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Officials, faith leaders to meet after protest outside Los Angeles synagogue turns violent 

Will Conybeare and Erin Myers

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is set to meet with other elected officials, law enforcement and faith leaders after a protest outside a local synagogue turned violent on Sunday. 

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, authorities were first dispatched to the 9000 block of Pico Boulevard in L.A.’s Pico-Robertson neighborhood just before 11 a.m. on reports of protesters allegedly blocking the entrance to the Adas Torah synagogue. 

“There were several physical altercations between the two groups protesting which resulted in two reports of battery,” LAPD said in a press release issued early Monday morning, adding that investigations into both reports had been launched.

Responding officers in riot gear immediately set up skirmish lines and blocked access to nearby streets as counter-protesters arrived and confrontations turned physical. 

Video from the protests taken by X user @LosAngeles_Scan shows multiple groups of demonstrators pushing and shoving each other as the altercations spilled into the street, at times blocking traffic.  

Others were seen throwing wild punches, kicking people on the ground and using flags they were carrying to defend themselves. 

Video from the protests taken by X user @LosAngeles_Scan show multiple groups of demonstrators pushing and shoving each other as the altercations spilled into the street, at times blocking traffic.
Video from the protests taken by X user @LosAngeles_Scan show multiple groups of demonstrators pushing and shoving each other as the altercations spilled into the street, at times blocking traffic.
Video from the protests taken by X user @LosAngeles_Scan show multiple groups of demonstrators pushing and shoving each other as the altercations spilled into the street, at times blocking traffic.
Video from the protests taken by X user @LosAngeles_Scan show multiple groups of demonstrators pushing and shoving each other as the altercations spilled into the street, at times blocking traffic.
Video from the protests taken by X user @LosAngeles_Scan show multiple groups of demonstrators pushing and shoving each other as the altercations spilled into the street, at times blocking traffic.
Video from the protests taken by X user @LosAngeles_Scan show multiple groups of demonstrators pushing and shoving each other as the altercations spilled into the street, at times blocking traffic.
Video from the protests taken by X user @LosAngeles_Scan show multiple groups of demonstrators pushing and shoving each other as the altercations spilled into the street, at times blocking traffic.
Video from the protests taken by X user @LosAngeles_Scan show multiple groups of demonstrators pushing and shoving each other as the altercations spilled into the street, at times blocking traffic.
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One person was arrested for possession of a prohibited item at a protest; according to LAPD Officer Tony Im, the item was described as a “spiked flag.” 

The individual was cited at the West Los Angeles station and released, police said.

Several elected officials were quick to condemn the violence, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom. 

“The violent clashes outside the Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles are appalling,” the governor said on X. “There is no excuse for targeting a house of worship. Such antisemitic hatred has no place in California.” 

In separate statements, Mayor Bass and L.A. Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky both called the demonstration “unacceptable” and confirmed that they would be meeting with each other, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, LAPD interim Chief Dominic Choi and other city officials this week to discuss the safety of Angelenos. 

The LAPD says they will be increasing patrols to the area surrounding Adas Torah synagogue as well as other places of worship and reminded Angelenos that while lawful protesting is allowed, violence and crime are not tolerated.