Pro-Palestinian protesters gather on Emmy Awards red carpet

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Emmy Awards red carpet before the ceremony began Sunday night.

About a dozen protesters chanted slogans as they marched along the line of cars on Figueroa Street leading to the red carpet, followed by LAPD officers, near the LA Live Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Many protesters wore keffiyehs and held signs.

“Nothing justifies the killing of children. #FreePalestine #FreeSudan #FreeCongo,” read a placard carried by a protester.

“Reservation Dogs” star Dallas Goldtooth also wore a red Artists4Ceasefire pin on the red carpet.

This is certainly not the first time that an awards show has been used by protesters seeking to make their voices heard by Hollywood executives, pundits and celebrities. Last year, the Oscars were slightly delayed when a group of demonstrators descended on Sunset Boulevard to protest the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Hundreds of protesters blocked much of Hollywood during the red carpet, turning the early evening into a traffic nightmare. With just minutes to go before the telecast, much of the ballroom was unusually empty, with people scrambling to their seats.

More recently, animal rights group PETA disrupted the premiere of Pharrell Williams’ Lego biopic Piece by Piece at the Toronto International Film Festival to protest his work as creative director of Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection. During the premiere, a protester rushed the stage as the post-screening Q&A began, holding a sign that read: “Pharrell: Stop supporting the killing of animals for fashion.”

“Your Louis Vuitton collection… Pharrell’s collection is made of their blood,” they shouted. “Pharrell, stop torturing animals! Ostriches are hung upside down, electrocuted and their necks are cut!”

After the protester was removed, Pharrell directly addressed her objections, telling the audience, “Rome wasn’t built in a day. And sometimes when you’re going to change things and situations, you have to put yourself in a position of power and influence where you can change people’s minds and contribute to progress.”

Additional reporting by Katcy Stephan.