Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Emmy Awards red carpet before the ceremony began on Sunday evening.
About a dozen protesters chanted as they walked through a line of cars on Figueroa Street leading to the red carpet, followed by Los Angeles police officers, near the LA Live Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Many of the protesters were wearing keffiyehs and carrying signs.
“There is no justification for killing children. #FreedomForPalestine #FreedomForSudan #FreedomForCongo,” one protester wrote on the banner.
“Reservation Dogs” star Dallas Goldtooth also wore a red Artists4Ceasefire pin on the red carpet.
This is certainly not the first time protesters have used the Oscars to make their voices heard by Hollywood executives, pundits and celebrities. Last year’s Oscars were delayed slightly when a group of protesters took to Sunset Boulevard to protest Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas. Hundreds of protesters shut down much of Hollywood during the red carpet, turning the start of the night into a traffic nightmare. Just minutes before the telecast was set to begin, the ballroom was unusually empty, with people running to their seats.
Most recently, animal rights group PETA boycotted the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Pharrell’s biopic “Piece by Piece” in protest of his work as Louis Vuitton’s menswear creative director. During the premiere, a protester stormed onto the stage after the Q&A began, holding a sign that read, “Pharrell: Stop Supporting the Killing of Animals for Fashion.”
“Your Louis Vuitton collection… Pharrell’s collection is made with their blood,” protesters shouted. “Pharrell, stop torturing animals! Ostriches are hung upside down, electrocuted and their throats cut!”
After the protester was removed, Farrell spoke directly about her objections, telling the crowd: “Rome wasn’t made in a day. And sometimes, when you have plans to change things and situations, you have to be in a position of power and influence where you can change people’s minds and help progress.”
Additional reporting by Katie Stephan.
