Anyone recall the last time we saw a story about Israel supporters violently attacking a pro-Palestinian rally?
WESTWOOD (CBSLA.com) — Wilshire Boulevard reopened Monday after an officer-involved shooting at a pro-Israeli rally closed it down overnight for an investigation.
The shooting occurred around 5:45 p.m. Sunday outside the Federal Building in Westwood, officials said.
KNX 1070′s Margaret Carrero reports the rally was held by Stand With Us, a non-profit Israel education program, to demonstrate solidarity for the state in its recent conflict with Hamas in the Gaza strip.
Witnesses said four men in a truck waved pro-Palestinian flags and attacked the pro-Israel demonstrators with sticks.
“I saw my flag on the ground,” Hany Reai, a Palestinian supporter said. “I saw a man step on it. I’m not here to fight. I just need my flag and I ran to take it.”
A Homeland Security Officer who witnessed the assault “intervened and an officer-involved (non-hit) shooting occurred,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
The officer has been placed on leave his weapon seized as evidence while the use-of-force allegation is being investigated.
Update: Wherever you find Palestinian supporters protesting Israel violence is never far away.
Via WFB:
[T]he peaceful pro-Israel rally, organized by the Israel-American Council (IAC), took a violent turn at around 5:30 P.M.
Several men in a pick-up truck waving Palestinian flags pulled into the crowd and began shouting obscenities and spitting on the pro-Israel demonstrators, according to accounts provided by two employees of Advance Security Concept (ASC), which had been hired by the IAC to provide security.
The four Palestinian supporters eventually emerged from their truck with “sticks” and a “tire iron” and began attacking the pro-Israel faction after a heated argument, according to written accounts by the two ASC officials that were obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
A DHS officer on the scene was said to have discharged his weapon at the attackers after he was targeted, according to the written accounts, which provide a detailed window into the chaotic incident.