A pro-Palestinian protest caused havoc outside the Oscars on Sunday evening, with the broadcast of Hollywood’s biggest night reportedly delayed due to unruly protesters.
Attendees were temporarily unable to arrive at the awards ceremony inside the Dolby Theater, causing the show to be postponed several minutes. The Los Angeles Times reported. Some protesters at the start of the 96th Academy Awards ceremony shouted “shame on you” at the guests.
The star-studded event didn’t begin until after 4:06 p.m. local time. The LA Times reported that the red carpet coverage lasted longer than planned and was followed by a commercial break, which slowed proceedings down even further, apparently to give guests more time to take their seats.
Some guests were about an hour late. A black van carrying participants stopped near the venue. The newspaper reported.
Actor Christoph Waltz was among the attendees who got out of their cars and walked the rest of the way in time for the show.
The violent demonstration drew about 1,000 protesters, but only a fraction of that slowed traffic.
“Genocide is being committed in the name of the people, genocide has happened to the people before, and today I’m sitting at home,” protester Miguel Kamnitzer said, according to the LA Times. I can’t just watch the award ceremony.”
The protesters were confronted by officers in riot gear as the Los Angeles Police Department ordered them to disperse.
“A dispersal order has been issued to the area of Sunset Boulevard and Cherokee Avenue due to an unlawful assembly,” the police department posted to X earlier Sunday. “Please leave the area.”
Demonstrators held placards and called for a ceasefire near security checkpoints around the theater, with some yelling at people trying to get to the famous theatre.
One sign read, “We don’t reward genocide.”
“With the Academy Awards being watched from all over the world, this is an opportunity to say Hail Mary,” protest organizer Anthony Bryson said. According to the New York Times.
“What is happening in Gaza needs attention,” he said. “We wanted to bring as much resistance and visibility as possible.”
The area surrounding the Dolby Theater and the event’s red carpet was cordoned off for several blocks in all directions.
Inside the theater, there were further tacit signs of protests against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Singer Billie Eilish, who was nominated for Best Song, her brother Finneas, director Ava DuVernay and actor Ramy Youssef also wore pins to call for a ceasefire.
Protests related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas have continued since the October 7 massacre by Palestinian terrorists, which killed 1,200 Israelis. The Hamas-backed Health Ministry says Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed around 30,000 Palestinians in the past few months.
with post wire
