URGENT UPDATE: A Los Angeles judge has just announced that 29 protesters charged for blocking the 110 Freeway in December 2013 will enter a 12-month diversion program. This decision comes after a prolonged legal battle over charges stemming from one of the city’s most dramatic protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.
The protest, which halted traffic on the southbound lanes of the 110 Freeway, drew national attention. Activists sat on the freeway, leading to chaotic scenes as enraged motorists clashed with demonstrators. Many protesters were charged with unlawful assembly, failure to disperse, and obstructing a public corridor—all misdemeanors.
In a hearing on Monday, attorney Colleen Flynn celebrated the outcome, stating that if the protesters complete 20 hours of community service and obey the law, their charges will be dismissed by October 2026. Flynn emphasized her clients’ moral courage, saying, “These are people who were, out of conscience, making a decision to engage in an act of civil disobedience.”
Two other protesters from the same event have already completed their community service and had their charges dismissed earlier this year, according to Flynn.
The City Attorney’s office, led by Hydee Feldstein Soto, pushed for a more severe outcome, arguing that the freeway closure impacted thousands of commuters in the second-largest city in the United States. Deputy City Attorney Brad Rothenberg stated, “The freeway closure lasted about four hours,” highlighting the disruption caused.
Despite the city’s firm stance, Flynn argued that the charges reflect “impermissible bias” against Palestinians and their supporters. She pointed out that similar traffic disruptions by protesters advocating for other causes, like higher wages for hotel workers, faced less severe treatment.
This case has unfolded against the backdrop of a larger humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 68,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since Israel’s military response, a majority being women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The legal proceedings have also seen controversy over Feldstein Soto’s social media posts from October 7, 2023, the day of the Hamas-led invasion of Israel. She stated, “Every nation and every moral person must support Israel in defending her people.” Prosecutors defended her comments as a reaction to a tragic day of violence.
As the situation evolves, the implications of this case extend beyond the courtroom, raising critical questions about civil disobedience, public safety, and the treatment of political protesters.
What happens next? The 29 protesters will begin their community service as they prepare for the potential dismissal of charges in 2026. This case serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and the broader implications of political activism in the United States. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
