About 70 people in orange jumpsuits and clothing waved signs outside the Wilshire Federal Building on Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue on Sunday afternoon calling on the Department of Justice to indict Hillary Clinton over her mishandling of emails.
Drivers honked car horns to show their support for protesters, whose signs said “Indict Hillary” and “No one is above the law,” among other messages.
Protesters, young and old, also took pictures with a makeshift prison cell made of PVC pipe and plastic tarp.
Carlos Marroquin, a member of Legal Justice and Equality for All, the organization that oversaw the event, said the organization is nonpartisan and planned the event over the course of a month.
He added the organization originally wanted the DOJ to release its decision before the election, but after the decision not to indict Clinton, the organization wanted to protest what participants say is an unfair two-tier legal system.
“The FBI acknowledged (Clinton) broke the law,” Marroquin said. “People have committed similar crimes and served time or were punished, but not Hillary Clinton. This shows the rich and powerful, those in certain positions, don’t get punished.”
Marroquin added event organizers held the event outside the federal building because they wanted to send a message to the DOJ.
“We want to show (the Justice Department) that the people understand some people are seen as above the law,” Marroquin said.
FBI director James Comey announced Tuesday the bureau’s recommendation of no charges for Clinton for mishandling classified information during her time as Secretary of State, according to the New York Times. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced the next day that the Justice Department would close its investigation of Clinton without bringing charges against Clinton.
Kevin Stahl, a graduate student in astronomy, said he was disappointed when Comey said the FBI recommended no charges for Clinton.
“We need to hold someone who may hold the highest position in the land accountable for their actions,” Stahl said.