(Photo : DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Pro-Palestinian protesters and supporters of Israel fight in the street near the Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 23, 2024.
A pro-Palestinian protest condemned by President Joe Biden that reportedly blocked access to a Los Angeles synagogue Monday turned bloody when violent clashes erupted between the activists and counterdemonstrators who showed up waving Israeli flags.
A video clip posted on social media showed fistfights and scuffles in middle of West Pico Boulevard, down the block from the Adas Torah synagogue where scores of people faced off Sunday morning.
They're beating up Jewish women in LA in broad daylight now.
— 𝗡𝗶𝗼𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴 ♛ ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) June 23, 2024
Why? Because of a country thousands of miles away, or so they'll tell you.
It's not about Israel or even about zionism. These are dormant genocidal urges that they finally see an outlet for. pic.twitter.com/yqK73jIMJg
The violence left one young man, identified only as an Israel supporter, with blood streaming down his face and on his shirt.
A video clip appeared to show cops removing at least two pro-Palestinian protesters from an SUV near the scene, according to the Los Angeles Times.
One unidentified person was arrested for allegedly carrying a "spiked flag," the LA Times said, citing a police spokesperson who didn't provide additional details.
The incident reportedly unfolded after the pro-Palestinian protesters began gathering outside the synagogue around 11 a.m.
Biden said in a post on X that he was "appalled by the scenes outside of the synagogue. Intimidating Jewish congregants is dangerous, unconscionable, antisemitic, and un-American," he added.
I’m appalled by the scenes outside of Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles. Intimidating Jewish congregants is dangerous, unconscionable, antisemitic, and un-American.
Americans have a right to peaceful protest. But blocking access to a house of worship – and engaging in violence…— President Biden (@POTUS) June 24, 2024
Mayor Karen Bass called the incident "abhorrent" and said that "blocking access to a place of worship is unacceptable."
"I want to be clear that Los Angeles will not be a harbor for antisemitism and violence," she said in a statement posted on social media. "Those responsible for either will be found and held accountable."
Bass also said she had ordered increased police patrols in the area and at houses of worship across the city.
Today’s violence in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood today was abhorrent, and blocking access to a place of worship is unacceptable. I’ve called on LAPD to provide additional patrols in the Pico-Robertson community as well as outside of houses of worship throughout the city. I’ll…
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) June 24, 2024
Other elected officials also condemned the violence, with Gov. Gavin Newsom calling the clashes "appalling."
"There is no excuse for targeting a house of worship. Such antisemitic hatred has no place in California," he wrote on social media.
The violence echoed clashes that took place at the University of California at Los Angeles on May 1 when counterdemonstrators tried to tear down an encampment set up by pro-Palestinian protesters.
