SAG-AFTRA Cancels Pickets in L.A. and NYC Friday, Citing “Potential Safety Concerns”

SAG-AFTRA announced that all pickets scheduled for Friday in New York City and Los Angeles are canceled, citing “potential safety concerns that are unrelated to our ongoing strike.”

The actors’ union added in its post on social media Thursday, “Stay safe and see you on the picket lines next week.”

It’s unclear what the threat to safety is, specifically, but it comes after media reports that the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas urged supporters to take to the streets in a day of action Oct. 13 in support of the terrorist attacks in Israel.

Nearly a week ago, the terrorist organization Hamas launched attacks on southern Israel. As of Thursday, the escalating conflict has led to a rising death toll that has surpassed 2,700 victims on both sides, according to the Associated Press.

Both the New York Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department have issued statements, saying there are no “specific or credible threats” to either city at this time but that they are “continuing to assess the situation.” Both departments also said they will increase patrols “out of an abundance of caution.”

“There are no specific, credible threats to New York City,” a statement read on NYPD’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. “We are aware of the concern that postings circulating online have cause, and we have increased our uniform deployments at large gatherings and cultural sites to ensure public safety out of an abundance of caution.”

NYC Mayor Eric Adams also wrote on X that he has directed the police department to “send additional resources to schools and houses of worship to ensure they are safe and that our city remains a place of peace.”

LAPD shared in a statement on its social media, “The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of recent statements made calling for action as it relates to the conflict in the Middle East. We have no information of any specific or credible threats to the City of Los Angeles but we are continuing to assess the situation for any potential impact to our communities. We are closely monitoring these events and are coordinating with Federal, State, and local partners on information sharing.”