SWP candidates join debates, protests against Jew-hatred
PASADENA, Calif. — As supporters of Hamas and many liberals press to impose a cease-fire, putting a stop to Israel’s determined efforts to destroy the fighting capacity of the Jew-hating Islamist group, confrontations and debates have multiplied. So have acts of Jew-hatred across the U.S. Socialist Workers Party candidates and supporters are in the middle of these confrontations.
“I oppose any resolution calling for a cease-fire in Israel’s war against Hamas. Hamas committed a pogrom, the murder of Jews on Oct. 7 as part of their goal to eliminate all the Jews in the region and destroy the state of Israel,” Laura Garza, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate from California and spokesperson for the SWP’s presidential candidate Rachele Fruit, told a special City Council meeting here of 600 people March 18 held at the downtown convention center.
“They are a reactionary, anti-woman, thuggish Islamist group who used mass rape and the mutilation of women’s bodies on Oct. 7 to show Jews being humiliated, and killed, which they proudly live-streamed,” Garza said.
“Hamas has nothing to do with a liberation movement. It promotes Jew-hatred around the world together with their sponsor, the Iranian regime, and they are all the enemies of working people from Iran, Palestine and around the world,” Garza added. Council members cut speakers off after one minute, and when Garza was cut off, some backers of the resolution shouted, “Liar!”
The majority in the audience had come to demand the City Council pass a cease-fire resolution, which it eventually did, after some 200 speakers took the floor over five hours. The council also passed an amendment demanding Hamas return the hostages it continues to hold. Many of those who pushed for the resolution claimed Israel is an “apartheid state,” and is committing intentional “genocide” in Gaza.
A smaller number of people, mostly Jewish, spoke against the resolution, many saying the Council should stay out of international affairs. They also warned the resolution would increase hostility, threats and challenges to Jews in the area, statements met with boos from those supporting a cease-fire.
“Adopting a resolution tonight, you will not change what is happening 7,500 miles away. You won’t stop the innocent children dying or bring an end to the suffering,” Jason Moss testified. “But, I can tell with 100% certainty that your decision could have dire consequences on the Jewish community, particularly Jewish children, right here in Pasadena.”
Moss, the executive director of the Jewish Federation of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, said he has been grappling with growing verbal and physical threats since the Oct. 7 pogrom. “Jews are seen as Israel’s proxies, so people are taking their anger and frustration toward Israel out on us,” he testified.
After Garza spoke, several of those who had also spoken against the cease-fire resolution came over to thank her. One young woman, a student at a nearby college, looked over Garza’s campaign literature, and said, “You were on the ballot weren’t you, I voted for you.”
“I don’t believe that it’s accurate what many are claiming here that they represent the majority. Most working people condemn the actions of Hamas and believe Israel has the right to defend itself,” Garza said. “Any long-term cease-fire would allow Hamas, with the help of Tehran, to rebuild, rearm and do what they did on Oct. 7 again and again, which they have stated is their goal.”
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Hundreds rally against Jew-hatred at UC Berkeley
BY BETSEY STONE
BERKELEY, Calif. — Several hundred students, faculty, area residents, supporters of Socialist Workers Party presidential candidate Rachele Fruit and other opponents of Jew-hatred gathered at the University of California here March 11 for a rally and march to protest Jew-hatred. They were united in supporting freedom of speech and condemning the violent shutdown of a Feb. 26 meeting sponsored by Jewish student groups. A mob, including masked thugs, broke up the meeting where Ran Bar-Yoshafat, an Israeli attorney and reserve officer in the Israel Defense Forces, was scheduled to speak.
“I’m here to support the Jewish people,” Likbin Khoo told the Vol. Khoo, who is originally from Malaysia, said Chinese people there have been attacked just for being Chinese. “No people should be targeted,” she said. “I support free speech. When they broke down the glass at the front door, when they shut down the meeting, they crossed the line.”
Emmy Apreyan, a student in her junior year, said she was there in support of Jewish friends. “I’m not for shouting down or shutting down speakers you don’t agree with,” she said. “If people have a difference, they need to debate it out.”
Apreyan said she believes a lot of students at the school are in denial about the facts. “People are already denying the seriousness of what was done here,” she said, “saying it didn’t happen. Just like they deny the seriousness of what happened when Hamas killed 1,200 people in Israel Oct. 7.”
Participants marched in rows to Sather Gate, the main entrance to the campus, in protest against Students for Palestine and others who have blocked the gate for weeks, falsely charging Israel with genocide.
The protest ended with a rally where organizers vowed to keep up the fight and condemned the university administration for its failure to defend freedom of speech and ensure the safety of Jewish students.
On March 18, a victory for free speech was registered when close to 200 people attended a meeting on campus to hear Ran Bar-Yoshafat, the speaker whose meeting was shut down Feb. 26.
