Police arrested two people after a protest escalated into conflict at a Koreatown temple on Wednesday. The turmoil followed a demonstration in opposition to a private event at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple headlined by Israeli defense technology personnel.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles police were on scene just after 10 a.m., department spokesman Jeff Lee said in an interview. There, they detained two individuals who were being held by temple security amid the disturbance. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey were blocking the sidewalk, and employees of the temple weren\u2019t able to leave,\u201d Lee alleged. \u201cOfficers responded and were able to disperse the crowd.\u201d <\/p>\n
Rabbi Joel Nickerson, speaking on behalf of Wilshire Boulevard Temple, described the incident as a \u201cdisturbing outbreak of hate that resulted in arrests for battery and the destruction of property.\u201d He said in a statement that individuals \u201ctargeted the Jewish community\u201d and disrupted an event aimed at \u201cadvancing public safety in Koreatown.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one should be targeted in the City of Los Angeles on account of their faith,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The demonstration, organized by Nodutdol for Korean Community Development and Koreatown for Palestine, was held in opposition to a private public-safety symposium hosted by the Israeli Consulate at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion. In statements circulated ahead of the event, protest organizers urged the temple \u201cnot to welcome war criminals and genociders.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to event materials, speakers focused on \u201cAI-driven safety tools\u201d that communities could use \u201cto strengthen local security without relying solely on government agencies,\u201d and discussed safety challenges \u201camid pro-Palestinian protests.\u201d The program featured Israeli defense sector speakers and a Korean missionary.<\/p>\n
Protesters objected specifically to keynote speaker Goni Saar, an AI researcher for Elbit Systems. The Israel-based defense firm produces unmanned aircraft, electronic-warfare technology, cybersecurity systems and munitions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that these technologies are created on the targeting and killing of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and will do the same to vulnerable communities in Ktown,\u201d the group posted on its Facebook account.<\/p>\n