[Update 12:00 p.m: This story was updated to more accurately describe the victims of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.”
A major brawl erupted outside of the screening of “Bearing witness” which displays footage of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks in Israel, which left over 1,400 people dead including women and children.
#BREAKING: Two groups clash outside L.A.'s Museum of Tolerance as the center screens a film on Hamas atrocities. LAPD officers move in as several people appear to have been punched and pepper-sprayed. Eyewitness News is live with the tense situation. Tonight at 11 from ABC7 pic.twitter.com/JJSpV6MmXi
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) November 9, 2023
ABC7 Eyewitness News posted video footage to X, formerly Twitter, displaying the conflict at the Wednesday night event, noting, “Two groups clash outside L.A.’s Museum of Tolerance as the center screens a film on Hamas atrocities.”
“LAPD officers move in as several people appear to have been punched and pepper-sprayed,” the outlet added.
Journalist Andy Ngo also reported on attempts by “far-left activists” to shut down the screening.
Far-left activists organized to shut down the documentary screening of Hamas atrocities at the Museum of Tolerance. They recommended non-white rioters stay away because of the optics of the holocaust museum being attacked by “people of color.” They came anyway however. pic.twitter.com/i7JM2RdWJk
— Andy Ngo 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) November 9, 2023
He shared a flier, allegedly from the group, that said, “Shut it down! Join us to disrupt the screening of IOF propaganda at the Museum of ‘Tolerance’!”
After the screening, early Thursday morning, Ngo posted footage of the brawl and stated, “Pro-Palestine rioters gathered to attack people attending or supporting the documentary screening showing Hamas atrocities at the Museum of Tolerance holocaust museum in Los Angeles.”
Pro-Palestine rioters gathered to attack people attending or supporting the documentary screening showing Hamas atrocities at the Museum of Tolerance holocaust museum in Los Angeles. The screening was rumored to be organized by Israeli actress Gal Gadot. pic.twitter.com/6RBG1kwOIc
— Andy Ngo 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) November 9, 2023
“The screening was rumored to be organized by Israeli actress Gal Gadot,” he added.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, 200 Hollywood industry members were invited to screen “Bearing Witness,” a 43-minute documentary displaying footage from the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.
Although Gadot was rumored to have organized the event, she was not present. However, her husband, Israeli film producer Jaron Varsano attended, as well as Israeli Special Operations veteran and On-Camera National Law Enforcement & Counterterrorism Analyst Aaron Cohen.
Cohen posted an image from inside the event noting, “So tonight I had the privilege of joining my friend Israel’s Consul General of Los Angeles @IsraelBachar_ to a select private screening of the raw unedited footage of the October 7th Massacre which was hosted by @galgadot and the Museum of Tolerance.”
So tonight I had the privilege of joining my friend Israel’s Consul General of Los Angeles @IsraelBachar_ to a select private screening of the raw unedited footage of the October 7th Massacre which was hosted by @galgadot and the Museum of Tolerance. While the footage was tough… pic.twitter.com/UyEY9OvOSK
— Aaron Cohen Official (@aacohenofficial) November 9, 2023
“While the footage was tough to watch it’s never been more clear how important it is that the Jewish people have a homeland and that It’s defended by one of the most elite militaries in the world,” he said.