Seven Jewish protesters from Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area were arrested on March 17 in the lobby of the Century City offices of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), reports the Jewish Journal.
The protest was organized by IfNotNow, an organization that has brought together young Jews who oppose Israeli government policies in the West Bank and Gaza.
A press release from the organization stated, “Friday’s action aimed to challenge the notion that AIPAC represents a majority of American Jews when it supports endless occupation and Islamophobia.”
“We are here to say that we’ll occupy this building until AIPAC is ready to stop supporting the endless occupation in Israel-Palestine,” 26-year-old IfNotNow organizer Michal David said.
The protesters arrived around 9 a.m. and were arrested in the lobby of the AIPAC offices at 1801 Century Park East, shortly after 11 a.m.
Fewer than 20 protesters ranging in age from 20-31 turned up to the event, but there were over a dozen LAPD officers and half a dozen police cruisers to break up the protest.
Outside the lobby, around 10 protesters were chanting, and decrying AIPAC’s support of the occupation and President Donald Trump’s choice of David Friedman as ambassador to Israel.
Capt. Tina Nieto, area commanding officer for the West L.A. Police Department said the protesters were arrested for trespassing.
IfNotNow held a second protest outside AIPAC’s offices on Sun. March, 19, hoping to garner more attention, because Century Park East was part of the Los Angeles Marathon Route.
