On a sweltering Saturday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles, union members, students, and community activists took over the lawn at City Hall for a rally entitled, “L.A. Solidarity with Palestinians. L.A. and Labor call for an arms embargo now.”
Originally planned for the City Hall steps on Spring Street, the gathering was forced to relocate due to the Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Block Party, which occupied that area.
The protest was set up on 1st Street, between Main and Los Angeles Street, where speakers stood atop a long-bed truck to address an enthusiastic crowd.
Among those who spoke were Ron Gochez from Unión del Barrio, Dr. Melina Abdullah, Chris Smalls, and several other prominent figures.
Halfway through the rally, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) intervened, warning the organizers that their truck would be towed if it did not move from 1st Street. Consequently, the rally was relocated to the south side steps of City Hall.
Central to the protest was a unified message: the U.S. must cease military aid to Israel and stop providing political cover for what is being deemed as war crimes.
Since the outbreak of conflict in October 2023, reports from Middle East Monitor indicate that Israel has received 940 aircraft and vessels stocked with U.S. weapons. This equates to over 90,000 tons of military supplies sent to a population devoid of an army, navy, marines, or police, an unprotected people suffering immense casualties.
“Over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result,” speakers emphasized, referring to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
While labor unions traditionally focus on wages, benefits, and workplace conditions for their members, the ongoing silence from union leaders regarding the crisis in Gaza has drawn criticism. For over twenty-one months, many union leaders have refrained from addressing the needs and concerns expressed by their members about the genocide occurring in Gaza.
In a passionate plea, Chris Smalls, co-founder and former president of the Amazon Labor Union, asserted, “We call on all unions to speak up against the genocide. I didn’t come here to give a speech; I came to give a call to action.”
Ron Gochez emphasized a crucial point, stating, “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 highlighted an upcoming event: a national day of action on October 24th, aimed at calling attention to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) in Washington, D.C.
In his speech, Smalls made a compelling connection between labor and impactful activism to halt weapon shipments, such as encouraging dockworkers to stop the loading and transfer of U.S.-made weapons destined for Israel.
Ben Camacho, a freelance journalist and member of the IWW Freelance Journalist Union, raised concerns about the brutal treatment of journalists covering the conflict, noting, “Israel’s attack on the free press could not have happened without legacy outlets regurgitation of the Israeli government’s claims about Palestinian reports…”
Recent statistics indicate that since October 2023, more than 220 journalists have been killed by Israeli armed forces in Gaza, raising alarms over press freedom and safety. On September 1st, over 250 news organizations globally signed an appeal for the protection of Palestinian journalists, calling for unrestricted foreign press access to Gaza and the evacuation of wounded journalists needing medical treatment.
The rally evoked historical parallels, particularly referencing the anti-apartheid protests of South Africa in the 1980s, which saw a coalition of union members, students, and activists demand economic sanctions against the apartheid government. Like today’s actions, those protests were coordinated with national movements aimed at pressuring the U.S. government and corporations to divest from South Africa.
As the protest concluded, attendees participated in a brief march around City Hall, chanting slogans such as “Free free Palestine” and “Viva viva Palestina.”
A call to action resonated throughout the gathering as speakers urged people to contact their congressional representatives to advocate for an end to arms transfers to Israel, which faces allegations of human rights violations and genocide.
“We are calling on our representatives, from city council to Congress, to stand with the Palestinian people, not with weapons manufacturers,” stated Lily Greenberg Call, who resigned from her role at the U.S. Department of the Interior as the first Jewish American political appointee to quit in protest of the actions being taken against Palestinians.
Organizers promised to maintain their efforts, pledging to continue spreading the message and pressuring elected officials to cease weapon shipments to Israel.
“L.A. has a long history of militancy and organizing, so we just need to keep applying that pressure to stop the genocide,” remarked Adrian Gonzalez, a resident of downtown Los Angeles, emphasizing the importance of sustained activism.
image source from：lataco
