- First Lady Jill Biden spoke at a fundraising dinner in Los Angeles on Saturday evening
- Protesters chanted ‘armistice now’ with a banner ‘queer Jews say armistice now’
- Dozens more protesters made a scene outside the venue with the same demand
Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted a speech by First Lady Jill Biden to demand a ceasefire on Israel’s campaign in Gaza.
Dr. Biden was addressing the Human Rights Campaign 2024 Los Angeles Dinner on Saturday evening when the protest suddenly broke out.
Protesters unfurled a banner reading “queer Jews say ceasefire now” and began loudly chanting “ceasefire now” until security intervened.
Guards pulled down the banner and forced the handful of protesters to leave. It was not clear how they got in.
Protesters unfurled a banner reading “queer Jews say ceasefire now” and began loudly chanting “ceasefire now” until security intervened
Dr. Biden’s supporters drowned out the protest chants by shouting “four more years,” referring to Joe Biden’s election campaign.
The first lady interrupted her speech during the commotion, but afterwards continued her remarks without any reference to the protest.
Dozens more protesters made a scene outside the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “long live Palestine.”
Israel and Hamas are actively discussing a long-term ceasefire to release hostages and provide aid to civilians, but have so far failed to agree on terms.
During the event, awards were presented to actors Jean Smart and Sterling K Brown for their work in advancing LGBTQ equality.
Biden is on a fundraising tour of Southern California, starting Friday with an event at Dr. Patricia Gordon’s home in Hancock Park that raised $1 million.
The first lady interrupted her speech during the commotion, but afterwards continued her remarks without any reference to the protest.
Earlier on Saturday, she spoke at another fundraiser at Rancho Mirage, the Thunderbird Heights home of former U.S. Ambassador to Spain James Costos.
“With his judgment, his experience and his relationships with leaders around the world, Joe is not only the right person for the job, he is the only person for the job,” she said at that event.
“MAGA Republicans are waging war over our choices, our future, and trying to drag us back down a dark and dangerous path.
‘We are the first generation in half a century to give our daughters a country with fewer rights than we had. But we will not let the MAGA Republicans win this battle.”
The president has a huge financial advantage over his opponent Donald Trump, but is trailing in most national polls.