At least two people were arrested after a protest at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple on Wednesday in Koreatown. Mayor Karen Bass condemned the protest.
Protesters gathered Wednesday in response to a private event at the temple’s Audrey Irmas Pavilion. According to Consul General Israel Bachar, the event was meant to bring Jewish and Korean communities together and talk about “how artificial intelligence can enhance public safety, support first responders and empower communities.”
Demonstrators objected to one of the speaker’s ties to Elbit Systems, Israel’s primary defense contractor. At least one person was arrested on suspicion of battery, and another was arrested on suspicion of vandalism. Video shows a man cleaning up the remains of a broken vase.
Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, a protest organizer, said on social media that Elbit’s “technologies are created on the targeting and killing of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and will do the same to vulnerable communities in Ktown.”
“Elbit and Israel’s aims are to help terrorize Angelenos, not protect us,” they said.
The Jewish Federation Los Angeles called the protest “antisemitic” and condemned it “in the strongest terms possible.”
Senior Rabbi Joel Nickerson from Wilshire Boulevard Temple said the temple looks forward to working with law enforcement to ensure those responsible for “hateful and illegal conduct” are held accountable.
The symposium was hosted by the Consulate General of Israel in LA with the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles, Faith and Community Empowerment (FACE) and the Jewish Federation Los Angeles.
Robert Ahn, president of the Korean American Federation of LA, in a statement described the protesters engaging in disruptive behavior, including property damage and verbally harassing attendees.
“The Korean American Federation of Los Angeles affirms that hatred and violence cannot be justified under any circumstances and unequivocally condemns all acts of hate and hostility,” he said.
Bass called the protest “abhorrent” and said the LAPD will increase patrols near houses of worship.
