Dozens of demonstrators gathered near Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon for a “Liberate Palestine” protest, marking yet another display of anti-Israel sentiment in the city.
The protest was held ahead of “Palestinian Land Day,” an annual event commemorating the 1976 demonstrations against Israel’s land policies. That year, Palestinian activists in Israel staged protests and strikes against the Israeli government’s decisions regarding land use, which ultimately led to clashes with Israeli police.
Organizers of Saturday’s “Liberate Palestine” rally claimed their demonstration was about reaffirming the so-called “right of return” for Palestinians and calling for what they referred to as a “liberated Palestine”—language that critics argue is a call for the destruction of Israel.
The protest is one of many pro-Palestinian events that have gained traction in recent months, often leading to clashes with law enforcement or disruptions in major cities. As tensions in the region persist, these demonstrations continue to spark controversy over their messaging and intent.
Last month, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) suspended two pro-Palestine groups after they threatened a pro-Israel member of the University of California Board of Regents.
Chancellor Julio Frenk sent a campuswide email announcing the suspension of Students for Justice in Palestine and Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine. The groups protested outside of UC Regent Jay Sures’ home, leaving red handprints on his garage door and caution tape in his front yard, the Daily Bruin reported.
“Whenever an act of violence is directed against any member of the university community, UCLA will not turn a blind eye,” a UCLA spokesperson told the outlet. “This is true no matter what group you are a member of — or which identities you hold. There is no place for violence in our Bruin community.”
“Any act of violence undermines the foundation of our university,” Frenk said. “As your chancellor, I can commit to you that whenever an act of violence is directed against any member of the university community, UCLA will not turn a blind eye.”
