Biden condemns protesters blocking access to LA synagogue

President Biden on Monday condemned the pro-Palestinian protest outside of a California synagogue, calling the demonstration antisemitic.

“I’m appalled by the scenes outside of Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles. Intimidating Jewish congregants is dangerous, unconscionable, antisemitic, and un-American,” Biden said in a post on X.

A protest on Sunday outside of Adas Torah synagogue turned violent with physical altercations between two groups captured on videos, including footage of people punching and kicking others, KTLA 5 reported.

The president added in his statement, “Americans have a right to peaceful protest. But blocked access to a house of worship- and engaging in violence- is never acceptable.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) is set to meet with law enforcement, faith leaders and other officials after the events of Sunday, according to KTLA 5.

Biden also condemned a pro-Palestine protest in New York earlier this month, when demonstrators protested the war in Gaza outside of an exhibit for Oct. 7 victims. He called the protests “horrifying.”

The White House has condemned antisemitism seen in protests across the U.S., including when Biden noted that some protests on college campuses in May crossed the line toward antisemitism.

During remarks at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Annual Days of Remembrance in May, he called on Americans who are “ignoring” the events of the Holocaust and the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel to stop.