The picket lines for the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in Los Angeles were bustling with activity as supporters showed up in droves to offer their solidarity. The day began with breakfast burritos and coffee for the striking writers and their supporters who marched to Beyoncé tunes outside Netflix headquarters on Sunset Boulevard. One sign stood out with its message of support for the writers, while picketing continued at Warner Bros in Burbank with an Abbott Elementary/teachers union vibe. Lisa Ann Walter, who stars in the Emmy-winning ABC comedy as second-grade teacher Melissa Schemmenti, spoke up for the writers, saying, “We at Abbott Elementary are on the side of the teachers. … I am proud every single day to portray the profession.”
Bruno Amato, who plays Gary the vending machine guy and the boyfriend of Walter’s character on the show, was also present to show his support. Emmy-winning Abbott Elementary writer-creator-star Quinta Brunson supplied some flaky pastelitos to help feed the throng of supporters. Unionized teachers and nurses from United Teachers Los Angeles and the California Nurses Association also joined the picket lines to show their solidarity.
LAUSD Board President Jackie Goldberg and board member Dr. Rocío Rivas also voiced their support for the writers, despite being on the other side of the negotiating table in 2019. The nurses shared their experiences of fighting greedy executives who undermine their profession for profits and expressed their admiration for the writers’ minds and voices.
On Pacific Islander Day outside Disney headquarters, WGA member and theme-day organizer Dana Ledoux Miller spoke about the importance of cultural days on the picket lines. She emphasized the need to show solidarity and bring the community together. Director-EP and writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton also showed up to offer his support.
The picket lines were lively with supporters from diverse backgrounds, including a group doing a Na Mele hula. Despite the challenges of the ongoing strike, the WGA is receiving widespread support from various communities, highlighting the importance of solidarity in the face of adversity.