A Human Rights Campaign gala in Los Angeles was thrown into chaos on Saturday when protesters against the war between Israel and Hamas interrupted Jill Biden’s keynote speech at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.
As soon as the First Lady began speaking, about five people rose from their seats and began chanting: “Free Palestine.” One of them carried a sign that read: “Gay Jews say ceasefire now.” The evening serves as a major fundraiser for HRC, one of the nation’s leading LGBTQ advocacy organizations.
The demonstrators continued to scream as security took them out of the room.
Biden stopped speaking and resumed speaking when the protesters exited the hall.
It was announced earlier this week that Biden will deliver keynote addresses during the gala dinner and awards ceremony.
Earlier in the night, demonstrators blocked the corridor leading to the front entrance of the hotel on Stars Street. At one point, some could be heard shouting: “Genocide, Joe!”
The evening’s program also includes prizes for Jean Smart (“Hacks”) and Sterling K. Brown (“American Fiction”).
A similar protest — attended by celebrities including Sara Ramirez (“And Just Like That.”) and Indya Moore (“Pose”) — was held at an HRC gala in New York City in February. Activists denounced the Human Rights Council’s ties to arms manufacturer Northrop Grumman, and called on the LGBT group to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.
A few days after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, Human Rights Council President Kelly Robinson issued a statement on the ongoing violence in the Middle East. “The loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives rises daily. Many Jews and Muslims in the United States realize that prejudice and hate-driven violence will rise here. Anti-Semitism is wrong. Islamophobia is wrong. Absolutely stop,” the statement said in part. A member of our community feels very broken right now. The world is heavy and scary. The future is uncertain. This violence is a reminder that the struggle for liberation against extremism, discrimination and hatred is a global struggle. It’s my struggle. It’s your struggle. “It is our struggle.”
Earlier this month, protesters demanding a ceasefire in Gaza disrupted the Academy Awards ceremony by blocking streets leading to the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. As the front-row crowd scrambled to get to their seats in time, producers delayed the start of the Oscars by about five minutes.
