Shots Fired by Federal Officer at Los Angeles Pro-Palestinian Protesters

By JTA July 14, 2014

A federal Homeland Security officer fired his weapon in the direction of counter demonstrators at a rally in support of Israel held in Los Angeles.

Some 1,200 people attended the rally Sunday afternoon in front of the Federal Building in West Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department told the Los Angeles Times.

During the rally, at least three men waving Palestinian flags and carrying wooden sticks arrived at the rally and allegedly hit some of the protesters, according to the Jewish Journal.

The men, who told the newspaper that they were Palestinians living in Anaheim, returned to their truck and drove off after the melee was broken up.

As they left, a Department of Homeland Security officer fired his gun in the direction of the truck, Brian Thomas of the LAPD West Los Angeles Patrol Division, told the Jewish Journal. The men reportedly were stopped and handcuffed, after they left the scene of the demonstration.

Speakers at the pro-Israel demonstration included Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center; Roz Rothstein co-founder and CEO of StandWithUs; Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer; and Israeli actress and activist Noa Tishby.

A counter demonstration of about 200 Palestinian supporters was held across the street from the pro-Israel demonstration.

Several streets in the area of the demonstration were blocked off into Sunday evening, according to CBSLA.

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