The protest is a result of collaboration with Writers Against the War on Gaza LA (WAWOG), Film Workers For Palestine, SAG-AFTRA for Ceasefire and more organizations.
A Free Palestine march, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, is set to hit Los Angeles tomorrow ahead of the 2024 Oscars.
The protest has been called by a group of organizers, artists and film workers in collaboration with Writers Against the War on Gaza LA (WAWOG), Film Workers for Palestine, SAG-AFTRA for Ceasefire and many others, as they say, “No awards during a genocide!”
The organizers say they expect hundreds of people to show up to rally, march, blockade and disrupt, as they demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire. They also call for an end to what they say is “the blockade of Gaza and the occupation of Palestine.”
“We will not be distracted by the entertainment industry,” the caption of the post read. “We WILL continue to call for a permanent ceasefire and Palestinian liberation. Let’s mobilize and take the streets to show that we refuse to look away from this ongoing genocide! Ceasefire NOW!”
Sunday is also the first day of Ramadan, which is a holiday for the majority of Gazans. It is also the day Israel is set to start ground invasion of Rafah, a small city in the southern Gaza Strip where over a million Palestinians have been forced to shelter.
A protest took place outside of the 2024 Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica on Feb. 25. Protesters were outside the tent playing previously recorded chants on a megaphone, like “free Palestine,” “Long live Palestine” and “ceasefire now.”
According to The New York Times, earlier this week, Commander Randy Goddard of the Los Angeles Police Department noted that they would be heightening security at this year’s awards ceremony after hearing rumblings there would be protests.
“It’s going to be our goal to ensure that the Academy Awards is successful, that guests can arrive safely and get into the venue,” said Goddard, who leads the department’s management of the Oscars. “But, also, we are going to try very hard to make contact with the groups as they show up, and lay out the expectation that we as the police are here to support your First Amendment constitutional rights.”
Presenters bowed out at the last minute; nominees chose not to show up; the guests who attended did not stop along the red carpet and were asked to wear darker, more subdued outfits; and the night was filled with comments about the war from the likes of Adrien Brody, Nicole Kidman and Chris Cooper.
Celebrities today have been outspoken about the Israel-Hamas War, with many calling for ceasefire since October, just weeks after the initial Hamas attack that launched the conflict.
Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Oscar Isaac, Quinta Brunson, Ayo Edebiri, Cate Blanchett, Hasan Minhaj, Jeremy Strong and Joaquin Phoenix, among others, signed a letter calling for “immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost.”
During a conversation ahead of the 96th annual Awards, Oscars telecast showrunner Raj Kapoor talked about how he and fellow producers were preparing for protests or disruptions on Sunday.
“There are a lot of plans in place and hundreds of people involved in those type of decisions,” he said. “There’s formal plan, but, in the end, few people will make key decisions in very short amount of time if anything happens. There’s lot of thought that goes into every single piece of this show. That’s why it is the Oscars. That’s why it’s a global show because every nuance is actually thought about ahead of time.”
