WEST HOLLYWOOD—Dozens of people without masks gathered for a “Dance for Black Lives” protest in West Hollywood on Saturday, September 19.

The protest took place at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard San Vicente Boulevard, near the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood station. Videos were posted on social media showing people dancing, singing to the music, and also Japanese Taiko performed.

The Convo Couch, a media outlet which is active mainly on social media platforms including YouTube, Twitter, and Patreon reported the protest, interviewing some of the participants. An old man who speaks Spanish commented that “This protest is peaceful.”

Another participant, a woman showed her motivation stating, “This is our constitutional right to assemble and protest… I’m out here to uplift black lives. I’m out there to stand up for justice, and I’m out here, because it’s a beautiful struggle and we’re going nowhere.” She explained the protest was for a Black boy named Dijon Kizzee who was killed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

One of the Convo Couch owners Jonathan Mayorca tweeted:

An Instagram post depicted Taiko’s performance:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFWnQcmDIdO/

One of the hosts of “Dance for Black Lives” announced on Instagram what protestors were seeking in response from the LASD, which included the following:

  • LASD apologizeing for the murder of Dijon Kizzee
  • An independent autopsy be performed on Dijon Kizzee that is released at the same time as the county coroner’s
  • Stricter qualifications for becoming a sheriff
  • Investigation into Sheriff Villanueva
  • All civil settlements be paid out of sheriff pension funds instead of tax dollars

The host later claimed that “LASD uses a flyer that was not in heavy circulation to try and panic businesses and manipulate public information.” She insists that a manipulated flyer was posted by Bill Melugin, a Fox News anchor, who she believes to be responsible for helping create the LASD’s Department “false narrative.”

The city of West Hollywood is still asking the public to follow a health order, which encourages them “to remain home as much as is practical and limit close contact with others outside of a household.”