2024 Sundance Film Festival: Pro-Palestinian protest shuts down Main Street

Between 150 and 200 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in the mountainside ski village on Sunday, blocking the normally busy main street during the fourth day of the Sundance Film Festival, the independent film world’s marquee event of the year.

Talent from films that premiered at this year’s festival were among those participating, including former “Pose” star Indya Moore, here with “Ponyboi”; “Scream’s” Melissa Barrera, here with “Your Monster”; and Simon Kirby and Jessica Reynolds, cast members of “Kneecap,” about an Irish-language rap trio.

“We are not protesting Sundance,” said the event’s first speaker, speaking into a speaker amplified by a microphone. “We protest the complicity of the mainstream media and their inability to not cover this genocide.” The speaker also asked the filmmakers and artists attending the festival: “Why are you silent?”

They raised banners reading “Ceasefire Now” and “Hospitals are not targets” and chanted “Free, Free Palestine.” ‘Occupation is a crime’ Protesters gathered behind metal barriers near the festival headquarters, trying to draw the entertainment industry’s attention to the plight of civilians in Gaza as the war between Israel and Hamas that began with the October 7 terrorist attacks continues. Now on its 107th day. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced on Sunday that the number of Palestinian deaths since the start of the war has exceeded 25,000 people. Israel said the October 7 raids killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis, and an estimated 130 of the 250 hostages taken during the attacks remained in Gaza.

A group of counter-protesters responded, including a man carrying an Israeli flag and a microphone who read the names of the hostages aloud and others chanting “send them home.”

Both the Sundance Institute, which organizes the annual festival, and the Park City Police Department received advance warning of the action, which began around noon local time. Utah Highway Patrol officers were also present at the scene.

“The goal of the Park City Police Department is to provide for the health, safety, well-being and protection of the First Amendment rights of all individuals,” according to an email sent to Sundance Film Festival partners on Saturday, which warned of disruptions to pick-ups and deliveries. Other delays. (The Los Angeles Times is a media sponsor of the festival.) “Law enforcement, as an emergency, is prepared to temporarily close portions of Main Street as the course of events dictates to ensure public safety.”

Later, demonstrators moved up and down the main street behind barricades, continuing to chant messages of support for the Palestinians and criticism of figures in the American media and politics, including the phrase “We will remember this November.”

The demonstrators largely dispersed and traffic was flowing again on the main street shortly after 2:30 p.m. local time.