Supporters performed a Nazi-style salute in support of Kanye West
(Picture: Karen Bass / Twitter)Los Angeles officials have condemned demonstrators who held banners above a motorway, pledging support for Kanye West’s anti-Semitic statements.
LA mayoral candidate Karen Bass shared a picture on Twitter showing a group of baseball-capped individuals performing Nazi salutes with a banner reading: “Kanye is right about the Jews”.
Ms Bass wrote: “This is the exact type of hate that I will not tolerate as mayor. We will aggressively root out anti-Semitism.
“It has no place in our city and never will.”
US rapper Mr West said on October 3: “Going death con 3 [sic - a reference to Defcon 3, a US armed forced command] On JEWISH PEOPLE.”
He later added: “You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.”
Twitter locked his account after the tweets, although it appears Mr West has now had access restored to his account and was welcomed back on October 8 by Elon Musk.
In the recent incident, the group stood on a bridge above the motorway with other banners referencing Bible verses as well as instructions to drivers to “honk” in support.
Welcome back to Twitter, my friend!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 8, 2022
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón decried the actions. He tweeted: “We cannot tolerate the #AntiSemitism that was on full display today [Saturday] on an LA Fwy. #WhiteSupremacy is a societal cancer that must be excised. This message is dangerous & cannot be normalised. I stand with the Jewish community in condemning this disgusting behaviour.”
The number of incidents of threat or violence towards Jewish people in the US has seen a 34 per cent increase since 2020.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted: “We condemn this weekend’s anti-Semitic incidents. Jewish Angelenos should always feel safe.There is no place for discrimination or prejudice in Los Angeles. And we will never back down from the fight to expose and eliminate it.”
Mr West, who had previously garnered negative publicity when he posed at a show wearing a ‘white lives matter’ hoodie, has this week been dropped by fashion partner brand Balenciaga.
