On a sweltering afternoon in downtown Los Angeles, union members, students, and community activists gathered to participate in a demonstration titled “L.A. Solidarity with Palestinians. L.A. and Labor call for an arms embargo now.”
The protest, initially planned for the City Hall steps on Spring Street, had to be relocated due to the Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Block Party occupying that area. The new location for the rally was 1st Street, between Main and Los Angeles Street, where a long-bed truck was used to elevate speakers who addressed the assembled crowd.
Notable speakers included Ron Gochez from Unión del Barrio, Dr. Melina Abdullah, Chris Smalls, and others, all of whom voiced their dismay over U.S. military aid to Israel amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
Halfway through the event, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) intervened, warning organizers that if they did not move their truck from 1st Street, it would be towed. Consequently, the rally was relocated to the south side steps of City Hall as the speakers’ truck was moved to comply with police directives.
The protest was unified in its message, calling for an end to U.S. military support for Israel’s actions in Gaza, demanding that leadership at all levels press for a halt to arms transfers and stand firmly for the Palestinian cause.
According to reports from Middle East Monitor, since October 2023, Israel has received 940 aircraft and vessels filled with U.S. military equipment. This support has amounted to over 90,000 tons of military supplies directed towards a population without an organized armed force. The consequences have been devastating, resulting in the deaths of over 60,000 Palestinians amid a humanitarian crisis.
The silence of union leaders regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has drawn considerable criticism from within labor movements. Traditionally focused on employment issues such as wages and work conditions, unions have faced scrutiny as thousands of their members have sought to express their concerns regarding the genocide taking place in Gaza over the past twenty-one months.
Chris Smalls, co-founder and former president of the Amazon Labor Union, urged union leaders to take a stand against the actions in Gaza. “We call on all unions to speak up against the genocide,” Smalls stated, emphasizing that his presence at the rally was meant to inspire action rather than to deliver a speech.
Ron Gochez echoed this sentiment, criticizing the federal government for its spending priorities. He remarked, “The same government that claims there isn’t enough money for affordable housing or healthcare somehow finds billions to spend on foreign wars and occupation.”
Smalls also announced plans for a national day of action on October 24th, aimed at challenging the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). He highlighted the potential influence of labor movements in halting the transfer of U.S.-made weapons, specifically by dockworkers refusing to load shipments destined for Israel.
Media coverage of the conflict has also been a point of contention among rally speakers. Ben Camacho, a freelance journalist and member of the IWW Freelance Journalist Union, brought attention to the Israeli military’s attacks on journalists in Gaza. He pointed out that over 220 journalists have been killed since October 2023.
In a collaborative effort, more than 250 news outlets worldwide have signed an appeal advocating for the protection of Palestinian journalists and demanding unrestricted access for foreign press to report independently from Gaza, as reported by NPR.
The atmosphere at the protest drew parallels with historical movements, such as those against apartheid in South Africa. During that period, activists in Los Angeles organized demonstrations against the South African government, calling for divestment and economic sanctions.
Today’s rally sought to leverage similar energy and mobilization, elevating the call for action against what is perceived as systemic oppression faced by the Palestinian people.
As the protest drew to a close, the attendees marched briefly around City Hall, shouting phrases like “Free free Palestine” and “Viva viva Palestina.”
Organizers urged participants to reach out to their congressional representatives and senators, urging them to halt arms transfers to Israel, which is accused of severe human rights violations and acts of genocide.
Lily Greenberg Call, who recently resigned from the U.S. Department of the Interior, became the first Jewish American political appointee to leave her position in protest of Israel’s actions in Gaza. At the protest, she called on lawmakers to side with the Palestinian people rather than the weapons manufacturers.
Speakers and organizers pledged to continue their advocacy, emphasizing the imperative of holding elected officials accountable while applying persistent pressure to end supports that contribute to violence in Gaza.
As articulated by Adrian Gonzalez, a downtown resident, “L.A. has a long history of militancy and organizing, so we just need to keep applying that pressure to stop the genocide.”
image source from：lataco
