Jewish Member Statement on Homicide of 69-year-old Jewish Man by Anti-Israel Protester

The Following Statement Signed by Representatives Brad Sherman, Jared Moskowitz, Seth Magaziner, Greg Landsman, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Dan Goldman, Brad Schneider, Jake Auchincloss, and Josh Gottheimer.

We are utterly sickened and outraged to learn of the death of a 69-year-old Jewish man, Paul Kessler, by an anti-Israel protester in Ventura County. We urge the ongoing investigation to move quickly and thoroughly.

We are witnessing a dangerous moment for the Jewish community. We must make it clear: antisemitic rhetoric has violent consequences. This is true regardless of which side of the political spectrum it comes from, including when it is shrouded in anti-Israel rhetoric.

For the last month, the Jewish community has been warning about the dangerous explosion of antisemitism following Hamas's massacre on October 7^th. Today, as the American Jewish community mourns Mr. Kessler's brutal and senseless death, we reiterate that warning with the utmost urgency.

Paul Kessler's death is not an isolated incident. Earlier this week in Indianapolis, a woman purposefully drove her car into a building she believed to be an "Israel school," stating that she was motivated by anger over the war between Israel and Hamas. The week prior, a man attempted to break into a Jewish family's home in Los Angeles while threatening to "kill Jews" and screaming "Free Palestine." Last month, a Jordanian national living in Texas was arrested for planning to commit an attack after posting about his support for killing Jews and desire to go to Gaza to fight. The Anti-Defamation League has recorded a 388% increase in reported incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment, and vandalism since October 7^th.

Inflammatory, demonizing rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas conflict is causing very real violence towards Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities across the United States. Last month, 6-year-old Palestinian American Wadea Al-Fayoume was horrifically killed in a hate crime, as Islamophobia is on the rise.

We urge our colleagues, community leaders, and everyday citizens to unequivocally stand against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and dehumanizing rhetoric no matter who is espousing it. We cannot and will not allow antisemitic and anti-Israel violence to become the new normal in America.

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