In a surprising turn of events at the 2024 Oscars, the fight for a cease-fire in Gaza and an end to the ongoing humanitarian crisis took center stage, both on the red carpet and on the streets of Los Angeles. Pro-Palestine protesters, numbering in the hundreds, disrupted the prestigious event, causing a delay that was not merely a technical glitch.
As reported by the New York Times, the protesters, armed with signs reading “Free Palestine” and chanting slogans like “cease-fire now” and “long live Palestine,” brought traffic to a standstill on Highland Avenue, a major Hollywood thoroughfare. The impassioned group then proceeded down Sunset Boulevard, creating chaos with honking cars and hovering helicopters, while LAPD officers in riot gear monitored the situation closely.
By the time the protest reached the intersection of Sunset and Highland, traffic had been halted for over 20 minutes, causing some high-profile celebrities en route to the Oscars red carpet to find themselves trapped in their Town Cars. Hollywood Reporter noted that attendees took matters into their own hands, with some abandoning their vehicles and walking toward the ceremony. Others were reportedly given rides to the event in golf carts provided by the Academy.
A smaller group of protesters also congregated closer to the Dolby Theatre, where the awards ceremony was unfolding. Anthony Bryson, an organizer of one of the protests, expressed the significance of seizing the global spotlight during the Academy Awards, stating, “With people from across the globe watching the Academy Awards, this is a Hail Mary opportunity. What’s happening in Gaza needs to have attention drawn to it. We wanted to bring as much resistance and visibility as possible.”
Laura Delhauer, a filmmaker participating in the protest, voiced her dismay over the situation, saying, “I’m heartbroken to know that our hard-earned tax dollars are going to pay for the murder of innocent civilians.” She hoped the demonstration would exert pressure on the government to enforce a cease-fire.
Film Workers for Palestine and SAG-AFTRA Members for Ceasefire, the groups behind the protests, took to social media to declare, “There will be no awards amid a genocide,” spreading awareness about their cause.
According to Deadline, Oscars organisers and city officials were aware of the planned protests and had contingency plans in place to ensure the safety and uninterrupted arrival of celebrity guests. The Academy, however, offered no official comment on the protests. A senior security official contracted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences assured, “We are well aware of the protesters. We have a number of backup scenarios we can activate quickly if needed. Working with our partners in the LAPD, we anticipate no problems or delays for our guests and nominees.”
