FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2024
Media Contact: Melissa Garriga | [email protected]
CODEPINK LA To Protest for a Free Palestine the LA Times Festival of Books
LOS ANGELES, CA—CODEPINK LA is set to protest at this year's LA Times Festival of Books in solidarity with Palestine. In anticipation of Jose Andres of World Central Kitchen's speech at 12:30 in Bovard Auditorium (USC), the group will hold a protest advocating for a Free Palestine and urging accountability for the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The protest underscores the urgency of addressing the crisis in Gaza, where the loss of over 35,000 Palestinian lives demands immediate action. Additionally, the demonstration aims to highlight the egregious murder of seven World Central Kitchen humanitarian aid workers on April 1, allegedly at the hands of Israeli forces.
The action also aims to show solidarity with Asna Tabassum. University of Southern California (USC) recently revoked Asna Tabassum's opportunity to deliver the commencement speech at this year's graduation ceremony. Asna, the 2024 valedictorian and a first-generation South Asian-American Muslim, was slated to speak on May 10. CODEPINK LA condemns this decision to USC and demands the reinstatement of her slated speech.
"We're showing up to the festival to demand an end to Israel's US-backed crimes in Gaza, where Israeli occupation forces have killed more than 35,000 people--including aid workers from Jose Andres's World Central Kitchen,” explained event organizer Ryan Wentz.
“We want to encourage attendees of this book festival to read books about Palestine and to express outrage over the university's silencing of Asna Tabassum," he continued.
Event Details:
- Date: April 21, 2024
- Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm (PT)
- Location: Bovard Auditorium (USC), 3551 Trousdale Pkwy, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
For media inquiries or further information, please get in touch with Ryan at [email protected].
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