About 15 protesters, near the southeast corner of Pine Avenue and Broadway, in downtown Long Beach, on Saturday, Sept. 11, stood with their signs and chanted, demanding the closure of the Long Beach JP23 location in solidarity with Samantha Velasquez, who alleged she had been drugged at the Fullerton nightclub, on Sunday, Aug.1, and sexually assaulted after leaving.
Among the protesters was Ron Feldman. Feldman said he heard about the protest from the Instagram account of the Democratic Socialists of America – Long Beach. He said he followed up by reading online news stories, like the Aug. 5 FoxLA story on the JP23 protest.
Above the heads of the protesters was the JP23 logo. The nightclub was closed.
Earlier, the protesters met at Harvey Milk Promenade Park, 185 E. Third St., where some painted signs. From the park, they walked to the protest.
The JP23 website, before the protest, announced its Long Beach “Grand Opening” of Friday, Sept. 3 and Saturday, Sept. 4 was postponed.
Barry Saks 