Jason Reedy, a professional protester, seems open to hearing differing opinions—though only if they align with his own skewed perspective.
At 38, Reedy often disrupts meetings at the Los Angeles Police Commission and City Council. His approach to “activism” is typically loud and filled with profanities, targeting police officers, elected officials, and just about anyone who happens to be within earshot.
He claims to defend the marginalized, yet his protests have proven to be financially rewarding. Since March 2020, the People’s City Council Freedom Fund reportedly raised $2.5 million, though it merely states that the funds support “on-the-ground organizations” without specifics.
Reedy made headlines recently after he threatened a reporter from the California Post, taunting her with, “You’re afraid of me, aren’t you?” This incident followed a tumultuous meeting where Reedy and his group created chaos, attempting to block filming by shouting obscenities.
The situation escalated so dramatically that the public meeting had to be cut short, leading officials to exit amidst the turmoil.
Though given multiple opportunities to express their concerns, Reedy and his followers from the radical People’s City Council frequently undermine the democratic process. They often yell and refuse to relinquish microphones, which usually leads to early adjournments of meetings.
Reedy’s disruptive tactics could be interpreted as chaos for its own sake. In one instance, he even brought children along to his protests, leading some to cry foul over his methods.
Former City Councilman Kevin de Leon expressed frustration, stating that public meetings exist for resident voices, not for disturbances. He criticized Reedy’s confrontational style and remarked on how it strays from genuine citizen participation.
Critics argue that Reedy, whom they label a “paid agitator,” exploits children as shields during his outbursts. They have witnessed him hurling insults at police and elected officials, including graphic language and racial slurs.
Some of Reedy’s actions, like tying children up and forcing them into playful situations, led to backlash from officials and the community, who argue that the kids are merely tools in his chaotic strategies.
Former LAPD Commissioner Michelle Moore suggested that Reedy might even use children to deflect criticism, while former LAPD Chief Steve Soboroff criticized Reedy for bringing children into confrontational spaces.
Despite this backlash, Reedy often brushes aside the criticism by accusing the commission of racism and police misconduct.
Before the latest incident, he gained some attention during a Christmas toy giveaway in December 2022, where he famously chased de Leon in a physical altercation that resulted in both filing assault reports. However, criminal charges were not pursued due to insufficient evidence.
Following that encounter, de Leon accused Reedy of a continuous pattern of violent behavior, which Reedy denied.
The People’s City Council has not clarified how they have used the funds they’ve raised, and Reedy has not responded to requests for comments.
Nonetheless, it appears that the money has propelled Reedy from being just another heckler to a key player in Los Angeles’ “defund the police” movement. His attendance at public meetings is now often synonymous with imminent conflict.
Recently, Reedy has also publicly confronted LAPD officials outside City Hall, including a notable exchange with Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event, further fueling tensions between the police and anti-police activists.
The California Post reached out to Reedy at his home and tried contacting him via social media for comment, but he didn’t respond.
