If you saw our post about the Time Magazine feature article about the Eaton Fire in Altadena and the way the community was treated afterwards and you watched the Rose Parade today, you were probably not surprised to see the protest sign on the "Rising Together Float".  According to a story in this afternoon's Orange County Register, a rider on the float briefly held a sign asking Attorney General Rob Bonta to investigate L.A. County officials as to how Altadena was handled during and after the fire. The float, honoring the victims and survivors of L.A. County's disastrous Palisade and Eaton Fires last January, was presented by the California Community Foundation and the Black Freedom Fund; organizers said the protest sign was not part of the float.

The protest sign was removed by a California Community Foundation walker accompanying the float, but The SoCal Local has posted a video of the incident on YouTube. Photos of the sign have been posed on other social media sites, such as on Altadena Rising's Instagram post. Protesters are concerned that action has not been taken in response to a disturbing investigation by the  L.A. Times last summer that reported disproportionate fire response towards West Altadena, an historically black and brown neighborhood within the community.:

• Over 100 fire trucks were deployed to fight the fires in Palisades and East Altadena, yet only one fire truck was stationed in West Altadena. 
• 19 people died in the Eaton Fire. 18 of those deaths happened in West Altadena after calls for help went unanswered.
• Los Angeles’ Sheriff’s Department (LASD) would not respond or cooperate with the fire response data request from the LA Times. 

In addition, the Times reported that residents of West Altadena were are discouraged from suing LA county and pursuing legal options that could lead to justice. Since then, Altadena activists have been demanding accountability and transparency. They have asked Attorney General Bonta to conduct an investigation. So far, the AG has not responded. The protest sign in the Rose Parade was another way to bring attention to the problem.

The float, which highlighted a floral Phoenix rising from the ashes, received the Tournament of Roses's Fantasy Award, given for outstanding display of fantasy and imagination that celebrates the float's creative expression and artistry. Perhaps it should also have received an award for exposing governance failures via social media.