In Los Angeles, Protesters Rally in Solidarity With Palestinians
- Chase
- Sep 8
- 3 min read
Los Angeles, CA – September 6, 2025
Hundreds of demonstrators filled the park outside Los Angeles City Hall this weekend, demanding an end to U.S. support for Israel and denouncing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The rally unfolded not only as a political statement but as a ritualized act of defiance, weaving together chants, drums, banners, and cultural practices that gave the gathering a distinct atmosphere.
Sage at the Center
At the very heart of the protest, a bundle of sage burned continuously, sending smoke drifting through the air above the park. The sage was not incidental—it was the centerpiece of the demonstration. Protesters described it as an act of cleansing and protection, invoking traditions of purification to safeguard participants and consecrate the space. The rising smoke became the visual and spiritual core of the event, around which chants, drums, and flags converged.
Signs That Spoke for Themselves
The protest’s message was blunt and uncompromising. A handmade sign read, “Bibi is a Shandeh,” a Yiddish phrase for “disgrace” aimed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Others declared, “U.S./Israel Stop Starving Gaza,” “U.S. Bases Out of the Middle East,” and “Stop Genocide – Occupying Palestine – War Profiteering – Crimes Against Humanity.”
A floral banner proclaimed, “Heroes Fight Like Palestinians,” while Palestinian flags rippled against the backdrop of City Hall. Members of the Freedom Socialist Party held red placards calling for systemic change, while banners across the plaza read, “LA Solidarity With Palestinians – Labor Can Stop the War Machine.”
A Coalition of Movements
The rally drew a diverse coalition: Palestinian solidarity organizations, labor activists, socialist groups, and Jewish anti-Zionist voices. Literature distributed at the rally connected U.S. military aid abroad with cuts to healthcare, education, and social programs at home. Placards declaring “Democrats Sold Us Out” captured frustration with Washington’s bipartisan foreign policy, while others called for the formation of a labor-based political alternative.
For many in attendance, Palestine was not seen as an isolated conflict but as a frontline in a global struggle against authoritarianism, militarism, and corporate profiteering.
Atmosphere and Security
Though the protest remained peaceful, the tone was urgent. Drums echoed across the park, chants rose in waves, and the steady smoke of sage anchored the gathering. Some participants arrived in black tactical gear, one carrying a shield painted “We Protect Us,” emphasizing the ethos of community defense.
Police maintained a visible presence outside City Hall, staging unmarked SUVs and patrol cars along the perimeter. Despite the show of force, no confrontations were reported.
A Protest with Ritual Power
By choosing the park outside City Hall as their stage, protesters placed their demands at the center of Los Angeles’s civic authority. The location underscored that these calls were not abstract but directed squarely at government institutions. The sage, burning at the core of the demonstration, gave the action an added dimension—transforming it from a conventional rally into a collective ritual of defiance and solidarity.
Conclusion
For several hours, downtown Los Angeles was alive with signs, chants, drumming, and the plume of sage drifting across City Hall’s steps. Protesters left no ambiguity about their demands: end U.S. complicity in the siege of Gaza, dismantle the war machine, and stand with Palestinians in their fight for survival, dismantle the war machine, and stand with Palestinians in their fight for survival.
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