Clay's Los Angeles Protest Page

A few observations from running this page...

I started this Facebook page on March 14th because I wanted one place where I could look for upcoming protests and rallies in the Greater Los Angeles area, and I figured other people might find it useful too. Since then I have listed about 532 events in Los Angeles and Orange County. 

Before the June 14th NO KINGS Protest, I had maybe 50 upcoming protests at any time, mostly in Los Angeles, mostly Tesla Takedown protests. As that day approached, the list swelled, with 34 protests on that day all over Los Angeles and OC. It felt like a crescendo when those protests dropped off the list, and the number of upcoming protests dropped way down. 

But then it started to grow again as the July 17th  Good Trouble Lives On protests approached. I listed 25 protests for that weekday event, and the list of upcoming protests again grew to around a hundred, with many new areas being heard from, including Brea, Torrance, Whittier, Woodland Hills, La Habra, Long Beach, Pasenda, Inglewood, Glendale, and Burbank.

Those protest coming off the boards looked like another slump—but not for long. By July 22nd, just 5 days later, the list of upcoming protest reach a new all time high of 105, as protests in Manhattan Beach, Lake Forest, Los Feliz, Alhambra, Thousand Oaks, and Studio City came online.

Since then, the number of anti-fascist protests in the Greater Los Angeles area has only continued to grow, as that hotbed of radicalism, Orange County, started to chime in with protests in Orange, Huntington Beach, Villa Park, Irvine, Sunset Beach, and Lake Forest.

I have no idea how many people have showed up for most of these protests. I know that a few were quite large. The DTLA protest for NO KINGS drew more than 200,000 people according to the local NBC affiliate, but most have been much smaller. 

For example, the weekly protest in Culver City regularly draws several hundred, and the one in Santa Monica rarely tops 100. But what I can say definitively, after having curated this list over these many months, is that the protests are ranging wider, with new protests popping up in area that had been silent before, and they have also gained more confidence, as regular protests are being schedule further into the future. Activist in Alhambra have scheduled their 30th regular protest for Aug 31st, and protests in Studio City and DTLA are being scheduled into November already.

I now have listed 117 upcoming Protests & Rallies in the Greater Los Angeles area. They aren't dominated by big days like NO KINGS and Good Trouble, instead they range all over the anti-fascist struggle, from a weekly DTLA BANNER DROP 4 PALESTINE, Weekly Rally for Democracy in Orange County, Studio City Rising, and the Avelo Airlines protests at Burbank Airport continue even after they successfully forced Avelo to quit Burbank. 

Weekly rallies to  Protect Social Security in Thousand Oaks, the Communities against Fascism Rally in Lakewood, Fight Back Fridays at  Pasadena City College. Still, there is an Aug 17th NO KINGS protest in Studio City, and another Good Trouble Lives On protest in Burbank on the same day. There is also a protest in front of the Paramount lot next week. There are also many protests against Trump anti-immigration policies, including the 24 hr. vigil in front of the downtown federal detention center. For example, this Saturday there's a protest in MacArthur Park and Victory Rally for Alejandro Orellana, who just got released from ICE custody. Not to mention a growing list of Labor Day protests.

This feel like a good start at building the sort of mass movement we're going to need to beat this monster, but we still have a very long way to go.

As for me, I'm not as good at marching, or even standing for a long time, as I use to be. So, you won't see me at many of these rallies. But since I live in Venice, and Ocean Front Walk receives ten of thousands of visitors every weekend, I setup there to protest the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and let the people march pass me. Last Sunday, I clocked 60 people a minute walking pass me. Most at least gave a glance at the pictures that can't be unseen, and quite a few stopped to read and talk. So, look for me on the Venice Beach boardwalk somewhere between Rose and Sunset Avenues on most Saturdays and Sundays.

Clay Claiborne

8 August 2025

The anti-slavery passage deleted from the Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776 was largely written by Thomas Jefferson. His original draft contained a section under the list of grievances against King George III that condemned the slave trade, implicitly condemned slavery, but also accused the King of stirring up anti-slavery sentiment among the slaves. It was deleted from the final draft to appease the other slaveholders. It read:

"he has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating it's most sacred rights of life & liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither. this piratical warfare, the opprobrium of infidel powers, is the warfare of the CHRISTIAN king of Great Britain. determined to keep open a market where MEN should be bought & sold, he has prostituted his negative for suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or to restrain this execrable commerce: and that this assemblage of horrors might want no fact of distinguished die, he is now exciting those very people to rise in arms among us, and to purchase that liberty of which he has deprived them, & murdering the people upon whom he also obtruded them; thus paying off former crimes committed against the liberties of one people, with crimes which he urges them to commit against the lives of another"

There is much that could be written about this passage, starting with Jefferson's fear of being murdered by the people he enslaved—but I digress—I have long suspected that preserving slavery had a lot more to do with why the slaveholding founding fathers wanted the thirteen colonies to split from England than history likes to let on. 

In 1772, four years before our glorious American Revolution for "Freedom & Liberty," the King's Court in England, in a case known as Somerset v Stewart, ruled that slavery was illegal in England. I suspect the timing may be less coincidental, and may be more like a cause and effect relationship. So, I asked Grok, Elon's AI bot, this question:

What was the response of English colonists in North America to Somerset v Stewart after 1772?

It responded:

The 1772 Somerset v. Stewart decision, which ruled that slavery was unsupported by common law in England and Wales, had a significant but varied impact on English colonists in North America. The response was shaped by regional differences, economic interests, and political ideologies. Below is a concise overview:

Southern Colonies (e.g., Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia)

• Alarm and Resistance: Southern colonists, heavily reliant on enslaved labor for their plantation economies, viewed the decision with concern. They feared it signaled a broader British intent to undermine slavery, which they saw as essential to their wealth and way of life. The ruling heightened suspicions of British overreach, especially as it came amidst growing tensions over taxation and governance.
• Legal Misinterpretations: Many colonists exaggerated the ruling’s scope, believing it might free enslaved people in the colonies or embolden runaways. This fear prompted some colonial legislatures to tighten slave codes and increase patrols to prevent escapes.
• Political Tensions: The decision fueled anti-British sentiment, as southern elites saw it as a threat to their property rights. It contributed to revolutionary rhetoric, with some planters framing independence as a defense of their "liberty" to own slaves.

...

So they were concerned that the changing laws of England might threaten their "peculiar institution" in the colonies. They also shared Jefferson's fear that the growing opposition to slavery was "now exciting those very people to rise in arms against us"—"us" being the slaveholders. 

I asked Grok to probe further with this question:

How did this decision affect the US independence movement?

Grok responded:

The 1772 Somerset v. Stewart decision, which ruled that slavery was unsupported by common law in England and Wales, had an indirect but notable impact on the American independence movement. While it did not directly cause the Revolution, it influenced colonial attitudes, exacerbated tensions with Britain, and shaped the rhetoric and dynamics of the independence struggle. Below is a concise analysis of its effects:

1. Heightened Southern Colonial Fears

• Perceived Threat to Slavery: Southern colonists, whose economies depended heavily on enslaved labor, interpreted the Somerset decision as a potential British attack on their property rights. Though the ruling applied only to England and Wales, many planters feared it could set a precedent for challenging slavery in the colonies, especially as British authorities seemed increasingly intrusive (e.g., through taxation policies).
• Fuel for Revolutionary Sentiment: This fear amplified distrust of British intentions, pushing southern elites to view independence as a way to protect their economic and social systems. The decision reinforced the narrative that Britain threatened colonial autonomy, aligning with grievances like "no taxation without representation." For example, Virginia planters like Thomas Jefferson later cited threats to their "liberties" (including slaveholding) as justification for rebellion....

• British Leverage: During the Revolution, British officials capitalized on this perception. Lord Dunmore’s 1775 proclamation, offering freedom to enslaved people who joined the British cause, was seen as an extension of the Somerset precedent. This alienated southern colonists further, as thousands of enslaved people fled to British lines, intensifying the revolutionary conflict....

5. Long-Term Ideological Impact

• Liberty vs. Slavery Contradiction: The Somerset case planted seeds for debates about slavery during the Revolution. While southern leaders like Jefferson and Patrick Henry championed "liberty," the ruling exposed the hypocrisy of defending slavery, influencing the language of the Declaration of Independence (though its anti-slavery passages were removed to appease the South).

When I got to that part about the missing anti-slavery passages, it led me to were I began this blog post.

Clay Claiborne

23 July 2025

ChatGPT: Is Israel committing genocide in Gaza?

 

CHATGPT's Bottom Line:  "...Israel's actions in Gaza are consistent with genocide under international law."

 Clay to ChatGPT: Is Israel committing genocide in Gaza?

ChatGPT:

Here’s what can be definitively stated based on the most credible and current sources:

---

✅ What human rights bodies are saying

Multiple United Nations experts and bodies, including:

• The UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices found in a November 14, 2024 report that Israel’s military operations in Gaza—including siege tactics, obstruction of aid, and starvation used as a weapon—are consistent with practices recognized under the Genocide Convention.VoxPolitico+15United Nations+15Al Jazeera+15

• UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese concluded in a March 26, 2024 report at the UN Human Rights Council that there are “reasonable grounds” to believe Israel is committing at least three acts enumerated under the Genocide Convention:

  1. Killing members of the Palestinian group

  2. Causing serious bodily or mental harm

  3. Intentionally inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction in whole or in part Reuters+9The United Nations Office at Geneva+9Wikipedia+9

Further, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials—including the Prime Minister—for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.The Washington Post

---

📌 What independent rights groups report

• Amnesty International, in a large-scale investigation covering October 2023–April 2024, concluded Israel is committing genocide by deliberately conducting indiscriminate attacks on civilians, destroying life‑sustaining infrastructure, and denying basic necessities like food, water, and medicines.Wikipedia+15Amnesty International+15PBS+15

• A variety of independent scholars and rights experts including Craig Mokhiber have described Israel’s conduct in Gaza as a “textbook genocide.” Wikipedia

---

🏛️ What international courts are doing

• South Africa’s case before the ICJ (the Hague), filed December 29, 2023, alleges genocide. On January 26, 2024, the Court issued binding provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent acts that could amount to genocide—but did not order a ceasefire. It found that certain acts appear capable of falling within the Genocide Convention.Al Jazeera+5Wikipedia+5Wikipedia+5

• Israel strongly rejects these accusations, stating it is fighting Hamas—not Palestinians—and accusing critics of politicizing the genocide label. Israeli representatives have called genocide allegations “baseless” and akin to libel. Al Jazeera Al Jazeera

---

📊 Context right now

• The UN humanitarian and rights bodies warn of an intensifying crisis: severe famine-like conditions, mass hunger, blocked aid routes, large-scale civilian displacement, and extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure.The Guardian+1AP News+1

• Western governments—including the UK, EU, Australia and 28 other countries—have publicly condemned Israel’s conduct as potentially violating international legal norms. Some rights groups have called for international accountability.The AustralianAP NewsThe Guardian

---

🧾 So: Is genocide occurring?

• Legal experts and UN-appointed investigators have concluded there are strong reasons—including some binding provisional ICJ orders—to believe Israel’s actions in Gaza currently meet at least some criteria under the 1948 Genocide Convention—especially killing civilians, causing serious harm, and creating life-threatening conditions intentionally.Wikipedia+2Al Jazeera+2Wikipedia+2

• However, a final legal determination from the ICJ or another international judicial body is still pending and can take years.

---

🧭 Summary Table

Aspect	What experts say
Acts of genocide	UN rapporteurs and committees say criteria are being met.
Genocidal intent	Amnesty and UN experts argue intent is evident.
ICJ ruling	Issued provisional measures; full judgment still pending.
Counterargument	Israel rejects the characterization, citing self-defense.
Humanitarian impact	Widespread death, starvation, infrastructure destruction.

---

🔍 Bottom Line

According to trusted UN investigators, international human rights groups, and preliminary ICJ findings, there is a substantive, evidence-based case that Israel's actions in Gaza are consistent with genocide under international law. That said, the question is not conclusively resolved in court. Israel firmly denies the allegations, citing its right to self‑defense and rejecting the interpretation of intent.

So, with all the usual ifs, ands, or buts, ChatGPT comes very close to recognizing "that Israel's actions in Gaza are consistent with genocide under international law."

Clay Claiborne
22 July 2025

See also:
Even Elon's AI admits: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza

Google's Gemini becomes a mealy-mouth when asked about Genocide in Gaza

Google's Gemini becomes a mealy-mouth when asked about Genocide in Gaza

Google's Gemini AI chatbot provides a very wordy answer to this simple question, but refuses to come to a definitive conclusion:

Clay: Gemini, Is Israel committing genocide in Gaza?

Gemini: The question of whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza is a complex and highly contentious issue, with differing legal interpretations and significant international debate.

Here's a breakdown of the key points:

Legal Definition of Genocide:

Under Article 2 of the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, genocide is defined as "any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; forcibly transferring children of the group to another group."

A crucial element in proving genocide is establishing "genocidal intent" – the specific objective to destroy a group, in whole or in part.¹ This is often the most difficult aspect to prove in legal proceedings.

Arguments and Allegations of Genocide:

• South Africa's ICJ Case: In January 2024, South Africa initiated proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging that Israel's military campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide. While the court has not yet ruled on the merits of the charge, it has issued binding provisional measures, including directives to ensure unimpeded humanitarian aid, reflecting a "plausible" risk of genocide.²

• Expert Consensus: A growing number of international law experts, UN officials, and human rights organizations, including some Israeli scholars, are increasingly characterizing Israel's conduct in Gaza as genocidal.³ They point to:

  • Large-scale killing: As of July 2025, over 59,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, with over half identified as women and children.

  • Use of starvation as a weapon: Reports indicate deliberate starvation and the destruction of Palestinian reproductive capacity.⁴ Access to food, water, and electricity remains critically limited.⁵

  • Destruction of civilian infrastructure: Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, and a significant portion of Gaza's hospitals and educational institutions have been destroyed or damaged.⁶

  • Forced displacement: Over 85% of Gaza's population (over 1.9 million people) has been forcibly displaced.

  • Statements by Israeli officials: Some observers, including UN experts, cite statements by senior Israeli officials that may indicate an "intent to destroy" Gaza's population in whole or in part.

• UN and Human Rights Organizations: Organizations like Amnesty International, Médecins Sans Frontières, and various UN special committees and rapporteurs have stated that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.⁷

Israel's Position and Counterarguments:

• Self-defense: Israel denies South Africa's allegations and maintains that its military actions are a legitimate response to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas and are aimed at destroying Hamas and ensuring its security.⁸

• Lawful conduct: Israel asserts that its forces act in accordance with international law and endeavor to minimize civilian casualties, blaming Hamas for operating within civilian areas.

• Aid delivery: Israel claims it allows sufficient aid into Gaza and accuses Hamas of diverting it, a claim the UN denies.⁹

• Lack of genocidal intent: Some scholars of international law and genocide studies argue there is insufficient evidence of a specific "intent to destroy" the Palestinian people as a group.

International Legal Processes:

• ICJ: The ICJ case brought by South Africa is ongoing and a final verdict is expected to take years.¹⁰

• International Criminal Court (ICC): The ICC has an ongoing investigation into potential crimes committed by both parties in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including during the current Gaza war.¹¹ The ICC Prosecutor has sought arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders on charges including war crimes and crimes against humanity.¹

In summary, while no international court has yet issued a final ruling finding Israel guilty of genocide in the current conflict, the allegations are serious and are being actively pursued in international legal forums. There is a strong and growing consensus among many legal experts and human rights organizations that Israel's actions meet the legal definition of genocide, while Israel vehemently denies these claims

Clay: But what is your conclusion? Can you answer yes or no?

Whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza is a question that cannot be definitively answered with a simple "yes" or "no" at this time, as it is a matter of ongoing legal proceedings and intense international debate.

Here's why a simple "yes" or "no" is insufficient:

• Legal Determination Required: Under international law, a finding of genocide requires a formal legal determination by a competent court or tribunal, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ). While the ICJ has indicated a "plausible risk of genocide" and issued provisional measures, it has not yet made a final ruling on the merits of the case.

• Intent is Key: The legal definition of genocide hinges on the difficult-to-prove element of "genocidal intent"—the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.¹ Proving this intent is complex.

• Differing Interpretations: Legal scholars, international organizations, and national governments hold diverse views on whether the actions and stated intentions of Israeli officials meet the high bar for proving genocide.

Therefore, as an AI, I cannot provide a "yes" or "no" answer to a question that is currently the subject of complex legal processes and significant international disagreement. My role is to provide factual and nuanced information based on the available data, which in this case points to a highly contested and unresolved legal and ethical question.

Clay: How much business does Google do with Israel?

Gemini: Google has significant business dealings with Israel, encompassing a range of activities from major acquisitions to government contracts and partnerships with local companies.

Here's a summary of the key areas of Google's business with Israel:

1. Project Nimbus:

Google and Amazon were awarded a joint $1.2 billion contract by the Israeli government in 2021 to provide cloud computing services for its public sector, known as "Project Nimbus."

...

I wonder how many megawatts it took for the Google data centers to come up with the mealy-mouthed answer? I guess it knows who's paying the electric bill, and if you didn't know that AI answers can be bent by political & financial considerations—well, you know it now.

Clay Claiborne

22 July 2025

See also:

Even Elon's AI admits: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza