Antisemitism On Display

LA mayor, California governor, and President Biden condemn the violence at Adas Torah synagogue while some groups at USC spew libelous hatred

On Sunday June 23, an anti-Israeli protest on the West Side turned violent (see LA Times coverage here). Writing for World Israel News, Daniel Greenfield says (“A Hamas mob roamed an LA neighborhood attacking Jews”)

Some people are calling this a “pogrom.” It was at best a low-level riot against Jews by Islamic terrorist supporters and Antifa with the complicity of local Los Angeles authorities.

Pogrom, riot, or exhibition of hatred—whatever you call it, it was ugly. The video clips in Greenfield’s article speak for themselves. Greenfield also points out bias in the media coverage. Indeed, it is telling that the media has described the event as

“clashes erupting between both sides” condemning the Muslims and Marxists who attacked a synagogue and the Jews who didn’t want their synagogue attacked.

Since Sunday, the events have been condemned by both local and national leaders. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass spoke forcefully:

and issued a statement:

“Today’s violence in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood today was abhorrent, and blocking access to a place of worship is unacceptable. I’ve called on LAPD to provide additional patrols in the Pico-Robertson community as well as outside of houses of worship throughout the city. I’ll be meeting with Chief Choi tomorrow to further discuss the safety of Angelenos.

“I want to be clear that Los Angeles will not be a harbor for antisemitism and violence. Those responsible for either will be found and held accountable. I will be joining Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, the Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation Los Angeles Rabbi Noah Farkas and other law enforcement and faith leaders in a community meeting as we talk about steps forward, together.”

Mayor Bass is also pushing to enforce the laws prohibiting masks, as per the LA Times. We covered the violation of the anti-mask laws by protestors here. Enforcing this law would be a concrete step against anarchism.

Governor Newsom said that there is “no excuse for targeting a house of worship” and that “antisemitic hatred has no place in California.”

President Biden has also condemned the protests as antisemitic and un-American (see, for example, “‘Antisemitic, and un-American’: Biden condemns violence outside LA synagogue” in Politico and “Biden and Democratic Leaders Condemn Protest Outside L.A. Synagogue as Antisemitic” in the New Your Times).

Meanwhile, an ugly display of hatred is unraveling on social media. The examples below were posted by groups claiming to be associated with USC.

Who are these groups? The usual suspects who are also responsible for the illegal encampments on our campus and the bullying of Jewish students and faculty, as documented here, here, here, and here.

USC must recognize that these groups are antisemitic and show zero tolerance for them on our campus.