Black Lives Matter protests in Tujunga

[Brian]

On our way to Montrose Peace Vigil around 5 p.m. on June 12 and June 19, Anni and I drove by Black Lives Matter protesters on the south side of Foothill Boulevard in Tujunga, in front of the Albertson's near Lowell Avenue -- their numbers had grown to at least three dozen by the second week.  On the north side, fewer than ten counter-protesters stood around pickup trucks with Trump signs and American flags.  About an hour later, our friend Berit drove by and saw LAPD officers standing in the median between the two groups, but everybody was peaceful.

The time was changed to 1 p.m. for the protest on June 26, and no counter-protesters showed up.  Before 1, we saw two people holding signs on the southeast corner of Foothill and Tujunga Canyon Boulevard, then about 20 more in front of the Albertson's parking lot before we turned around and joined Roberta and an ever growing crowd at Tujunga Canyon.  An LAPD sergeant approached me on foot, asking who was in charge of the group.  I said, "We're leftists, so nobody is really in charge," but pointed to Eric, who had told me he was one of the organizers.  The sergeant just asked us to stay on the sidewalk.  Later, another man named Eric introduced himself, saying he and his friends had come from the Crenshaw district to sell t-shirts with BLM messages.  When we left, we drove behind the CVS Pharmacy and saw three LAPD cruisers in the shade of the back parking lot.

Back at Foothill and Lowell, the crowd had tripled. We found Oss Rae listening to a Black man who stood in the parking lane facing the sidewalk with a bullhorn, talking about some of the Black lives ended by police.  A drone hovered overhead.  Around 2 p.m., everyone walked west to meet the other group and Anni and I left.  I estimate that more than 100 people had gathered by then.

Sunland-Tujunga has a history of successful protests.  Residents stopped a gravel pit from being dug in the Big Tujunga wash before I was born in the 1950's.  In the early 2000's, they prevented a zoning change that would have allowed a Home Depot store in Sunland.  I attended a small rally in front of Bolton Hall organized through Move On to mark one of the early anniversaries of the Iraq invasion.  But I've never seen anything like these BLM protests in my 62 years living here.

Eric the organizer told me that his group -- ABRA, which stands for Against Bigotry, Responding with Action -- has private Instagram and Facebook accounts.  Apparently, they are so private that they are unsearchable.  If anybody has a link to upcoming information about the protests in Tujunga, please post it here.

[Sharon W]

The local Against Bigotry, Responding with Action group is on Facebook and I posted this a few minutes ago,

Erik Boyd, Eric Gerard Brown, I'm guessing you are the two "Erics" who members of the Montrose Peace Vigil spoke with during the June 26 demonstration on Foothill Blvd. Even if not, I'd like to invite you to check out their message board, montrosepeacevigil.proboards.com/

The MPV has been demonstrating against war and for various progressive causes since 2006 at the corner of Ocean View & Honolulu on Friday evenings, 5:30 to 7 pm. Some members avoid Facebook and would appreciate learning of other ABRA actions. I'll cross post what I can but direct contact will be more reliable.

[Brian]

Thank you, Sharon!

I searched on Google, and found this foreign language Facebook page publicizing the July 3 rally by ABRA:

ne-np.facebook.com/MarchAndRallyLA/posts/2897719567023063

[Sharon W]

ABRA is meeting again Friday, July 10th at 1 pm at Foothill and Lowell per their Facebook page.

[Brian]

Anni and I arrived at 1 p.m. for the Black Lives Matter rally in front of Albertson's. This week, a large commercial van with a sound system and big speakers on top was parked in the no parking zone along with several cars behind it.  Some demonstrators stood in the street with their signs and banners, inches from the right traffic lane. I counted nine Trump supporters across the street -- much older -- some of them wearing face coverings.  Soon after we got there, about two dozen BLM protesters jaywalked to talk to the Trump contingent, and most of them remained there when we left at 2:15.  The conversations appeared to be civil.  Perhaps because their demonstration had been overwhelmed by BLM signs, we saw Trump supporters setting up on the north side of Foothill Boulevard at Tujunga Canyon Boulevard when we drove home.

I listened as the LAPD sergeant I met last week spoke with Eric the organizer. Vehicles in the no parking zone would not be cited. The city's ordinance against amplified sound allows anyone 200 feet or more from the source to complain -- if that happened, the sergeant said that they would be issued a warning before being cited. Eric said that the demonstration would continue until at least 5 p.m. today, but no later than 6.

The turnout for those 75 minutes was about half the number we saw during the same time last week.  Free water, snack bars and face masks were available for everyone.

[Sharon W]

ABRA posted in Facebook that they have cancelled their demonstration tomorrow due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. As far as I know the Trump/Pence supporters still intend to be on the north side of Foothill.

[lowell clashes]

www.dailynews.com/2020/08/14/trump-supporters-clash-with-black-lives-matter-demonstrators-in-tujunga/

www.dailynews.com/2020/08/22/trump-supporters-and-counter-protesters-face-off-in-tujunga-2-people-arrested/

www.dailynews.com/tag/protest/

[BLM]

A Trump supporter brought a gun.  Note also that the LAPD polices only the Black Lives Matter side.

[Brian]

How sad, yet so predictable. Thankfully, however, ABRA has announced on Facebook that they will cease to organize and participate in any future Friday counter-protests.

I enjoyed the first Black Lives Matter protest I attended, an uplifting experience because it was scheduled hours before the pro-Trump demonstration.  The next week, somebody parked a sound truck across the street from a smattering of Trump supporters.  I left early because the main purpose seemed to be haranguing old misguided locals with MAGA hats who were outnumbered by their American flags.

Since then, Anni and I drove by there every Friday on our way to the Montrose Peace Vigil, watching the crowds grow on both sides of the street.  I suspect that many of them had never come to Tujunga before.  Each week, their behavior became more uncivil.  People started blocking the right eastbound lane and jaywalking back and forth, halting traffic in both directions and putting their safety at risk.  Two weeks ago, people were shoving each other on the south side as a smoke bomb went off.  Last Friday, we avoided Foothill Boulevard, but we saw six LAPD cruisers speeding up Tujunga Canyon Boulevard with sirens and lights blazing, then six more going up Lowell Avenue.  Meanwhile, cops in riot gear were assembling in the parking lot across from the YMCA.

I like to think of myself as a professional protester, although nobody has ever paid me. (George Soros -- I'll take euros!)  I've been going to demonstrations and marches for 45 years, and I was arrested three times for trespassing at the Nevada Test Site before nuclear testing was halted in 1992.  The question I always ask myself is, What would John Lewis do?

The only effective way to counter-protest is to listen and love.  You have to respect someone first if you want to change his mind, and that could take years, if it ever happens.  If somebody strikes you, stand up and look at him -- calmly, in the eye.  Repeat if necessary.

If ABRA ever sponsors Black Lives Matter protests in Sunland-Tujunga at another time or location, count me in.

[Sharon W]

Well said, Brian. I hope the ABRA members interfacing with LAPD are successful in helping the department understand how to serve and protect all the residents, not only those whose political views they agree with. That was the most disturbing part of watching videos of the dueling demonstrations - how blatantly the LAPD, LASD and GPD favored the T/P 2020 supporters, even the week they had confederate flag and a woman shouting "Heil Hitler" and flipping off the BLM/ABRA supporters.

In regards to being paid by George Soros - I finally read about someone who did get a Soros grant! Leah Penniman, author of "Farming While Black" got a Soros Equality Fellowship for her Soul Fire Farm - www.farmingwhileblack.org/