Dozens of pro-Palestinian activists took aim at an Orthodox Jewish synagogue nestled in the heart of the Pico-Robertson neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, causing disruption and obstructing the entrance to an event focused on real estate investment in Israel.
Pro-Hamas extremists are now blockading a Synagogue in Los Angeles, harassing Jewish people and preventing them from entering.
Why is @GavinNewsom [1] allowing this blatant antisemitism in California?pic.twitter.com/E0DoNX1LTX [2]
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) June 23, 2024 [3]
Masked protesters blocking entrance to a synagogue in Jewish neighborhood in Los Angeles has nothing to do with free speech and everything having to do with persecuting Jews and preventing Jews from practicing their religious faith. How is this allowed to happen @GavinNewsom [1]… pic.twitter.com/etUYCEErMg [4]
— Rabbi Yonah (@RabbiYonah) June 23, 2024 [5]
Eyewitness accounts detailed the activists’ blockade of pedestrians along the southern stretch of Pico Boulevard, the primary thoroughfare through this predominantly Orthodox Jewish enclave in west Los Angeles.
As per the Forward, a publication known for its left-leaning [6] Jewish perspectives, the protest honed in on the synagogue partly due to an event within the Jewish community that was advocating Israeli real estate ventures, whether for relocation, leisure, or financial investment.
Several area synagogues shared a notice warning their members about the event, and scores of Israel supporters showed up with their own flags. pic.twitter.com/KUVLD99Ek1 [7]
— The Forward (@jdforward) June 23, 2024 [8]
Notably, there has been a global upsurge of Jewish individuals seeking to immigrate to Israel, known as “aliyah” or “ascent” within the community, following October 7, as a show of solidarity with Israel and a response to prevailing local antisemitism.
This incident marked the second instance within a matter of days where pro-Palestinian activists targeted a synagogue in Los Angeles. On the preceding Friday, demonstrators directed their ire toward another synagogue and school in the Valley Village area, with the rationale behind this action remaining unclear.
FYI it’s all over and lots of supporters showed up and drowned out the hate … but they shouldn’t have to! Shit like this shouldn’t happen. People are using their freedom of speech “protest” to harass people … and I really wonder if that what those freedoms were designed for.…
— Stephanie🕊 (@stephsvox) June 21, 2024 [9]