Dodger Stadium’s vaccination site, one of the largest vaccination sites in the country, was shut down on Saturday at 2 p.m. as anti-vaccine protestors gathered at the entrance to the ballpark.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the Los Angeles Fire Department closed the gates to shut down the site briefly as a precaution, stalling hundreds of vehicles waiting in line to get vaccinated. The line was reopened again around 3 p.m. No violence was reported.
“We are aware of social media posts referring to protestors showing up at the Dodger Stadium COVID-19 vaccination site. Preliminary reports are that protestors remained peaceful. The LAPD did NOT close the gates, and per LA City Fire, all scheduled vaccines will be delivered,” the LAPD said in a tweet Saturday.
Demonstrators included members of far-right and anti-vaccine groups, who were seen holding signs and shouting at passengers in vehicles not to get the shot. The Times also noted that a social media post described the protest as a “SCAMDEMIC PROTEST/MARCH.” The post also instructed demonstrators to not wear Trump or MAGA attire “as we want our statement to resonate with the sheeple. No flags but informational signs only.”
One witness who spoke with the LA Times said that as he waited about an hour in line at Dodger Stadium, the demonstrators were shouting to tell people the coronavirus is not real and that the vaccine was dangerous.
Author Mikel Jollett was in line at the time the vaccination site gates were shut, and he witnessed approximately 30 protestors carrying signs, including some that read “99.96% survival rate,” and “I only like muzzles in the bedroom.”
Another video shared to Twitter from Dodger Stadium showed a protestor shouting that people were “submitting to be a lab rat” by getting the vaccine.
See some of the tweets from earlier Saturday below:
We are aware of social media posts referring to protestors showing up at the Dodger Stadium COVID-19 vaccination site. Preliminary reports are that protestors remained peaceful. The LAPD did NOT close the gates, and per LA City Fire, all scheduled vaccines will be delivered. https://t.co/l5zEW3UAOt
— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) January 31, 2021
We’re at the mass vaccination site at Dodger Stadium to get my mom the vaccine. The anti–vax protestors have approached the entrance to the site. The LAPD have now closed the gate. We have been sitting here for about half an hour. Nobody is moving. pic.twitter.com/GrJPA5wrqx
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) January 30, 2021
Today, anti-vaccination protesters marched to Dodger Stadium, which is currently serving as one of the largest vaccination sites in the nation. LAFD and CORE temporarily closed the gates & paused vaccinations. A long line of cars built up. pic.twitter.com/pwGE1yUcuW
— Emily Holshouser (@emilyytayylor) January 30, 2021