliance and Answer LA. Their rally permits end at 6 p.m.

Jacob Dayan, consul general for Israel for the Southwest region of the United States, called those involved in Saturday’s protest pro-Hamas. “They are not demonstrating for the chance at peace or for moderate Palestinians,” he said in a phone interview. “They are strengthening the radicals in the region.”

The protest comes on the 15th day of the conflict in Gaza, in which Israel has mounted air and artillery attacks against the militant group Hamas. More than 800 Palestinians have been killed. Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting have faltered.

-- Hector Becerra

Comments

[Joseph]

Any body who agrees with Israel in murdering more than 400 women and children have no single drop of honor, humanity or decency whether that person Moslem, Christian or Jew. Shame on you all having religious conversation while Israel is Killing more than 20 Child every day

[Michele]

Sara Rose:

Every single one of your comments can be found in "Talking Points for Gaza" on the Jewish Federations website.

http://www.jewishla.org

Read some independent media and open your mind a little bit.

[Jose]

Wow talk about biased write up no Wonder the LA times is a dead read.

I'm so ashamed of what looks like to be a Hispanic written article that does not deliver the truth.

Learn to be a true journalist Hector, so far it reads like your a sell out.

[Sara Rose]

First off, I am very disturbed by the comments left on this article. Every time a newspaper writes an article that comments on both sides of a conflict, everyone seems to turn against the paper. Just because the article is not "on your side" it becomes a bad article and a poor bias news source? And the only good articles it produces are bias pro-Palestinian ones?

True- there were probably more people at this protest than were mentioned but that does not mean that everyone must attack the author of this article.

Also, although no minds will ever be changed here, I would like to add that Hamas hides behind their civilians. They hide their ammunition in Mosques and pays civilians to stand on top of buildings under which they hide. They do not have uniforms, unlike the distinct IDF soldiers' uniforms. The IDF stopped their air raid within the first few days of this conflict and sent in soldiers on foot, putting their lives in danger, in an attempt to decrease the civilian death toll. The IDF dropped many leaflets around areas before they bombed them to warn civilians to leave because they do NOT want to kill civilians. I do not see Israelis getting the same warning.

Israel is trying to free Gaza's Palestinians from Hamas. Hamas fighters are the ones putting their own people's lives in danger.

[Yaakov Sullivan]

As a recent convert to Islam i am happy so many supporters show up. Inshallah people of Gzaill win and create unified caliphate in the Middle East.

[Reza J.]

1) Hundreds? Yeah, maybe at 11 a.m., but at the height of the rally, there were at LEAST 4000 people, and I think WELL more than that. Please get your facts straight, Mr. Becerra. 2) I have to say I WAS a little disappointed by some of my fellow protestors' pro-Hamas and pro-violence rhetoric and signs. Two wrongs don't make a right. I thought our goal was peace and safety for our Palestinian brothers and sisters. We shouldn't help to perpetuate a cycle of hatred and violence. Spewing hatred on Israel or against Jews only sets our cause backward and does nothing at all towards progress.

[Robert D]

I don't think that most folks in LA support palestinian causes, but among LA Times readers they are overwhelming majority.
No wander your readership is down the tube.

[jeanne]

Note the condescending article of Jan. 9th in the Times about Villaroigosa defending his support of Israel. Villaroigosa says he has been to Israel 3 times. The reporter does not bother to point out he has never been to Gaza. The reporter informs us the uproar over the Mayor's public comments is expected to be short lived. Says who??? The reporter only mentions Muslims feel ignored by the Mayor's public statements. There are Jewish peace organizations, Quakers, and many others in our diverse city that disagree with The Mayor's stance.

In the same article, Steven Windmueller, professor of Jewish Communal Studies at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles states that Jewish interest groups are carefully cultivating ties to Latino politicians. While Villaroigosa and other Latino politicians are willing to create alliances with pro Israeli moneyed groups in the US, from everything I have seen, "main street" Latinos know US money and allegiance to militant Israel is not in their, our countries or ultimately Israel's best interest

[Michele]

I have been at numerous protests of Israel's deliberate Genocide of Gaza. I'm hardly a supporter of Hamas, an organization Israel has itself to hold responsible for, for any strength that organization might have. There were many more present than Mr. Becerra describes. Protesters were a diverse crowd - unlike the people that come out for "Go Israel Go" rallies.

Jacob Dayan, consul general for Israel's comment is a "talking point" of a public relations campaign conducted on the part of the Israeli government, as is that government's refusal to allow journalists into Hamas, thus controlling what the world sees. When the autocracies committed by the Israeli army are finally exposed, Mayor Villaroigosa, and Councilmembers Gruel, Weiss, Zine and Hahn and all the other politicians (including Obama) who have repeated the talking point that it was self defense on the part of Israel will be publicly disgraced.

In Los Angeles, one needs only look at coverage by The Jewish Journal, The Jewish Observer, The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, and often the Los Angeles Times to see the same "talking points" being regurgitated over and over again.

I refer readers to "Talking Points on the Current Situation in the Gaza Strip" on the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles' website (http://www.jewishla.org).

Any Arab or Muslim non profit that posted on its website such militant, unconditional, unquestioning support of Hezbollah or Hamas would be condemned and ostracized by mainstream America and be investigated by the IRS. Yet the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles is the largest Jewish non profit in the city. Mayor Villaroigosa, and Councilmembers Gruel, Weiss, Zine and Hahn hold their press conference, at the site. Why is the one sided militancy of this wealthy non profit so acceptable?

[John]

800 palestine men women and childern are dead and world and UN is sitting doing nothing shame on this world. and when people of palestine go and kill israeli call them as defender of palestine.

[Steve]

The hell with both of these countries and let us focus on America, cut off all aid and weapons to the Midle East both the Arabs and Israel. Spend these US resources on becoming energy independent and let them kill each other like that have been the last 50 years and will continue the next 50 years. When is enough, enough wasted on this region of the world, which willl never change.

[Nour]

Why doesn't anyone mention how all Israeli's who are deemed physically and mentally able must join the military at the age of 18? This would imply that the civilians of Israel are only the physically and mentally challenged as well as minors. I think this is a very significant point. I hope this comment makes it past approval.

[Jake]

After 911, we were able to see palestinians celebrating and dancing with joy at the news of 3000 people murdered by terrorists. We have also been able to see palestinians kill Olympic atheletes, hijack boats and airplanes, kill American passengers, blow up school buses filled with children, and murder fellow palestinians of different religious faiths. These cowards launch their rockets from family residences, and now hospitals.

They have declared war on the innocent - to include their own human shields - and the state of Israel. Hamas is losing the war.

[Eric]

I drove by the demonstration of the supporters of terrorism today as well -- the Hamas supporters who presumably also want the state of Israel wiped off the map. They and their brethren should wake up and realize that Hamas and its supporters in Gaza are the ones who have brought on the violence by firing rockets at civilians for the past three years and callously basing their terrorist fighters among civilians. The people at the rally verged on violence and spewed hatred -- which did not surprise me at all. Hamas and its supporters should start by recognizing Israel's right to exist and renouncing anti-Semitism. Until then there may not be much to talk to them about. Israel must do what it has to to defend itself just like America would.

Am Israel Chai!! God Bless America!

[Latina]

As a child in Latin America, I cried for the Jews when I learned about how they had been murdered. Today, they are the cruel criminals while the U.S. is, as Chris Hedges says, "party to murder."
How sad that the media would call the massacre of Palestinians a "conflict." Please go to truthdig.org for articles on the facts on the ground. As Read Illan Pappe, a Jewish historian, to understand the simple truth behind this holocaust. Or read Noam Chomsky, another Jew, to be educated.
Today is the Palestinians, tomorrow it may be any of us. War could never achieve peace, fools. And it is important to know that this is a powerful army against a desperate people.

[Joe Vanden Plas]

I hope Israel smashes Hamas to bits. Then and only then will there be peace in Gaza. The protesters in Westwood sound just like the people who were calling Churchill a warmonger in the 1930s, when all he was doing was warning the world that it must stand up to the Nazi menance before being devoured by it. He was right then, and Israel is right now. One wonders how the protesters would react if rockets were sent to explode in their neighborhoods! The Palestinians can still choose peace by rejecting Hamas. Otherwise, they will get perpetual war.

Israel, it should be noted, has traded land for peace twice. Each time, the Palestinians got their land. Where is the Israelis' peace?

[Amillennialist]

Israel is defending itself against Islamic terrorism, against jihad, against this:

". . . kill the unbelievers wherever you find them" (Qu'ran 9:5), and, "Fight against . . . the [Jews and Christians] until they feel themselves subjugated and pay the [poll tax]" (Qu'ran 9:29).

[Charlie]

The Israeli bombing is the best recruiting tool Hamas has ever had.

[Sara]

LA Times, as usual under estimate the number of the people demonstrating in this rally. I was there. There was at least 5000 people. And it would have been much more if the polcie did not block the veteran entrance to the Federal Building parking lot. Lots of people were driving around looking fora place to park.
I am not surprised. It is so much like the rest of the major US media to feed lies to the american people. May be that's why nobody is reading your paper anymore. Try to tell the truth once in a while. At the least, you will stay in business a while longer.

[ahed saleh]

hi..
I was at the protest today... and i totally disagree with Jacob Dayan. I am not a pro-hamas, and i was there to help in raising the voice of the Palestinians, and take a side against Zionism.

[Geoff]

Mr. Jacob Dayan falsely smears these protesters of conscious as part of Israel's organized propaganda war on the truth. Those who protest Israel's actions are not strengthening Hamas.

Israel is the ONLY one who is strengthening Hamas. Israel is doing this by leaving a long, bloody trail of grieving, suffering relatives, who will join Hamas to seek their revenge for the atrocities beset upon their loved ones.

This is not a war. A "war" is when two armies are fighting. This is just a one-sided slaughter. Mr. Dayan brings shame upon himself, his country, and all people of his religious faith with his disgraceful defense of this massacre.

[Dennis M]

So, the Israeli consul general thinks that those who oppose his government's bombing of schools and mowing down of civilians support Hamas.

What a tired, dishonest deflection. Those who opposed the Vietnam war were accused of supporting Ho Chi Minh, and Iraq war opponents were slurred as being pro-Saddam.

When you can't frame an argument with logic and facts, go directly into smear mode.

[Mido]

It was more like thousands of people there! I did not see more than 15 pro israelies. LA times seems a little bias. I see the comment for Pro Zionist but Where is the comments from Pro Justice?

[Max]

Your report is biased, there way over 10,000 people in the rally for Gaza, but you claim hundreds. Even your video you spent most of it taking about Israel view.

You are occupied media by the Zionist.

[Ibn al-Janoub]

First off, there was thousands of people. Second, why is it that none of the protests get much coverage from LA Times? Is it for the same reason that Israel refuses to allow the international press into Gaza... that people will uncover the truth?

Shame on you LA Times. Almost 800 dead and over 3,000 injured and you don't even suggest that what Israel is doing is a war crime.

Screw you guys. Viva al-Jazeera!

[Karen Pomer]

5,000 is a much more accurate count of participants at today's march in Westwood. Why does the LA Times repeatedly underestimate the numbers of those of us who speak out against the massacre of the people of Gaza?

[Jesus Hermosillo]

Hundreds?? I thought I saw at least three thousand demonstrators. I've been to many rallies in my lifetime and I think I have a good sense of how large a crowd is.

Nonetheless, I think it's a shame that more people didn't care to join, as Israel's rogue and criminal actions are financed by generous US assistance---the most aid any country gets from us.