A pro-Palestine demonstration in the Pico-Robertson district became violent on the morning of June 23 after counter-demonstrators yielding Israeli flags met them in front of the Adas Torah synagogue. What started as a verbal dispute quickly turned into physical violence when demonstrators began throwing punches, kicking each other and spraying chemical agents. Police arrived at the scene in riot gear and arrested one person for carrying a spiked flag, which is prohibited at a public demonstration.
The demonstrations began when supporters of Palestine gathered at the synagogue to protest a real estate event being held at the facility that included “representatives of housing projects in all the best Anglo neighborhoods in Israel,” according to an advertisement for the event. Pro-Palestine groups slammed the event on social media before showing up to the event and blocking the entrance. “Racist settler expansionists are not welcome in Los Angeles,” the Palestinian Youth Movement posted on Instagram. Supporters of both Israel and Palestine marched through surrounding neighborhoods and made their way into Beverly Hills via Almont Drive and Olympic Boulevard before heading to Doheny Drive. A video posted on the social media platform X shows Beverly Hills Police officers arresting a man with a face covering in support of Palestine.
