President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are scheduled to return to Washington, D.C., on Sunday after three days of fundraising efforts in the Los Angeles area, but police say they have not been able to find protesters after the president attended the star-studded fundraiser. Investigations into multiple acts of vandalism continue. Located in Holmby Hills.
Saturday’s itinerary included a “campaign rally” at a residence on Burke Place in the Trousdale Estates neighborhood of Beverly Hills, the White House said. Biden then attended a shiva event at the home of legendary television producers Lynn and Norman Lear, who died Tuesday at the age of 101.
Mr. Biden’s motorcade returned to his hotel at 1:59 p.m., departed for a campaign rally at his home in Brentwood at 3:18 p.m., and arrived at 3:33 p.m., mostly waving. I overtook pedestrians who were cheering me on. One man held a Palestinian flag, and another held a flag that read, “Don’t blame me, I voted for Trump.”
At 5:05 p.m., Biden’s motorcade arrived at the homes of investors Jose Feliciano and Kwanzaa Jones. After Mr. Feliciano and Mr. Jones welcomed the guests, the first lady introduced the president, who entered the room at 5:47 p.m. During his 15-minute speech, the president reflected on how he feels his policies have helped Latinos and Black people.The presidential motorcade returned to the hotel without incident at 6:21 p.m.
On Friday, the president was greeted by celebrities, several California congressmen and an estimated 1,000 Free Gaza protesters outside a fundraiser in Holmby Hills, where Biden spoke for more than 10 minutes. did.
Demonstrators gathered in nearby Holmby Park on Friday afternoon to denounce U.S. funding of Israeli military attacks in the Gaza Strip, one holding a placard that read “I will not vote for a mass murderer.” I had.
“Demonstrators’ actions, including throwing objects at police officers and passing vehicles, at one point led to an unlawful assembly and dispersal order,” Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said in a statement.
“The crowd slowly dispersed, but there were no arrests or use of force, and no officers were injured.”
Protesters then tagged several Westwood businesses and other buildings along Wilshire Boulevard, including Westwood United Methodist Church, and much of the vandalism was documented on social media.
According to media reports, someone spray-painted “Free Gaza” on the walls of an apartment building on Wilshire Boulevard across from Sinai Temple. Some residents of the building threw objects at the crowd, the Daily News reported.
Some messages were spray-painted with words such as “Baby Killer,” “LA Says No to Genocide Joe,” and “Ceasefire Now!!! Stop War Crimes!” and “Innocent blood is on your hands.”
Posts on multiple social media sites suggested the demonstration was organized by Palestinian youth movement groups.
“Our community is now gathering in Holmby Park to hold a fundraiser for the 2024 campaign in our backyard while Biden continues to support the genocide of the Palestinians.” We’re telling Biden we won’t tolerate it!” reads one of the group’s Facebook posts.
“The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of vandalism in the Westwood neighborhood last night by protesters marching from a previous demonstration. Graffiti was removed today and a crime report was taken,” a statement said Saturday.
“Unfortunately, given the nature and movement of the crowd, and the incident commander’s concerns that the group might attempt to enter nearby highways, police were unable to immediately identify the perpetrator.” the police continued.
“The LAPD is actively investigating these crimes. The LAPD fully supports the First Amendment right to peaceful demonstration, but does not condone violence or vandalism of any kind.” ”
U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), whose district includes Westwood, condemned the vandalism.
“The anti-Semitic acts and vandalism in Westwood are despicable. There is no ‘context’ in which anti-Semitism is acceptable. It is vile, disgusting, and abhorrent,” Liu wrote about X. “I call on law enforcement to investigate and prosecute” to the fullest extent of the law. ”
Beverly Hills City Councilwoman Lili Bosse wrote on X Saturday: “Last night, disgusting anti-Jewish graffiti was spray-painted on private property in Westwood. Hateful voices were shouted during a march. So much for a ‘peace rally.'” How is it okay to harbor hatred? Silence is speaking very loudly. ”
Ms. Bosse is the daughter of Holocaust survivors.
Meanwhile, Jill Biden attended a campaign fundraiser hosted by Matthew Crowley and CultureWorks Group’s Global Vice President of Construction, Neue House Martha Leon de la Barra, at Neue House Hollywood on Saturday. He appeared at gathering events and became prominent in the southern region.
The first lady was introduced by actress Connie Britton and gave an 11-minute speech to an audience of about 100 people.
“I wish this election had been about simple differences in policy. I wish it had been about differences in character and merit. But fundamentally, what this election is about is democracy.” she said.
“We are the party that protects it, not the party that tears it apart at the seams. We are the party that holds the peaceful transfer of power sacrosanct, and we are not the party that stormed the Capitol on January 6th. With you. I – we are a party.” It is not a celebration of the tyranny of a dictator, but a defense of the right of the people of this country to live freely. ”
After her speech, she took part in a discussion moderated by actress Elizabeth Banks.
Jill Biden arrived in Los Angeles ahead of her husband, landing at Hollywood Burbank Airport early Friday afternoon and then heading directly to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to work in the lab as part of the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. I was taking a tour.
She also toured the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center and the Smit Heart Institute, the White House said.
“Research on women’s health has been underfunded for decades, leading to problems that primarily affect only women or affect women differently, such as debilitating migraines or undiagnosed heart attacks.” Many conditions receive limited attention,” Biden told a crowd of about 300 people after the tour.
Because of this lack of funding, “we have little understanding of these conditions and how to support the millions of women who suffer from them, and these disparities are at historic levels.” This is even greater for communities that have been excluded from research in the past: people of color and women with disabilities.”
According to the White House, the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research “energizes the federal government and the private and philanthropic sectors to foster innovation, unlock transformative investments, close research gaps, and improve women’s health.” The aim is to improve.
President Biden arrived at Los Angeles International Airport from Las Vegas around 5 p.m. Friday after giving a speech about how his Investing in America Agenda advances his vision for infrastructure across the country.
He quickly exited Air Force One, boarded a military helicopter and headed to Santa Monica before joining a convoy to attend a fundraiser.
In his speech Friday, the president focused on the threat he believes former President Donald Trump poses to democracy.
“I literally believe that the future of American democracy is at stake,” Biden said at the home of former U.S. ambassador to Spain James Kostos and designer Michael Smith. “The biggest threat Trump poses is to our democracy, because if we lose it, we lose everything.
“We will be the generation that can say we saved democracy.”
According to opinion polls, Trump holds an overwhelming lead in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Other polls show him with a slight lead over Biden in a likely 2024 general election.
Biden also cited his administration’s economic performance and the confirmation of more than 160 federal judges.
Jill Biden, film director Steven Spielberg, director Rob Reiner, television producer Shonda Rhimes, Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco). , Representative Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and others participated. those in attendance.
Billionaire developer Rick Caruso was one of the event’s co-organizers.
“I fully support Joe Biden for president,” Caruso wrote on Instagram. “We cannot tolerate President Trump’s chaos and contempt for the fundamental principles of our democracy. We need a stable leader with experience guiding Americans through a complex world.”
Singer Lenny Kravitz performed after Biden’s speech.
According to entertainment news site Deadline, ticket prices range from $1,000 to $500,000. Those who donated $25,000 or more had access to the photo line.
Republican officials criticized Biden’s fundraising swing.
“Today, Biden is committed to supporting ordinary Californians suffering from an epidemic of violent crime, rising costs of living, and Gavin Newsom’s record $68 billion deficit,” Ben Petersen, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement Friday. “Instead, they will listen to the concerns of Hollywood’s elite.” “No wonder Mr. Biden is dragging down the Democratic Party in a competitive House race.”
California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson said in a statement that Biden’s approval ratings in California are at “record lows.”
“Even deep-blue California can’t seem to put behind its disastrous policies of high inflation, open borders, weak diplomacy, failing schools, and rampant crime,” Patterson said. “No matter how much time we spend rubbing elbows with Hollywood elites while boasting about the imagined benefits of ‘Bidenomics,’ the fact remains that Joe Biden’s presidency has been a dismal failure. Let’s go.”