Small Anti-ICE Protest Draws Seniors, Raises Timing Concerns in Beverly Hills

A small group of protesters gathered at Lily Pond Park on Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills yesterday afternoon for an anti-ICE demonstration that took place just hours before the city’s Golden Globe security mobilization.

The event, organized by local protest leaders Gay Abrams and Myra Lurie, drew predominantly senior participants and focused on opposition to immigration enforcement policies, including operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Community members monitoring neighborhood chat groups expressed confusion leading up to the demonstration about whether the protest had been permitted. According to Beverly Hills Police Department officials, a permit was issued “at the last minute,” allowing the gathering to proceed under the city’s public assembly rules.

While the demonstration remained peaceful, some residents and unnamed community leaders voiced disappointment with the timing. They said many city law enforcement and security resources were already committed to Golden Globe preparations just a few blocks away at the Beverly Hilton, where heightened security protocols have been in place for several days.

“Everyone agrees with the right to free speech and peaceful protest, but choosing this specific timing when local public safety resources were already thin was not in the best interest of the city,” said one local observer who asked not to be named. “It left some residents feeling uneasy and frustrated, even though no one was hurt and the protest stayed calm.”

Several attendees, many of whom were senior citizens, said they came to express longstanding concerns about federal immigration policy and what they view as overreach by ICE. Supporters maintained that peaceful protest is a constitutional right and that their message was one of justice and compassion.

Representatives from the Beverly Hills Police Department confirmed the demonstration remained orderly and that no arrests were made. The department also reiterated its commitment to protecting both public safety and First Amendment rights.

The timing of the protest, occurring during one of Beverly Hills’ busiest security events of the year, ignited debate among residents about civic priorities and the challenges of balancing free expression with coordinated public safety planning.

As national discussions about immigration enforcement continue, local reactions to the demonstration reflect broader conversations about how communities interpret and exercise their rights in coordination with municipal resources and responsibilities.