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Edited by: TJVNews.com
As Hollywood gears up for the 96th Academy Awards, tensions rise amidst planned protests aiming to disrupt the star-studded event. According to information provided in a report on the Deadline.com web site, demonstrators are expected to converge around Hollywood and Highland and Oscar organizers are implementing contingency plans to ensure the safety and smooth flow of the ceremony.
“We are well aware of the protesters, we have a number of back-up scenarios we can activate quickly if needed,” revealed a senior security official working for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as was reported by Deadline.com. The organizers, in collaboration with the LAPD, are prepared to address any disruptions while ensuring minimal impact on the ceremony’s proceedings.
Protests under the banner “no awards during a genocide” are set to take place at the site of the now-closed Cinerama Dome on Sunset Blvd, the Deadline.com report indicated. A coalition of pro-Hamas, pro-terror and pro-ceasefire groups aims to draw attention to the ongoing conflict in Gaza amidst the glitz and glamour of the Oscars.
“We will not let people turn away from the atrocities in Gaza. We are taking action and making sure Palestine will NOT be ignored for some glitz and glam,” stated Film Workers for Palestine and SAG-AFTRA for Ceasefire, the Deadline.com report indicated.
While the specifics of the organizers’ plans remain undisclosed, it is understood that measures will be taken to keep arriving attendees away from the protests. The report on the Deadline.com site also noted that with the ceremony scheduled to begin an hour earlier than usual, organizers aim to ensure that nominees, presenters, and guests can traverse the red carpet without disruption.
Despite inquiries from Deadline, the Academy declined to comment on the protests or security arrangements, maintaining a veil of secrecy surrounding the preparations. The focus remains on orchestrating a seamless event while addressing the concerns raised by demonstrators.
“Officers are working closely with event organizers and security agencies, implementing comprehensive measures to ensure a safe Oscars experience for all,” stated LAPD Commander Randy Goddard to Deadline.com. He emphasized the department’s commitment to bolstering security to prevent disruptions by demonstrators, maintaining a focus on the safe arrival and entry of guests into the Oscars venue.
“LAPD will ensure the safe arrival and entry of guests into the Oscars venue, alongside maintaining a secure environment for the event,” Cmdr. Goddard assured. Deadline reported that he also noted that the department will engage in discussions with planned protestors to ensure their right to assemble and dissent is respected.
Protestors, under the mantra “While You’re Watching, Bombs Are Dropping,” are expected to attempt to march through Hollywood from the Cinerama Dome to the Oscars site. As per the information contained in the Deadline report, if the march proceeds, it will encounter barriers, fences, and a significant presence of over 1,000 LAPD officers, AMPAS security, and other personnel, sources indicate.
Similar to past protests, the gathering aims to draw attention away from the Oscars ceremony, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. The choice of the first full day of the Muslim month of Ramadan adds symbolic weight to their cause. Deadline reported that despite the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, the coalition of protest groups asserted, “We will not be distracted by the entertainment industry. We WILL continue to call for a permanent ceasefire and Palestinian liberation. Let’s mobilize and take the streets to show that we refuse to look away from this ongoing genocide! Ceasefire NOW!”
Hollywood Boulevard, from La Brea to Wilcox, has been fully blocked off in standard security procedures for the Oscars. Adjacent streets like Hawthorn Avenue and Orange Drive are also undergoing lockdowns to ensure the safety of attendees and the smooth execution of the ceremony.
“This is an industry built on always having a Plan B,” emphasized an individual connected to Sunday’s Oscars, according to the Deadline report. “Everyone has a right to protest, of course, but the show must go on, as they say.”
Against the backdrop of the Oscars preparations, ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations are unfolding between the Biden administration, Israel, Hamas, and some Arab states, Deadline.com reported. These delicate talks, continuing up to the wire, aim to address the complex and long-standing conflicts in the region.
While President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are calling for a ceasefire, the U.S. and its allies are also making preparations to build a pier for humanitarian aid delivery directly to Gaza from the sea, as was indicated in Biden’s Thursday night State of the Union address. Air drops of aid and supplies into Gaza have continued for a fifth straight day.
Despite the diplomatic efforts, Israel has signaled deeper military moves into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, bordering Egypt, as was mentioned in the Deadline report. Protests related to the Middle East conflict have become a recurring theme at various public and campaign events, awards shows, and even the New Year’s Eve ball-drop in New York City, according to the information in the Deadline report. Most recently, pro-Hamas, pro-terror protesters disrupted California Senate leader Adam Schiff’s primary victory party on March 5 in Hollywood.
With tensions high and significant geopolitical developments unfolding, the Oscars organizers face the challenge of maintaining focus on the event. The industry’s resilience in always having a contingency plan is put to the test, balancing the right to protest with the imperative of ensuring the smooth execution of the awards ceremony.
